Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report • Hacker News Board

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#71

Post by seec » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 11:36 AM UTC

highwaylights wrote: post #41

leptons wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except it doesn't run MacOS, and it doesn't allow you to install any application you want to - only those that Apple allows you to. And you're still forced to use Safari in every browser you install.

Fairly confident the CPU has never been the reason you can't install whatever you want on an iOS/iPadOS device. Also not the reason you can't install macOS on it either. If you want macOS, you buy a Mac. You want iPadOS, you buy an iPad. And if you want an iPad Pro that can double up as a Mac in a pinch, you feel awkward while Tim Cook death stares at you until you empty your pockets. In all seriousness though, I hav…

You lack perspective and have a poor imagination.

They can absolutely make the iPad Pro run macOS just fine and figure out the software solution quite easily.

They just need to make it run macOS by default but with an UI layer that could transform it in an iOS like UI in a pinch (while shutting down most of the daemons and stuff iPad OS doesn't use currently). You can already run iPad apps on Apple Silicon macs just fine.

It's purely and simply a commercial decision, to force people to buy multiple devices. If the iPad could run as a Mac they would lose a large amount of MacBook Air and low-end MacBook Pros, this is a simple as that.

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#72

Post by seec » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 11:43 AM UTC

gchamonlive wrote: post #48

pqtyw wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? There are already iPads and iPhones more expensive that Macs and Apple is not trying to justify anything. The capabilities of the OS have nothing to do with the chip of course.

If you think this is worth the investment in the ecosystem go for it. It just makes me quite sceptical to touch anything apple. I don't think they have their customers best interest in mind, and it shows time and again. Not a big fan of this paternalistic approach to product design, but this is just me.

To be fair the paternalistic approach has really increased recently and I actually think it's mostly about greed in the end. They want to control not just because they think they know better, but because this is how they get to maximise their profits.

In any case, it has been harder and harder to advocate for any Apple products over the years. Funnily enough, once you are outside the marketing hype, you realised that most of their products are not very competitive for their price. I think they are trying to milk the silicon while they can because it is really the only As up their sleeve currently. When that advantage is gone, they will be in trouble and they know it.

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#73

Post by seec » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 11:47 AM UTC

bluescrn wrote: post #22

brendoelfrendo wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I already have an M3-powered iPad Air; Apple currently produces iPad hardware that could, theoretically, run full MacOS. The decision is already about as arbitrary as it gets.

Seems such a waste, such a powerful device held back by an OS chained to an App Store and still so touch-centric. iPadOS has certainly got a lot better over recent updates, but there's no sign of 'apps' catching up with serious desktop software any time soon.

And Apple doesn't really want to anyway, they get to profit from both side this way.

The iPad could be a fantastic machine but as is, it makes no sense for most workflow. It seems to be stuck at being a fancy notepad or expensive drawing tablet for hip artists (real pros use the much larger and more convenient Wacoms anyway).

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#74

Post by highwaylights » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 12:56 PM UTC

seec wrote: post #71

highwaylights wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fairly confident the CPU has never been the reason you can't install whatever you want on an iOS/iPadOS device. Also not the reason you can't install macOS on it either. If you want macOS, you buy a Mac. You want iPadOS, you buy an iPad. And if you want an iPad Pro that can double up as a Mac in a pinch, you feel awkward while Tim Cook death stares at you until you empty your pockets. In all seriousness though, I hav…

You lack perspective and have a poor imagination. They can absolutely make the iPad Pro run macOS just fine and figure out the software solution quite easily. They just need to make it run macOS by default but with an UI layer that could transform it in an iOS like UI in a pinch (while shutting down most of the daemons and stuff iPad OS doesn't use currently). You can already run iPad apps on Apple Silicon macs just…

It’s clearly for commercial reasons. It still doesn’t change the fact that it would be clunky, like Windows and Android tablets are today. The surface is a poor tablet and Android is a poor desktop OS. The metaphors are oil and water.

Sure, they could adapt macOS and iPadOS enough to make it sort of workable, but I tend to agree with them that it would ultimately be a master-of-none device.

Clearly the reason they don’t want to do it is that it’ll cannibalise other sales. If macOS were written from scratch today it wouldn’t allow apps outside of the App Store or even multiple users. They’re Apple.

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#75

Post by Retric » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 1:34 PM UTC

laurencerowe wrote: post #67

Retric wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hardly, you could do a one time payment of 500$ in a new iPhone 16e or 730$ for a iPhone 16 with AT&T’s prepaid annual 20$/month plan. https://www.att.com/buy/prepaid-phones/browse/apple/ There’s no free lunch here, cheap plans are noticeably worse in various ways, but like cable companies carriers don’t want to give you a good plan without bundling phone upgrades. Visible’s $25/month plan mentions unlimited Hotspot…

There are definitely folks who need that hotspot speed but many who don’t. I’m on WiFi most of the time nowadays so switched to MobileX and spend about $5 a month on my mobile plan.

