Apple’s low-cost MacBook may skip some features you won’t miss

Apple will make a special announcement next week, and rumors strongly suggest that we will see a new low-end MacBook that will sit below the MacBook Air. While it’s already taken for granted that this new MacBook will have the A18 Pro iPhone chip inside, there are questions about what else Apple will cut to make this laptop more affordable.

Thanks to inside information from Apple, we may now have a clue as to what customers will be missing out on if they choose the new low-end MacBook.

A closer look at what’s missing

Based on internal files accidentally leaked by Apple last year, which were seen by Macworld, there are some key features that may be left out of the new MacBook. These files came from an internal macOS kernel and include drivers and hardware specifications for unreleased devices.

For instance, the hardware spec sheet for the new low-end MacBook suggests it won’t support high-impedance headphones, as it uses the same audio DAC as the M1 MacBook Air.

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High-impedance headphones offer better sound quality and less distortion, which is ideal for audiophiles and professionals. Apple introduced support for this technology on Macs with the M2 chip and later, but apparently, the company decided to use a cheaper audio DAC for its cheaper MacBook.

It also seems that this new MacBook will have a less premium display. The files make no mention of the driver required by the True Tone sensor, which adjusts the display temperature based on ambient light. Instead, this Mac relies on the old sensor that only adjusts the display brightness level based on ambient light. It was first introduced on the iPad in 2016 and has appeared on nearly every Apple display since.

Another thing missing from the files for the new, cheaper MacBook is the “AppleHighVoltageCharger” driver, which essentially enables support for more powerful chargers for faster charging. This means that the low-end MacBook will likely take longer to recharge than the newer MacBooks.

Fast charging support on Apple laptops also came with the M2 MacBooks, so that’s another similarity that the low-end MacBook will have with the M1 MacBook Air.

When it comes to wireless connectivity, the new MacBook is expected to have the same Wi-Fi chip as the A16 iPad, which supports Wi-Fi 6, while the current M4 MacBook Air supports the faster Wi-Fi 6E standard. Customers can also expect standard USB-C rather than Thunderbolt.

One last thing: the new MacBook might lack a backlit keyboard, one of the key features of all MacBooks for many years. While this may disappoint some users, it’s worth remembering that the old plastic MacBook didn’t have a backlit keyboard either, nor does the non-Pro Magic Keyboard for iPad. However, this Mac will likely keep Touch ID for easy and secure authentication.

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Bummer but not a dealbreaker

Although the list of missing features may sound alarming, the reality is that most of these compromises are unlikely to be dealbreakers for the target audience.

This isn’t a MacBook aimed at audio engineers with studio headphones or creative pros who rely on color-accurate displays and high-speed external storage. It’s designed for students, first-time Mac buyers, and everyday users who primarily browse the web, write documents, and stream media.

For these users, this low-end MacBook will offer more than enough power to run everyday tasks, plus a high-resolution display, and wireless connectivity that’s still fast enough for browsing and streaming.

For buyers who need those higher-end capabilities, the MacBook Air remains in the lineup. For everyone else, the new low-end MacBook could represent a more accessible entry into the Mac ecosystem.