The FTSE 250 is up 5.1% year to date and 7% over the past 12 months. So it may be crawling back to some sort of form after a difficult few years.
Here, I’ll look at a mid-cap stock that I reckon has the potential to outperform the FTSE 250 in future. As such, I think it’s worth investigating as a potential portfolio addition for investors.
Animal genetics specialist
Genus (LSE: GNS) is up 30% in 2025, so has already started a comeback. Yet shares of the animal genetics firm remain 66% lower than in September 2021.
The company helps farmers breed pigs and cows with superior genetic traits. These animals then grow faster, stay healthier, and produce more meat or milk.
Genus operates through two main divisions: one focused on pig genetics (PIC), and the other improving cattle herds (ABS).
Much of the firm’s troubles in recent years can be traced to China, which was once a promising growth market for PIC. However, the Chinese pork market has been volatile, with weak pig prices causing persistent underperformance.
In its interim results for the six months to 31 December, Genus said it had enjoyed a “more stable trading environment” in China. It notched up seven new royalty customer wins there, bringing the total to 20 signed over the preceding 18 months. There was also strong growth in the Americas and wider Asia region.
Consequently, pre-tax profit came in above expectations at £35.4m, a 21% increase (or 38% increase in constant currency). Adjusted earnings per share jumped 20%.
Gene-edited pigs
The most important catalyst for long-term growth comes from a recent US regulatory approval for its gene-edited pig programme. These pigs are resistant to PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome), a nasty viral disease that puts significant financial strain on pig farmers worldwide.
For Genus, this opens up a major new commercial opportunity. It could license this PRRS-resistant trait worldwide, improving the global pork industry while generating a lucrative new revenue stream.
However, to fully unlock the growth potential, regulatory approval will be needed in China. This is the world’s largest pork consumer and producer by far, so commercialising gene-edited pigs there would be a major breakthrough.
Genus is working with Chinese authorities to get approval, but the regulatory process is understandably cautious when it relates to the food chain. If China doesn’t give the nod, that would be a big blow.
Another potential risk would be an escalation in the global trade war. Ideally, US pork producers need frictionless trade between America and key export markets like Mexico, Canada and Japan. So high reciprocal tariffs would be a major challenge.
Still, this gene-edited pig programme could be a huge growth opportunity, starting in 2026/27. Genus has already secured approval in Brazil, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, and the key US approval should fast-track more green lights worldwide.
Valuation
Based on current forecasts for its fiscal 2026 year, which starts in July, the stock is trading on a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 22.8.
This is a premium to the FTSE 250, but I think it may turn out to be cheap, assuming the gene-edited pig programme is successfully commercialised worldwide.
Longer term, Genus is well-positioned for growth thanks to the rising demand for animal protein, driven by global population growth.
One of the most sensational celebrity trials in decades is expected early this week to go to jurors, who must decide whether music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is responsible for a shocking series of alleged sex crimes and conspiracies dating back years.
The trial in New York has been marked by graphic testimony from inside Combs’ music empire, alleging a pattern of violence, threats and cover-ups that prosecutors have likened to a mob-like criminal enterprise.
A key question posed in the case is whether Combs — who was once worth more than $1 billion — used his power and money to conceal alleged crimes, often with the help of his sprawling organization.
Prosecutors hammered home this alleged conspiracy in closing arguments. Assistant U.S. Atty. Christy Slavik told jurors Combs “counted on silence and shame” to enable and prolong his abuse and used a “small army” of employees to harm women and cover it up, according to the Associated Press.
Combs “doesn’t take no for an answer,” she added.
But legal experts have said the case may not be quite the slam-dunk that the tabloid headlines suggest.
Combs’ defense has freely acknowledged that the mogul behaved badly. They claim, however, that the charges against him are overblown and pointed out that some key witnesses did not report Combs’ misdeeds at the time.
“The theory of the defense seems to be that Diddy did really horrible things, but they don’t meet the elements of the crimes charged,” said legal expert Jeff Chemerinsky, a former federal prosecutor.
On Friday, Combs’ attorney labeled the prosecution’s case “exaggerated” and hammered some of his accusers. Marc Agnifilo claimed Combs enjoyed a “swinger” lifestyle and was addled by drugs. He admitted Combs committed domestic violence, but that the racketeering and sex trafficking charges were trumped up.
Witness Dawn Richard testifies in Manhattan federal court.
