Rumors have been circulating for some time that Apple will ditch Intel and release its own ARM-based processor for Macs next year, but now we know which hardware the new CPU may be used in.

Recently, a somewhat high-profile leaker, Fudge (who goes by choco_bit on Twitter), posted a lengthy breakdown on Reddit of his predictions for when and how Apple will roll out the new processor. The user noted that Apple's work on custom CPUs for Macs began with the T1 coprocessor in some Mac devices in 2015, and that a complete switch to ARM would free Apple "from Intel's release schedule."

Fudge predicts that the first ARM-powered Mac will be a new version of the retired 12-inch MacBook, possibly as early as next year. Interestingly, this model will bring back the butterfly keyboard that Apple discontinued from the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, and this user notes that Apple is still working internally to "perfect" this often-mentioned feature.

Leeker further predicts that the 12-inch MacBook could feature an A14x processor (which is also expected to be in the future iPad Pro) and will be a "very high-performance, very portable machine." Fudge predicts that the 12-inch ARM-based MacBook will pave the way for future ARM Macs "just as the iPhone X paved the way for the FaceID-enabled iPhone," and that by the mid-2020s all MacBooks could transition to in-house processors We believe there is a possibility that all MacBooks will transition to in-house processors by the mid-2020s.

We have made similar predictions in the past, assuming that the low-cost "MacBook SE" could be a strong answer to Chromebooks and cheaper Windows laptops, offering a premium Mac experience at a relatively affordable price. Since Apple's cheapest laptop is currently the $999 MacBook Air, there is still room for Apple to target the budget market with a $600-$800 machine.

The previous 12-inch MacBook has been discontinued for nearly a year, and its comeback in 2021 may be welcomed by those seeking a smaller, cheaper Mac. Earlier this week, we heard that Apple may announce an ARM-based CPU at WWDC on June 22.