Apple may release cheaper Mac laptops to take on Chromebooks and budget-friendly Windows laptops as early as 2026.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the company plans to launch a machine priced for “well under $1,000.” He reports that this new laptop is already in early production under the codename J700. This lines up with earlier talk that a low-cost MacBook Air was coming at roughly $599, which would let Apple go head-to-head with other affordable laptops, like Chromebooks and Windows PCs.
To keep costs down, the report suggests Apple will use a less expensive LCD screen that is smaller than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air—the new budget MacBook could be as compact as 12 inches.
Another way Apple might trim the expense is by using an A-series iPhone chip. This chip would be a step down from the top performance found in the MacBook Pro or the latest M4 Air. The upcoming chip might be a version of the A19 Pro that came out with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air, a chip Apple claims can deliver performance similar to a MacBook.
Source: CNET
