We already have a good idea how capable the new MacBook will be
Source: 9to5Mac
Choosing Between the New MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro
Once the new low‑cost MacBook launches this week, buyers will have three portable‑Mac options:
- MacBook – the budget‑friendly model.
- MacBook Air – the thin‑and‑light workhorse.
- MacBook Pro – the performance‑focused machine.
Who Should Pick Which Model?
-
Very light users – email, web browsing, and document writing.
These tasks need minimal CPU/GPU power, so the new MacBook will be more than sufficient. The only remaining question is whether the offered colour options suit their taste. -
Mid‑range users – modest photo editing, occasional 4K video work with few tracks, or multitrack audio editing.
These users need more capability than the entry‑level MacBook provides, but they don’t require the full power (or price) of a MacBook Pro.
Deciding Between the MacBook and the MacBook Air
If you fall into the “mid‑range” category, consider the following factors:
| Factor | MacBook (low‑cost) | MacBook Air |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Adequate for basic tasks; may struggle with heavier editing workloads. | Faster CPU/GPU; handles modest photo/video/audio editing more comfortably. |
| Portability | Slightly lighter and thinner. | Still very portable, but a bit heavier than the base MacBook. |
| Battery Life | Good, but generally less than the Air’s efficiency‑focused design. | Typically longer due to more power‑efficient silicon. |
| Price | Lowest entry price. | Higher price, but still below the Pro line. |
| Colour Options | Limited – see the colour discussion. | Wider palette (including classic finishes). |
Quick Decision Guide
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Choose the MacBook if you:
- Prioritise the lowest possible cost.
- Need a machine mainly for web, email, and light document work.
- Are comfortable with a limited colour selection.
-
Choose the MacBook Air if you:
- Want a noticeable performance bump for occasional photo/video/audio editing.
- Value longer battery life and a slightly more premium build.
- Prefer a broader range of colour finishes.
Reviews of the new MacBook will provide definitive answers, but the benchmarks and real‑world usage data from current MacBook Air models already give a solid baseline for making an informed choice.
M1 versus A18 Pro
Although the idea of using a smartphone chip to power a laptop sounds controversial, the reality tells a different story.
The first Apple‑silicon MacBook Air was powered by the M1 chip and was widely praised for its blend of performance and power efficiency. The A18 Pro chip is remarkably similar to the M1, as the benchmarks show.
Geekbench 6 – Single‑core
| Chip | Score |
|---|---|
| M1 | 2,369 |
| A18 Pro | 3,409 |
Result: In single‑core performance the smartphone chip is faster, and the same holds for several other tests (e.g., NPU performance on AI tasks).
Geekbench 6 – Multi‑core
| Chip | Score |
|---|---|
| M1 | 8,576 |
| A18 Pro | 8,492 |
Result: In multi‑core performance the two chips are essentially neck‑and‑neck.
Other benchmark results vary, but the overall story remains the same: in the majority of cases there is no significant difference between the two chips.
Note: The upcoming MacBook Air (see the latest report) will be powered by an M5 chip, which promises a substantial performance jump. This raises the question—is M1‑level performance still acceptable in 2026?
M1 Performance Is More Than Enough for Many
I’m a good test case for answering this question.
I bought a refurbished M1 MacBook Air last year as a test to see whether it met my needs or would prompt me to upgrade to the M4 model. If the M1 machine had proved inadequate, I got a sufficiently good deal that I knew I could recoup the purchase cost on resale, so it was a zero‑risk experiment.
It only took a week to answer the question. Even for photo editing and occasional 4K video editing, the machine felt more than up to the task. Indeed, it proved so good that I now carry only this rather than my 16‑inch M1 Max MacBook Pro when travelling, even when I know in advance that I’ll be doing some video editing.
The MacBook Will Likely Prove the Same
I need to add one proviso that may or may not turn out to be important. When I bought the M1 MacBook Air, I opted for 16 GB RAM. The upcoming MacBook will instead have only 8 GB because that’s a limitation of the A18 Pro chip.
I did get the chance to try a few experiments…