(Elizabeth Williams / Associated Press)
“He is not a racketeer,” he said. “He is innocent. He sits there innocent.”
There is no question the trial painted a damning portrait of Combs, the hip-hop star who built a massive music, fashion and lifestyle empire and mingled with the elites of American society and power. But Dmitry Gorin, a former L.A. County sex crimes prosecutor, said jurors will have to determine whether the sheer volume and seriousness of federal charges match the evidence. Gorin questioned whether federal prosecutors overcharged in the high-profile case.
The federal indictment alleges that Combs and his associates lured female victims, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship. Combs then allegedly used force, threats of force, coercion and controlled substances to get women to engage in sex acts with male prostitutes while he occasionally watched in gatherings that Combs referred to as “freak-offs.” Combs gave the women ketamine, ecstasy and GHB to “keep them obedient and compliant” during the performances, prosecutors say.
Combs’ alleged “criminal enterprise” threatened and abused women and used members of his enterprise to engage in sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice, prosecutors said. In bringing so-called RICO charges, prosecutors in opening statements said Combs was helped by a cadre of company employees, security staff and aides. They allegedly helped organize the freak-offs and then covered up the incidents.
Combs is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Jurors heard from 34 witnesses, who provided six weeks of brutal and graphic testimony.
At the heart of the case are three women who described graphic sexual assaults, including Combs’ onetime lover Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who the defense acknowledged was a key witness for prosecutors.
Cassie Ventura in court.
(Elizabeth Williams / Associated Press)
It was Ventura’s lawsuit in 2023 that set off the unraveling of Combs’ enterprise with its details of sex, violence and freak-offs. Witnesses testified that Combs gave the women ketamine, ecstasy and GHB to keep them compliant during the performances.
His last former girlfriend, referred to only as Jane in court, described how the freak-offs and coerced sex continued even after the lawsuit and a raid by Homeland Security Investigations in 2023 until his arrest last year. A former employee, testifying under the pseudonym Mia, also testified that she was sexually assaulted.
The federal indictment alleges that Combs and his associates lured two of the women under the pretense of a romantic relationship. Combs then allegedly used force, threats of force, coercion and controlled substances to get women to engage in sex acts with male prostitutes.
R&B singer Ventura, who had a long relationship with Combs, testified early in the trial.
Ventura told jurors she felt “trapped” in a cycle of physical and sexual abuse, and that the relationship involved 11 years of beatings, sexual blackmail and a rape.
She said Combs threatened to leak videos of her sexual encounters with numerous male sex workers while drug-intoxicated and covered in baby oil as he watched and orchestrated the freak-offs.
One of those alleged freak-offs led to an infamous hotel beating, Ventura testified. Video from that March 2016 night shows Combs punching and kicking Ventura as she cowers and tries to protect herself in front of an L.A. hotel elevator bank. He then drags her down the hall by her hooded sweatshirt toward their hotel room.
A second angle from another camera captures Combs throwing a vase toward her. She suffered bruising to her eye, a fat lip and a bruise that prosecutors showed was still visible during a movie premiere two days later, where she donned sunglasses and heavy makeup on the red carpet.
A cover-up then ensued, according to prosecutors. Ventura stated that the police visited her apartment. She answered a few of their questions, but told the jury she still wanted to protect Combs at the time.
“I would not say who I was talking about,” she told the jury. “In that moment, I did not want to hurt him in that way. There was too much going on. It was a lot.”
Eddie Garcia, the InterContinental Hotel security guard, testified that Combs gave him a brown paper bag containing $100,000 in cash for the video.
Sean Diddy Combs in court.
(Elizabeth Williams / Associated Press)
Garcia said that after his supervisor agreed to sell the video recording, he met with Combs, Combs’ chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, and a bodyguard. After Garcia raised concerns about the police, he said Combs called Ventura on FaceTime, handed him the phone and told Ventura to tell Garcia that she also wanted the video “to go away.” After that, Garcia said he took the money and split it with co-workers, according to reporting from inside the courtroom.
Prosecutors allege this shows the conspiracy.
In her closing argument, Slavik said racketeering law applies when someone commits crimes as part of a group, and in Combs’ case, “the defendant was a powerful man, but he became more powerful and dangerous because of his inner circle, his businesses — the enterprise,” she told jurors, according to AP.
