They are already in the mainstream market with existing M1 MacBook Air. The new MacBook will be an updated version of that with an updated processor. Assuming the new device will be at least as good as the M1 Air then they have little to worry about.
There’s a zero percent chance it’ll be called M5 SE or anything like that. Maybe it wasn’t clear in my other comment but me and you are in agreement. I would bet all my money that this is happening, but I do fully believe it will be the A18 Pro for cost saving measures and not the A19 Pro, the A19 Pro is too new for something like this. And Apple does seem to be naming all of their products by which chip it has and no longer using the “# generation” name anymore. So the official name for this product will be: MacBook (A18 Pro)
The reason why it’s important and not a pointless comparison is because it is still a current device that Apple is still manufacturing and selling. The M1 MBA is still part of their laptop lineup, the only difference is they don’t sell it directly, but it’s still a current product. It’s not like it’s discounted just because it’s old inventory that needs to be sold etc. So this MacBook is coming out specifically to replace that product in their lineup.
The whole point is the fact that we know this product will not suck. The A18 Pro is a very powerful chip. The current MacBook Air is overkill for the majority of its users. This new MacBook will be a perfect choice for 90% of users and it will be great, I have very little doubt of that.
I would agree with you that I like the simplicity of the Steve Jobs 2 product lines approach, but Tim Cook has made it clear he prefers the 3 product lines much more. So I don’t see that changing at all. And honestly more choices is good for consumers, but there is a fine line before crossing into confusing, so I get it. But honestly I for sure think this MacBook makes perfect sense and definitely has a place in the lineup.
Confusion during the rumor stage is completely different from confusion after announcement stage. Even the dumbest people in this thread that don’t get it right now would all understand after it’s announced, simply because it’s not hard at all to understand this product. A good example is the guy who said “mark my words, it will not be an A chip”, after this MacBook gets announced with the A18 Pro chip, he’ll know he was wrong and go silent.
Apple isn’t going for the lower end market. You already see this with the base iPad and the iPhone 16e—those aren’t “budget” entry level devices in the conventional sense although they are entry level by Apple’s standards. The lower end market is comprised of what I think of as rent-a-device (phone, tablet or laptop) because the cheap price is getting you a largely throwaway item with limited capability and subpar components. This new MacBook is definitely not that.
Must be hard for you to buy a car from a major manufacturer. Perhaps you limit brands to Fiat, Tesla, and Rivian where there are fewer choices.
For the many, if not most, people it is very difficult to buy a car. The car industry is the worst example to follow
Plastic can be plenty rigid, especially carbon fiber variants. As used on high end bicycle and exotic car frames. When designed well, also more resistant to dings, and lighter than aluminum and titanium bodies and frames. As well as thinner structural components than metals (Apple seems to obsess about every thousands of an inch). Main downside other than cost is thermal conductivity but that can be easily be remedied with a small square of aluminum or fan (or maybe their new vapor cooling system). Using plastics means simpler antenna issues, no cutouts needed to allow transmission and reception.
Feel free to substitute "car" with bicycle, or curtains, or many other manufactured products. I'm a bit OCD when it comes to buying a new to me product and I do hours of research over which one and pricing. Yup, difficult I agree. Apple choices are far easier, but honestly, they would get more business with more choices. Certainly the typical Apple product buyer is not cross shopping other manufacturer options.
That is where I do disagree a bit.
Also worth noting that under jobs, in the G4 era, there were 5 laptops under that 2 category umbrella:
That last part is so important for anyone who’s never held and used the 12” MacBook. I have the 2017 model and just absolutely love it. Even my wife’s M1 MacBook Air, which doesn’t seem all that much bigger, felt like it was in comparison. The 12” MacBook is just so thin and light and satisfying, and was way ahead of its time. Which is why I’m crossing my fingers that that’s the design they bring back with this, it’s the perfect time.
Remember the iPod. After a few generations, the mini came out. Then the Nano and then the Shuffle. Each one cheaper in price and sucking the profits out of the competition. The iTunes windows app also made a big impact but without the cheaper hardware, Apple would not have won that war.
Dude this is 2025 and almos2 2026. You will never see those prices again. Be prepared to 1k + all the time.
