Budget MacBook reference spotted in macOS code

References to three unreleased devices, a low-cost MacBook and two next-generation Studio Display models , have been discovered in the final build of macOS 26.3. The hardware could be unveiled as early as March.

Macworld found the clues in the macOS 26.3 release published on February 11. The build includes kernel extensions (kexts) tied to devices with the codenames J700, J427, and J527.

J700 is said to correspond to a new budget MacBook expected to be significantly cheaper than the current entry-level MacBook Air with the M4 chip.
The device would be the first Mac to use an A-series chip instead of an M-series processor.
The upcoming budget MacBook is reportedly set to feature the same A18 Pro chip used in the iPhone 16 Pro.
Benchmarks suggest the A18 Pro performs slightly ahead of the M1, which would likely be sufficient for most target users.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also reported in mid-February that Apple is preparing a sub-$1,000 MacBook powered by an iPhone-class chip.

The laptop is expected to feature an aluminum body and a display just under 13 inches despite its lower price point. Analysts estimate the device could cost around $599, though a more likely range is $699 to $799.

Apple is also expected to introduce new monitors with refresh rates of up to 120Hz. Mentions of unreleased devices codenamed J427 and J527 were discovered in macOS 26.3, which Macworld believes correspond to next-generation Studio Display models.

The new monitors are expected to support up to a 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR. Studio Display 2 models are reportedly powered by the A19 chip.
The chip would enable intelligent features such as enhanced webcam image processing.
It remains unclear how the two Studio Display 2 models will differ, though they may vary in size, feature set, and pricing.