Under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO, there are 35 specific offenses, including murder, bribery and extortion, and federal prosecutors need to show a pattern involving at least two overt acts as part of a criminal enterprise.
People typically think of the mob, street gangs or drug cartels. But any loose association of two or more people is enough, like Combs’ entourage, said Neama Rahami, a former federal prosecutor and defense attorney.
While the testimony against Combs was graphic and detailed, Rahami said the defense hopes jurors will question why those on the stand did not report the behavior to authorities at the time and in some cases stayed in Combs’ orbit.
Rahami said she found parts of the prosecution’s case underwhelming, especially given the complex and serious charges they filed.
“I still think Combs is guilty, but the defense has a good chance of securing not guilty verdicts, especially on the sex trafficking counts,” she said.
The defense was aggressive in cross-examination, hammering witnesses about why they did not report Combs at the time or simply leave him. They also presented text messages of support and love after the alleged attacks. The defense also focused on the money and other things they got from Combs.
“This isn’t about a crime. This is about money. It’s about money,” Agnifilo said, according to the AP.
But the level of graphic testimony might be hard for jurors to ignore.
Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Ventura, testified that Combs dangled her over a 17-story balcony and tossed her onto balcony furniture in September 2016.
Capricorn Clark, a former assistant to Combs, told jurors Combs forced her from her apartment at gunpoint to go with him to musician Kid Cudi’s home in December 2011. Once there, Combs and Clark entered the empty house, and then Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, showed up.
To avoid getting law enforcement involved, Clark testified, Combs ordered her to call Ventura, who was at that time Combs’ ex-girlfriend, and said they needed to convince Cudi not to snitch to the cops. “If you guys don’t convince him of that, I’ll kill all you m—,” Clark quoted Combs saying.
Cudi testified that his Porsche was later firebombed in his driveway with a Molotov cocktail.
Prosecutors got the last word Friday before the jury went home for the weekend, reminding them of the Cudi car explosion.
“He delegated and his inner circle handled the dirty work for him,” prosecutor Maurene Comey said, according to CNN. “He said he was going to blow up the car, and lo and behold, it blew up.
“For 20 years, the defendant got away with his crimes. That ends in this courtroom,” Comey added. “The defendant is not a god. He is a person.”
Saint Laurent debuts summer 2025 campaign. Photo: Glen Luchford / Saint Laurent
Saint Laurent brings serious glamour to the spotlight with its summer 2025 campaign. Shot by renowned photographer Glen Luchford, the photos shimmer with energy, elegance, and attitude. Models Anok Yai, Ella Mccutcheon, and Penelope Ternes channel vintage sophistication with a daring twist.
They pose in rich jewel tones, showing off ruby reds, sapphire blues, and bright canary yellows. Lacy textures and silky fabrics give the outfits a bold and sensual feel. Sculptural gold jewelry and sharp high heels complete each look.
Saint Laurent Summer 2025 Campaign
Whether lounging on velvet or leaning across golden tables, the models give off power and confidence. Each Saint Laurent photo captures a story of chicness, drama, and seduction.
Hair stylist Duffy gives the models smooth, voluminous waves, adding to the old-school vibe. Makeup artist Diane Kendal creates glowing skin and deep red lips for a perfect finishing touch.
This campaign is a mix of fashion fantasy and modern luxury. It’s all about confidence, color, and shine.
It didn’t take long after Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced his retirement for the mask to come off.
Just hours after revealing he won’t seek re-election, the North Carolina senator took to the Senate floor and unleashed a scathing tirade against President Trump’s signature “Big, Beautiful Bill” — a sweeping America First legislative package aimed at slashing wasteful spending and ending taxpayer-funded handouts to noncitizens.
One of the key provisions in the bill? Defunding Medicaid for illegal aliens, refugees, and asylum seekers.
BREAKING: Defunding Medicare for noncitizens, refugees, asylum seekers is BACK IN the Big Beautiful Bill…Senate Republicans managed to work AROUND the Democrat Senate Parliamentarian’s prior ruling, per Punchbowl.
But apparently, that was too much for Senator Tillis.
Tillis tried to justify his no vote by touting his past life in “management consulting” and his old Speaker days in North Carolina.
Tillis whined that the bill’s Medicaid reforms would hurt North Carolina by cutting billions in provider taxes.
Tillis brazenly claimed that Trump would “break his promise” to Medicaid recipients — comparing Trump’s reforms to Barack Obama’s infamous lie: “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.”
