Apple looks set to ship two MacBook tracks: a budget model near $599–$699 for students and casual users, and refreshed M5 MacBook Pro/Air for performance buyers. Timing appears to be late 2025 through early 2026. If you want a cheap entry into macOS, consider waiting. Power users can hold for M5 or buy M4 on deal.
What’s new at a glance
Budget MacBook (~$599): An entry-level Mac that may use an A18 Pro chip, a roughly 13-inch display, and bright color options. The goal is simple: undercut MacBook Air pricing and win students, writers, and everyday users.
M5 MacBook Pro/Air: Next-gen Apple silicon across the lineup. Expect familiar 14- and 16-inch Pro models and 13-/15-inch Airs, with performance bumps and efficiency gains. Big design changes like OLED likely land later.
Budget MacBook: who it’s for
If you mostly browse, write, run office apps, stream, and do light photo edits, this could be the cheapest path into macOS. Apple appears to be aiming at Chromebook/Windows territory without making the experience feel cheap.
M5 MacBook Pro and Air: the premium refresh
The M5 generation is about sustained performance and battery life in the same slim designs. Pros get multi-chip options (base/Pro/Max), while Air stays thin and fanless. Expect better thermals and small quality-of-life upgrades over M4.
Release timing and codenames
The rumor consensus says “between the end of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.” Internally, MacBook Pro models are codenamed J714/J716; MacBook Air models are J813/J815. Apple is also preparing two new displays with codes J427/J527.
Why M5 may debut on iPad Pro first
Apple often uses iPad Pro to debut an M-series cycle. The M5 iPad Pro is tipped to arrive first, which fits the pattern and lets Apple seed the chip before Mac scale.
Expected specs and features
Budget MacBook (A18 Pro, ~13-inch, colors)
- Chip: Reports point to the A18 Pro from iPhone 16 Pro. That’s unusual for a Mac, but it would help hit the low price and still deliver strong single-core performance.
- Display: Around 13 inches. Some chatter calls out 12.9 inches; plan on a compact footprint either way.
- Colors: Silver, blue, pink, yellow to echo iMac vibes.
- Price: Target $599 education tier, with retail likely up to $699.
- Timeline: Components in Q3 2025, assembly in Q4 2025, launch could spill into Q1 2026.
Real-world example: A student juggling Google Docs, Safari tabs, Zoom classes, and Spotify should be fine here. Xcode builds, heavy Lightroom catalogs, or multi-4K timelines are better on M-series Pros.
M5 MacBook Pro/Air
- Sizes: 14/16-inch Pro; 13/15-inch Air.
- Chips: M5, plus M5 Pro/Max for the Pro line.
- Design: Mostly unchanged this cycle; the big visual leap is tied to OLED panels expected later.
- Quality-of-life: Expect connectivity and webcam refinements and the usual CPU/GPU/NPU gains over M4.
New monitors: J427 and J527
Apple is also moving two Mac displays toward production. One is widely expected to be the Studio Display 2. Upgrades could include MiniLED backlighting, higher refresh rates, or a new size, but final specs aren’t locked.
Who should wait, who can buy now
Wait for the budget MacBook if: you want macOS on the cheapest possible new Apple laptop and your workloads are light. You’ll likely get great battery life and a colorful, modern design.
Wait for M5 Pro/Air if: you do video work, codebases that compile often, large RAW photo sets, AI workflows, or you keep laptops 4–6 years.
Buy M4 now if: you find a steep discount, you need a machine this quarter, and your apps already fly on M4. M4 is not slow, and heavy users can still spec Pro/Max models to last.
Quick comparison
| Model (expected) | Chip | Likely price | Target users | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget MacBook | A18 Pro | $599–$699 | Students, casual users | Q4 2025–Q1 2026 |
| MacBook Air (M5) | M5 | From ~$999 | Everyday creators, mobile pros | Late 2025–early 2026 |
| MacBook Pro (M5/Pro/Max) | M5 tiers | From ~$1,599 | Editors, devs, power users | Late 2025–early 2026 |
Mini case study
A freelance writer on an Intel 2018 Air asked if they should switch now. They need Safari with 20 tabs, Word, Slack, and occasional photo edits. They chose to wait for the budget MacBook, pocket the savings, and keep a USB-C hub handy. For them, fanless efficiency beats raw power.
Risks, unknowns, and what may slip
- Apple hasn’t confirmed the A18 Pro in a Mac. Plans can change.
- Dates could slide into early 2026.
- OLED MacBooks look more like a 2026 story. If you want that contrast and black levels, plan to wait longer.
Featured Answer Boxes
When will M5 MacBooks launch?
Likely between late 2025 and early 2026, following an expected M5 debut on iPad Pro. MacBook Pro and Air models are reportedly nearing mass production, which usually precedes announcement by a few months.
Is Apple really making a $599 MacBook?
Multiple supply-chain reports point to a low-cost MacBook targeting students and casual users, with component mass production penciled for Q3 2025 and assembly in Q4. Pricing may start around $599 for education.
Will the $599 MacBook use an A-series chip?
Yes, rumors suggest an A18 Pro chip, which is unusual for a Mac but plausible if Apple wants to hit lower prices while keeping strong single-core performance for everyday tasks.
Should I wait for M5 or buy M4 now?
If you can wait a few months and want the longest runway, hold for M5. If you need a machine now and see a solid M4 discount, buy confidently M4 remains fast and efficient.
