This product is positioned in the popular and mid-range segments with extremely competitive prices.
Although TrendForce has not revealed detailed specifications, previously leaked sources indicate that this MacBook model will be equipped with a variant of the A18 Pro chip (which appears on the iPhone 16 Pro line).
The appearance of this model is expected to completely replace the MacBook Air M1 line - a model currently being distributed by Apple through retail channels with preferential prices from 549 to 599 USD.
To achieve an attractive price, Apple is expected to make some hardware tweaks: The machine may only start with 8GB of RAM, while the current MacBook Air and Pro lines have standardized the 16GB level.
Because the A18 Pro chip does not support Thunderbolt standards, the device is likely to only use a regular USB-C port, leading to slower data transfer speeds and limited ability to output discrete monitors.
The 12.9-inch size is slightly smaller than the 13.6-inch on the current MacBook Air, reminiscent of the 12-inch "super-thin and light" MacBook line that was previously discontinued.
Based on the product cycle, Apple may announce this laptop model around March or April this year.
Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo added that this cheap MacBook model may have a youthful color palette similar to the iMac line, including: silver, blue, pink and yellow.