Tillis: Republicans are about to make a mistake on health care and betray a promise. It is inescapable that this bill in its current form will betray the very promise that Donald J. Trump made in the Oval Office—or in the Cabinet Room, when I was there with Finance—where he said, “We can go after waste, fraud, and abuse on any programs.”
Now, those amateurs that are advising him—not Dr. Oz, I’m talking about White House health care experts—refuse to tell him that those instructions to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse all of a sudden eliminate a government program that’s called the provider tax. We have morphed a legal construct that admittedly has been abused and should be eliminated into “waste, fraud, and abuse”—money laundering.
WATCH:
The facts matter. The people matter. The Senate’s Medicaid approach breaks promises and will kick people off of Medicaid who truly need it. The Senate can make one simple fix to make sure that won’t happen. pic.twitter.com/zvW1AgCxBF
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) June 30, 2025
Amnesty International says it has deep concerns over the level of repressive policing in Kenya. The comments come after the latest demonstrations in the country last Wednesday, when the NGO says 19 people were killed and at least 500 injured after police fired on protesters. The rallies were called to mark one year since deadly protests began over a finance bill and tax rises. Amnesty says that although there was some police restraint in parts of the country last week, in the capital Nairobi the situation exploded again. Irungu Houghton, Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya, spoke to us in Perspective.
Jake Paulnotched his 12th victory last night (Sat., June 29, 2025), earning a unanimous decision overJulio Cesar Chavez Jr. at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California (results here).
With Chavez Jr.’s name added to his resume, Paul is eyeing the future. The YouTuber-turned-professional boxer aims to become a world champion but remains drawn to mega-money matchups.
“El Gallo” is doubling down on a clash with former WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, predicting it will happen next year.
“I’m definitely not a heavyweight, but I’m still going to take the challenge,” Paul said during the Paul vs. Chavez Jr. post-fight press conference. “You look at Deontay Wilder, he was beating these guys weighing 215 pounds. Granted, he’s 6-foot-6 or something, but anything is possible. I like the challenge. That’s the criticism. ‘Fight someone in their prime who is a beast!’
“I think people just want to see me lose,” Paul added. “That’s really the message behind it all. Anthony Joshua is an insane fight, but I want that challenge. We’ve been DMing back and forth, he wants to make it happen, he called me up, and it’s looking very likely for next year.”
A Paul vs. Joshua showdown would be a blockbuster, though it seems far-fetched. Then again, who predicted a bout with Mike Tyson?
Paul rides a six-fight win streak, with victories over Tyson, Mike Perry, and Nate Diaz, while Joshua reels from a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois(watch highlights).
To checkout the latest boxing news and notes click here.
These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and antipsychotic medication, which can cause temperature dysregulation.
The organisation explains: “This is because they interfere with the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for temperature regulation.
“This is often listed as a potential side effect, so it’s important to check your medication’s accompanying leaflet if you’re concerned, you can discuss this this with your prescribing doctor, psychiatrist or pharmacist.”
Some examples of medication this includes are:
Antipsychotic medications such as amisulpride (brand name Solian), aripiprazole (Abilify), clozapine (Clozaril, Denzapine, Zaponex), lurasidone (Latuda), olanzapine (Zypadhera, Zyprexa), paliperidone (Invega, Xeplion), quetiapine (Seroquel, Seroquel XL), risperidone (Risperdal, Risperdal Consta), chlorpromazine, flupentixol, and haloperidol
Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, imipramine, doxepin, mianserin, and trazodone
SSRIs such as sertraline, citalopram, and fluoxetine
The side effects to look for
Mental Health UK warns that some medications increase sweating, meaning you are more likely to become dehydrated, while some decrease sweat production.
It continued: “Medications can also impair your ability to think clearly, or simply change your tolerance to hot temperatures.”
Signs of heat exhaustion can include:
Feeling sick or being sick
Being very thirsty
Dizziness
Tiredness or weakness
Headache
Excessive sweating
A high temperature
Clammy skin, or a change in skin colour
Fast breathing or heartbeat
Cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
Irritability (particularly in children)
Delirium (often in older adults)
It is vital to read and retain the information leaflet for any medication you take. “To understand any medication that you may be taking in both the short-term and long-term, you can go to the NHS’s medication directory to find out how they work, the possible side effects, interactions and common questions,” it says.
