Report: Low-Cost iPhone, iPad, MacBook Coming Early 2026

[WarmWinterHat]

No they don't. Brands are represented on how they are perceived and there might be nothing that Apple can do for a phone that costs sub 300 usd.

Apple already has marketshare and creating a phone that is so compromised is only going to damage their brand becuase of the perception of the brand does not sync with the experience of that device.

the iPhone e is there not to be the cheaper phone. IT's there for the non tech savvy person that does not care about wireless chargin, the top tier camera system or th super thin and lightness of certain high end phones. IT's for a person that just wants and iphone for the experience and a good to great battery life for their light to medium use.

I think what apple needs to do is to adjust the iPhone XXe price back to 499 and not 599.

The e model phone is primarily for corporations, and less-so the prepaid market. My company is buying a ton of them (it's the only employer-provided phone they offer), my brothers employeer only offers the 16e.

As for individuals in the US, almost no one pays the full price, and if you do, you're an idiot. They can routinely be found on sale from prepaid carriers for >$200, out the door and no contract.

 

[Ruggy]

Agreed. Apple needs a proper low cost model, say $349 or better $299, which would grow their iOS market share outside the US. You can buy very nice Android phones in the EU for less than €250, they are well-built phones, but the downside is they run Android!

I'd love to see it, but €250 is the same price as they sell their orange knitted sock for.
They have lost me though, it's just the OS that's keeping me in the Apple universe at the moment.
I don't feel they want me as a customer any more.

 

[DanneP]

If they release a 12" with 8GB RAM model it will at least for me be a DOA.

 

[Warped9]

If they release a 12" with 8GB RAM model it will at least for me be a DOA.

Don’t worry. It’ll be 13in.

 

[Anaxarxes]

If they release a 12" with 8GB RAM model it will at least for me be a DOA.

Must me not for you.

Maybe the upcomign M5 air 13/16/256 for 999 is for you.

 

[servenvolley]

Perhaps this new model lets Apple justify raising the price of the MBA?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Perhaps this new model lets Apple justify raising the price of the MBA?

Since when did Apple need justification to do anything?

 

[cardfan]

A very stripped down MacBook selling for $700-900 will be a tough sell when you can currently pay $749 for the current base MacBook Air and still get an M4 chip, 16GB memory, etc. At least until that stripped down model sees its own discount to get it close to $499.

But you’ll be paying more for that air later.

 

[Warped9]

A very stripped down MacBook selling for $700-900 will be a tough sell when you can currently pay $749 for the current base MacBook Air and still get an M4 chip, 16GB memory, etc. At least until that stripped down model sees its own discount to get it close to $499.

They will likely stop the cheap sales on the base M4 and later M5 Air.

 

[ksec]

$799 Macbook, A18 Pro with 12GB Memory, 256GB NAND.

$999 MacBook Air, M5, 16GB Memory, 256GB NAND.

$1599 MacBook Pro never quite make sense to me, You are paying $600 for extra 256GB NAND, better screen and two more port. I would have thought it should be $1399.

 

[madebybela]

Apple needs to be really careful if it launches a new laptop with 8 GB RAM. That would mean they would need to ensure that MacOS caters to 8 GB devices into the 2030s (or risk cutting off OS support for a laptop in 4 years or less).
Apple's future OS development easier.

my guess is 16GB RAM but the SSD will be 128GB or 256GB to start

either way, very excited for this one.

 

[Plutonius]

I'm ready for a new mini iPhone.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

I have no issues with a single port for my use case but please don't do 8gb of ram.

 

[AND411]

Unless the MacBook Airs stop receiving such large discounts when the new A18 model launches...

Exactly. These discounts will no longer be available, and prices starting with the Air M5 will be raised and remain more stable.

How can people here not recognize this? The Air will then be the first premium device.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

A very stripped down MacBook selling for $700-900 will be a tough sell when you can currently pay $749 for the current base MacBook Air and still get an M4 chip, 16GB memory, etc. At least until that stripped down model sees its own discount to get it close to $499.

Not sure, but isn't that $749 Air deal something that is on for this week only?

Hard to compare an exceptionally low but temporary price for one device with the normal base price for another device.