Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Apple could be secretly working on an ARM-based, touchscreen computer

Luke Larsen
By

Apple is reportedly at work on an entirely new line of computers under the code name “Star.” Distinct from products like the MacBook or the iPad Pro, Project Star was originally said to be a “brand new device family.” It will be a hybrid touchscreen computer that “runs a derivative of iOS,” according to 9to5 Mac, but recent reports suggest that this could just be a new iPhone model in Apple’s lineup.

The report doesn’t have a lot of details, nor does it claim a specific source, but it does offer a few interesting snippets of information that hint at what kind of device this will be. Apparently, this Project Star computer will include a touchscreen, a SIM card slot, GPS, and compass. It will also be water resistant. All of those things sound like a mobile device akin to an iPad, but 9to5 Mac also notes that it runs a specification called Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI). If it really does use EFI, that could mean we’re looking at something more akin to an ARM-based notebook. An ARM-based MacBook would give it capabilities such as LTE — a feature that new Qualcomm-powered laptops like the HP Envy X2 have.

Recommended Videos

Although we should take the report with a grain of salt until we hear more, we have been waiting for Apple to reveal its plans for a new entry-level MacBook all year. While all the rumors surrounding a new laptop have hinted it was a new MacBook or MacBook Air, some kind of a hybrid device would be more interesting. There are claims that prototypes have already been created and are currently being tested by Apple employees in Cupertino. Even more surprisingly, the ship date could be as soon as 2020.

Related

Pegatron is expected to be the manufacturer for Apple’s ARM-based computing device, which will have a model number beginning with N84, DigiTimes reported citing industry sources. Another possibility that’s being floated for N84 is a low-cost iPhone. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman tweeted that his sources told him that N84 could be a low-cost variant of an iPhone X with an LCD instead of an AMOLED screen.

The division between Mac and iOS has been a hurdle Apple has been trying to leap for years now. Features like the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro or the iPad Pro’s Smart Keyboard are all examples of ways to bring the functionality of the two product lines together. There were even rumors earlier this year that Apple was planning to find a way to bring iOS apps to the Mac, which would make a lot of sense on a device like the one mentioned in the report.

On the other hand, Apple CEO Tim Cook recently stated that Apple customers weren’t interested in a device that merges MacOS and iOS and that it would only water down both of them.

We may learn more about Apple’s plans for future MacBooks at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference.

Updated on May 29: Added information about Pegatron and LCD iPhone.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Luke Larsen
Luke Larsen
Senior Editor, Computing
Luke Larsen is the Senior editor of computing, managing all content covering laptops, monitors, PC hardware, Macs, and more.
How Nvidia and AMD could make Windows laptops feel like MacBooks
An ARM processor.

In an unexpected twist, Nvidia may soon make more than just some of the best graphics cards. Rumor has it that it's working on ARM-based processors for client PCs. It's not alone in this historic venture, either, because AMD is also said to be readying ARM CPUs.

According to a report from Reuters, both AMD and Nvidia are getting ready to launch ARM-based systems on a chip (SoCs) as early as 2025. The target market will be client PCs that run Windows, which has had a slow and troubled embrace of ARM architecture historically. After how successful such chips have been in Apple's own M1 and M2 silicon, though, it seems obvious that the transition to ARM will need to speed up in order for ARM-powered Windows laptops to truly compete.

Read more
Apple’s new M3 Macs could launch any day now, leak claims
A MacBook Pro running macOS Sonoma at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2023.

We’ve heard for months that Apple’s brand-new Macs with M3 chips will be launching in the fall, but a fresh leak suggests their release could be just around the corner. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade, your moment may have almost arrived.

The information comes from the news site MacRumors, which cites “a verified source” in its report. According to the outlet, Apple is about to change the list of Macs available to be traded in at the company’s stores.

Read more
Apple’s M3 MacBook plans could be in jeopardy this year
Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air placed on a desk.

We've been hearing rumors about Apple updating its MacBook range with the new M3 processor throughout this year, but those plans might be in jeopardy. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is ditching its plans to release M3-powered MacBooks this year.

Although that runs counter to some reports we heard earlier in the year -- one rumor said Apple would release its new MacBooks no later than September -- more reports are mounting that claim Apple is delaying its plans.

Read more