To cool someone down
If someone has heat exhaustion, the NHS says you should follow these four steps:
Move them to a cool place
Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks
Get them to drink a sports or rehydration drink, or cool water
Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs, wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck are good too
You should stay with them until they’re better, which should take around 30 minutes.
However, you should call 999 if you or someone else have signs of heatstroke, including:
Still being unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place, being cooled and drinking fluids
A very high temperature
Hot skin that’s not sweating and might look red (this can be harder to see on brown and black skin)
A fast heartbeat
Fast breathing or shortness of breath
Confusion and lack of coordination
A seizure or fit
Loss of consciousness
Data has shown that a total of 8.6 million patients in England were prescribed antidepressants in 2022-23, with the amount having almost doubled since 2011.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
As a manager, you’re not just responsible for engagement, productivity and retention — you’re responsible for creating opportunity. That’s the heart of inclusive leadership.
The data has been clear for years: the relationship between a manager and their employee is the most important driver of performance. As a leader, your role isn’t just operational — you are the connector, advocate and catalyst. You don’t just include your employees on the team — you equip them to belong.
The number one inclusive leadership behavior? Creating opportunity for and with your people.
Don’t let the noise around DEI distract you from this truth: when we generate opportunity, we scale inclusive leadership. Employees begin opening doors — not only for themselves, but for each other. This kind of leadership is collaborative, contagious and culture-defining.
Creating opportunity is about more than offering new tasks or promotions. It’s the discipline of making new things possible for every employee, based on who they are and what they need to thrive.
Here are seven powerful ways to lead more inclusively by creating opportunity:
1. Hiring and onboarding
Hiring with equity in mind means proactively sourcing diverse candidates and reducing bias at every stage — from how job descriptions are written to how interviews are conducted. Inclusive leaders work with cross-functional hiring panels, ask consistent questions and focus on qualifications, not assumptions.
Once hired, onboarding becomes the first real opportunity to demonstrate belonging. That means creating space for employees’ full identities — including preferred names and pronouns, accessibility needs and personal strengths — so they can contribute with confidence from day one.
Company values shouldn’t live in a handbook — they should be reflected in how strategy, culture and people decisions are made. Leaders are responsible for helping their teams connect the dots between the work they do and the values the company claims to uphold.
This includes defining what inclusive behavior looks like in action: showing respect for different identities, actively including underrepresented voices and holding people accountable when values are compromised. It’s about building a culture that’s not just high-performing, but values-driven.
3. Developing people intentionally
Inclusive leaders don’t just assign tasks — they create opportunities for meaningful growth. That starts by understanding what motivates each team member and leveraging tools like AI and collaborative learning to meet individual needs.
It also means recognizing that younger or less experienced employees often have more to contribute than they’re given credit for. Development should be a two-way street, with mentoring, project ownership and cross-level learning all part of the equation.
4. Giving feedback that builds trust
Feedback is a core leadership skill — but inclusive leaders go further by adapting how they deliver it. They know what works for one person may not work for another, and they take the time to learn each team member’s preferences around recognition, coaching and critique.
They also prioritize feedback as a system, not just a moment. That includes following up with internal candidates who weren’t selected for roles and giving them actionable guidance to grow. Feedback becomes not just a tool for accountability, but for opportunity.
5. Mentoring and sponsoring across lines of difference
Mentorship opens doors. Sponsorship pushes them open.
Inclusive leaders provide both — particularly to those who are underrepresented or less likely to receive informal advocacy. That might look like matching mentoring pairs across levels, functions, or backgrounds. Or speaking up for an employee’s promotion when they’re not in the room.
Sponsorship is especially powerful when it’s intentional, consistent and tied to performance, not proximity. It’s how high-potential talent rises — and how inclusion moves beyond intention to action.
Whether hybrid, remote or in-person, employees want balance and purpose, not just policies. Leaders set the tone by building cultures where flexible work is respected and connection isn’t left to chance.
That includes creating intentional forums for engagement, like skip-level meetings and cross-team collaborations. Employees want to feel seen by their leaders and connected to their organization’s mission. It’s not about checking boxes — it’s about cultivating energy, clarity and trust.
7. Advancing and promoting with equity in mind
Most employees define opportunity through growth. For some, that means promotions. For others, it’s added responsibilities, increased influence or specialized assignments.
