Apple Launching Budget MacBook in 2026

[MacRumors]

Apple is developing a more affordable Mac notebook that's set to come out in the first half of 2026, according to Bloomberg. The machine will cost "well under $1,000" and it will compete with affordable Windows machines and Chromebooks.

Apple's lowest priced Mac notebook right now is the MacBook Air, which starts at $999, though students can get a $100 discount through the Education Store. The Mac mini desktop machine is more affordable at $599, but it is not portable and does not come with a display or peripherals.

While Apple has long had a more affordable "SE" version of the iPhone, Macs have always been more expensive, premium devices. Cheaper PCs have seen success with students and those that don't need capabilities beyond web browsing and document creation.

The low-cost Mac could replace the entry-level iPad and keyboard combo that some people use as an affordable way to get a PC-capable Apple device.

We've heard multiple rumors about Apple's plan for a lower-cost notebook over the last few months. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in June that the machine would have a 13-inch display and an A-series iPhone processor rather than a Mac processor. Apple will reportedly use the A18 Pro chip that first came out in the iPhone 16 Pro.

Kuo said that Apple could offer the Mac in bright colors like the iMac, selling it in Silver, Blue, Pink, and Yellow.

The low-cost MacBook will not replace any existing Mac in Apple's lineup, and it will be sold alongside M5 versions of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro that Apple plans to debut early in 2026.

Article Link: Apple Launching Budget MacBook in 2026

 

[Andres Cantu]

M4 MacBook Air is regularly on sale for $799, so it must be “well under” that price to make a difference.

 

[MacUserFella]

Another 1 port MacBook?

 

[TumbleDryer]

En****ification much. COMPLETELY lost direction if this is true. Reminds me of Sony. Used to make great products, then tried to make every product known to man with more misses than hits and now where are they?

 

[KPOM]

My guess is that the M1 MacBook Air at Walmart was a marketing experiment to gauge demand for a lower-priced Mac. Apparently it was successful enough to warrant an updated model.

 

[AusMness]

A19/Pro I feel like is the better choice here but either way this could be a fun return to the fun little 2015 MacBook that was too ahead of its time

 

[orev]

A low end machine will either:

1. Provide a bad experience, so people won't like it and it will damage the Mac brand
2. Or provide a good experience, then people don't need to buy higher-end devices

 

[usersince86]

Bring it on!

 

[Jerus]

So basically an iPhone 16 with a (cheap) bigger screen and a keyboard?
Interesting as a consept, not sure I would buy one.
Wonder what kind of battery life they will go for.
Wonder if it will be like my old iBook G4, oh, I loved that computer so much....

 

[Biro]

En****ification much. COMPLETELY lost direction if this is true. Reminds me of Sony. Used to make great products, then tried to make every product known to man with more misses than hits and now where are they?

I’m not sure that I agree. First, I could see myself picking up one of these as a less-awkward and potentially lighter alternative to a 13-inch iPad Air with Magic Keyboard. It would also be easier to process photos on while on a trip with such a device. It wouldn’t replace my Mac Studio and MacBook Pro. Also, Apple can probably make quite a bit of money going after the ChromeBook market with this new device.

 

[JSRinUK]

In Europe, this budget MacBook will come with an “optional screen” in the same way the power adapter is an “optional extra”.

In fact, it’ll be a rebadged Mac mini. Oh, you wanted a screen with your MacBook? You should have added one to your basket. 😂

 

[DavidSchaub]

M4 MacBook Air is regularly on sale for $799, so it must be “well under” that price to make a difference.

Comparing a sale price to a normal price seems unhelpful.

In theory, this $599-$699 A* MacBook will also go on sale sometime.

 

[MacAttack2024]

A low end machine will either:

1. Provide a bad experience, so people won't like it and it will damage the Mac brand
2. Or provide a good experience, then people don't need to buy higher-end devices

Bingoooo

Brand damaging or brand cannibalization. The same reason budget iPhones don’t work.

 

[tonywalker23]

I hope that it is beige plastic with a six-color logo. no joking.

 

[bartszyszka]

Bringing back the "iBook"?

 

[BGrifter]

Competition forcing Apple to compete on price is a good and healthy thing.

 

[StoneJack]

It will sell like hot cakes.

 

[Madhatter32]

Increasing the user base and market share is a long overdue strategy. Good move.

 

[DavidSchaub]

En****ification much. COMPLETELY lost direction if this is true. Reminds me of Sony. Used to make great products, then tried to make every product known to man with more misses than hits and now where are they?

I entirely disagree with this.

The best Apple was the iPod Apple, willing to make products at every price point, in lot of great colours. Apple should be trying to actually compete and increase their market size, instead of improving ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) from their existing user base.

I've been saying that Apple should make an A* Series Mac for years, and I'm happy to see them moving forward with it.

Heck... once this comes out, I'll call for a Mac nano A* Series desktop, cheaper than the Mac mini.

 

[DavidSchaub]

If the iPhone SE branding hadn't gone away, I would have proposed the MacBook SE?

 

[ryanmp]

11 or 12 inch! Come on Apple, make the smart decision here.

 

[wood1208]

Make it 14" screen for somewhere $699 with $50 student discount. Somehow you have to offer 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD. For $100-$150 extra, increase RAM to 16GB and 512GB SSD. Rest whatever needed to run current MacOS better with decent ports, battery support. I am sure it will look aesthetically similar to other Macbooks.

Bottom line. For new and current Windows laptop users who like to switch to MacOS, such Macbook should be attractive and easier to purchase.

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple is developing a more affordable Mac notebook that's set to come out in the first half of 2026, according to Bloomberg. The machine will cost "well under $1,000" and it will compete with affordable Windows machines and Chromebooks.

12-inch display, 8GB RAM (because it's analogous to 16GB ) and 128GB storage. All for $599.00

 

[DavidSchaub]

A low end machine will either:

1. Provide a bad experience, so people won't like it and it will damage the Mac brand
2. Or provide a good experience, then people don't need to buy higher-end devices

This ignored that computers have gotten more powerful than most people need.

An A* Series MacBook will do fine at uni-tasking users, and will actually allow Apple to get more new users.

Apple should canabalize Apple's sales. It is better that Apple does it instead of some other company.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Curious to see what corners they'll cut to make the price point work. Equally curious to see what improvements get made to the Air to keep it from being cannibalized by this thing.