Yea, cheap plans are definitely worth it for some people just not everyone.

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#76

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 1:37 PM UTC

hyperhello wrote: post #4

I don’t really get it, from a consumer perspective, unless the idea is mass education sales. They already sell enough Macs for economy of scale to kick in. Calling it an iPhone processor doesn’t explain anything by itself, and wouldn’t save much money. Is the screen cheaper? The keyboard? The SSD? I suppose the point would be to farm and beta test a base of new, cheaper, slower, less reliable components, and then fin…

[deleted]

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#77

Post by uxp100 » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 2:22 PM UTC

jonwinstanley wrote: post #70

uxp100 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thing that is different is that carriers regularly subsidize phones. I paid 0 for my current phone, an iPhone 13 mini (when it was relatively new), partner paid nothing for theirs, latest pixel. Now, lower cost carriers do less of this, and you need to get the high end plan, so it’s not good advice for everyone to get the free phone deal. It is one way a laptop is different. A decent chunk of people aren’t direct…

When you say you paid 0, presumably your just paid for it via a monthly contract over several years?

No. Most carriers have free phone promotions regularly. I paid $0. I think the phone before that was also $0. No impact on my bill (since I was already on the unlimited 5g super speed blah blah blah plan, these promotions serve as a way to get people into the all the bells and whistles $80 plans)

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#78

Post by trial3 » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 2:46 PM UTC

risingsubmarine wrote: post #65

An 11" version of this proposed A-series chip Macbook is exactly what I would want to see, and would more likely expect to see from Apple's sales perspective, than an iPad that is capable of running MacOS. A tiny Macbook that I can slip into a sling bag is more preferable to me than an iPad for many tasks.

yup: i would instantly buy something like this if it ran full macOS

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#79

Post by geodel » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 2:54 PM UTC

Phone Chip/Plastic Body/12" 3:2 or 4:3 screen/~400 dollar. I see my family as a customer for it.

Re: Cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone chip coming in 2026, per new report

#80

Post by seec » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 2:56 PM UTC

highwaylights wrote: post #74

seec wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You lack perspective and have a poor imagination. They can absolutely make the iPad Pro run macOS just fine and figure out the software solution quite easily. They just need to make it run macOS by default but with an UI layer that could transform it in an iOS like UI in a pinch (while shutting down most of the daemons and stuff iPad OS doesn't use currently). You can already run iPad apps on Apple Silicon macs just…

It’s clearly for commercial reasons. It still doesn’t change the fact that it would be clunky, like Windows and Android tablets are today. The surface is a poor tablet and Android is a poor desktop OS. The metaphors are oil and water. Sure, they could adapt macOS and iPadOS enough to make it sort of workable, but I tend to agree with them that it would ultimately be a master-of-none device. Clearly the reason they do…

Isn't the whole "raison d'être" of Apple to be able to do stuff that other computer company completely fail ?

The surface make a poor tablet but that's mostly because the hardware isn't suitable for it anyway (because they lack the potential Apple Silicon has). It would be quite pointless for Microsoft to focus on tablet style software when the hardware wouldn't be able to make advantage of it and anyway, the touch layer they have on top is largely sufficient for most task you would want to do in tablet mode (especially since it is sold with a stylus and focus on that interaction method).

Android would make a poor desktop OS as is, but Google is merging ChromeOS with it and there is Samsung Dex that is quite competent already. With the increased competitiveness of Qualcomm chips I think they'll attain a quite decent middle ground at some point.

You say it would be a master of none device but isn't it what the iPad Pro already is ? Quite overkill for a content consumption tablet and too limited to be a full laptop replacement. This is particularly true for the 13 inch model, most use the 11 inch, which is kinda pointless for the price. Better to buy a cheaper iPad Air and a good enough laptop for the price asked.

But really the hardware isn't the problem, it's all about the software that Apple willingly gimp, they could very well make a dual mode device with legacy support for "classic" Mac Apps and a way to suspend to swap when you go into full tablet mode. Most of the app in the ecosystem already use the same underlying data and files format, it's all about differentiated UIs in the end. There is no real problem problem, only lack of will, because of greed as you mention.

Apple spent billions on an overpriced VR device, for which they will never be really competitive because one of its primary use case (gaming), largely require open development model that they will never allow because of their greed.

If Apple would figure out the software solution there would be no reason to buy both a Mac and an iPad for most common use case, and that's really the only reason for their lack of interest.

I think that's good because if the competition manage to figure out the hardware, they'll give them a run for their money.