Inclusive leaders ensure that advancement isn’t left to chance or informal networks. They evaluate whether internal opportunities are being equitably offered — and whether expectations around readiness, time-in-role, or leadership style are fair. In today’s workplace, especially with younger generations, long waits and outdated hierarchies won’t cut it. Opportunity has to be both visible and viable.
A new model for leadership
Inclusive leadership doesn’t belong to a single department or job title. It’s a mindset and skill set every employee should be invited to develop. Encourage your team to explore what inclusive leadership means to them — and create a culture where participation is welcomed, tracked, and tied to real results.
The more we build systems that equip every employee to lead inclusively — regardless of level — the more opportunity we generate across the organization.
Because the best leaders don’t just open doors. They teach others how to do the same.
As a manager, you’re not just responsible for engagement, productivity and retention — you’re responsible for creating opportunity. That’s the heart of inclusive leadership.
The data has been clear for years: the relationship between a manager and their employee is the most important driver of performance. As a leader, your role isn’t just operational — you are the connector, advocate and catalyst. You don’t just include your employees on the team — you equip them to belong.
The number one inclusive leadership behavior? Creating opportunity for and with your people.
PoliticusUSA is 100% supported by readers like you, so please consider supporting us by becoming a subscriber.
For years, Fox News has been sanewashing central for Donald Trump. Fox allows Trump to appear before friendly hosts. The interviews are taped. The Trump interviews are edited before airing, and during Trump’s first term, the White House had control of the final edit.
It was surprising when even a completely Trump-friendly like Maria Bartiromo could not edit Trump enough to remove signs of his cognitive decline.
It seems to be the great unspoken in mainstream US media to talk about the fact that Donald Trump spends most of his appearances not making sense. The president only continues to age with each passing day, and the idea that a nearly 80-year-old man is in charge of the country who seems to have a loose relationship with lucidity is not getting as much attention as it should is a travesty.
Even the best Fox News editing could not hide Trump’s decline.
Here is what Trump said while talking about trade and tariffs:
Apple could be looking to bring out a successor to its lower cost MacBook
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple intends to launch a MacBook using the processor currently in the iPhone 16 Pro, as part of a plan to produce a significantly lower-cost Mac.
Apple has been designing its A-series processors for the iPhone — and originally the iPad — since its A4 release in 2010. Consequently, when Apple Silicon‘s M-series was first announced for Mac, comparisons were made between the then-current Intel Macs and the existing A-series processors.
Now according to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is going to turn that theoretical comparison into reality by making a MacBook that runs on an iPhone’s A-series processor.
Kuo is unusually specific in his claims. He says that this new lower-cost MacBook will:
Enter mass production at the end 2025 or early 2026
Have an A18 Pro processor
Have approximately a 13-inch screen size
Come in silver, blue, pink, and yellow
The A18 Pro processor is currently used by Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Then Kuo further claims that Apple plans to sell between five and seven million of the devices in 2026. Between this and other MacBook devices, Kuo says Apple wants to get back to the COVID peak of 25 million sold across 2026.
The one area Kuo has no claimed detail on is pricing, but that sales estimate is aggressive, which implies a lower price. If the estimated screen size is correct, that would mean this Mac has the same size display as the MacBook Air, which is already the lowest-cost Mac.
Switching from an M-series to an A-series would certainly enable lower production costs, as the current Mac processors are physically larger and more complex than the iPhone ones. The A-series have fewer CPU and GPU cores, and are not really built for the same heavy workload as a Mac.
That would immediately mean that the low-cost Mac would not be suitable for power users, which then implies it would be much more of a casual or consumer device.
There’s no indication that it would run iOS or iPadOS, but only an implication that it would continue to run macOS in some form.
Having some Macs on the M-series and some on the A-series sounds complex from a marketing perspective. Except Apple already has a similar split with the iPad, and the company always sells on features instead of processor specifications.
If the claim is correct, then this could be Apple effectively bringing back a version of the MacBook — as opposed to the MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro. While it had keyboard issues for many users, and was smaller than Kuo’s claim of 13-inches, the MacBook had a lot going for it at launch in 2015.
And when it was discontinued without a direct replacement in 2019, it was also much missed.
Note that Ming-Chi Kuo is no longer as accurate as he was just a few years ago, but he does have sources in the supply chain, and he has got things right. He now almost never specifies whether his claims are leaks from sources or just his speculation, but equally this claim has more precise detail than usual.
