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

[ChrisMac47]

Can’t really imagine lower cost hardware selling well for Apple…🤷

For the iPhone, you are probably right in the US, where Apple already has >50% of the market and, relatively speaking, people are well off (of course, not everyone). But outside the US, Apple has a minority market share for iPhone, and even those people are much more cost-conscious and keep their phones longer, often 5+ years, because of the cost of buying a new one. If you recall, Apple sold iPods at all price-points, aimed at different market segments. I think a truly low cost iPhone would sell outside the US and, in the long term, grow Apple's market share (and hence the income of their Services sector).

There are many people who would like to own an iPhone but the price is just too large at present, >€700 in Europe for the 16e and goodness knows how much, in terms of monthly income, in less rich countries and the global south.

 

[Falhófnir]

Can’t really imagine lower cost hardware selling well for Apple…🤷

The only one that's really 'lower cost' is the MacBook, and that's taking aim at Chromebooks for education. The iPad and iPhone e are just updates to existing products.

 

[Warped9]

Can’t really imagine lower cost hardware selling well for Apple…🤷

- iPod
- EarPods
- Mac Mini
- AirPods
- base iPad
- HomePod Mini
- discounted M1 MacBook Air
- iPhone 16e

And soon likely new entry level MacBook.

 

[SFjohn]

For the iPhone, you are probably right in the US, where Apple already has >50% of the market and, relatively speaking, people are well off (of course, not everyone). But outside the US, Apple has a minority market share for iPhone, and even those people are much more cost-conscious and keep their phones longer, often 5+ years, because of the cost of buying a new one. If you recall, Apple sold iPods at all price-points, aimed at different market segments. I think a truly low cost iPhone would sell outside the US and, in the long term, grow Apple's market share (and hence the income of their Services sector).

There are many people who would like to own an iPhone but the price is just too large at present, >€700 in Europe for the 16e and goodness knows how much, in terms of monthly income, in less rich countries and the global south.

The thing is that market is already covered by Android & Chromebooks with companies that are willing to race to the bottom price with razor thin margins. Apple is an aspirational brand & I would be surprised if they really went after that segment of the population. 😉

 

[ChrisMac47]

The thing is that market is already covered by Android & Chromebooks with companies that are willing to race to the bottom price with razor thin margins. Apple is an aspirational brand & I would be surprised if they really went after that segment of the population. 😉

I fear you are correct!

Apple's greed represents the dark side capitalism. Do they really need to make 40%+ margins (after paying their senior employees astronomically high salaries)? What about spreading the love a little more evenly?

 

[Warped9]

From my perspective most Chromebooks and Windows S Cloudbooks and the like are bottom feeders in the market. In Canada thats sub $500 territory. Thats not the market Apple is going for. Those in that market will rarely look to spend just a bit more for a regular Windows PC. These are consumers who really can’t afford more, are admittedly cheap and/or really don’t believe the vale of spending more because they’re ignorant of what they’re buying, which is junk. A PC with an Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 is barely serviceable even with 16gb RAM. Anything below that is flushing your money down the toilet.

In Canada the $500-$1000 segment is what Apple seems to be aiming at with their new MacBook. Not many Chromebooks in this segment. And, of course, their MacBook will be on the higher end of that segment. In a sense they’ll still be an aspirational product, but now one not perceived as unrealistically unreachable. Students. parents and others won’t be faced with having to spend $1399 for a MacBook (Air), but now only $899-$999 which won’t look so daunting.

In this segment there are some serviceable Windows PCs that tend to be in the $700-$1000 range. And they’re not bad deals when on sale. So it’s that $500-$1000 segment Apple is looking to take a piece of. With the Mac OS, the A18 Pro chip and better build quality than what currently exists there Apple can do it. Nothing currently in that segment will be in the same league as evidenced by the success of the discounted M1 and M4 MacBook Air (in the U.S.).

And I can tell you when M1 and M2 MacBook Airs were discounted at $999 or $899 CA as clearance to clear out remaining stock when the M3 and M4s were introduced those clearance units were snapped up quickly.

 

[crsh1976]

The A18 pro chip is faster than the M1 chip in single-core and as fast in multi-core. Mac OS apps will run just fine. These are not crippled machines.

We're not comparing real-world usage here, just synthetic benchmark numbers - we literally have never seen macOS apps running off an A chip in a sustained sort of way, A chips run iPhone/iPadOS/tvOS apps oso far. Benchmarks tell part of the story, but it's far from actual hands-on usage.

Hence my hunch that we'll see a "Macbook" that's really going to be an iPad in drag, not an actual macOS device.

 

[bandits1]

I'm ready for a new mini iPhone.

iPhone Mini AIR.

 

[Isamilis]

Apple is planning to release new entry-level models across its iPhone, iPad, and Mac categories early next year, with an all-new affordable MacBook the most notable addition to the lineup.

According to a new research report by Jeff Pu of GF Securities seen by MacRumors, Apple will launch the iPhone 17e – its second iteration of the "e" line – in the spring, likely along with a 12th-generation iPad, and a new MacBook featuring an A-series chip originally made for ‌iPhones‌.

The new, previously rumored MacBook is said to use the A18 Pro from 2024's iPhone 16 Pro models. It is expected to feature a 13-inch display and come in silver, blue, pink, and yellow color options like the ‌iPad‌.

To meet the MacBook's lower price point – likely to be somewhere between $699 and $899 – Apple may make compromises such as using an older design or display components, 8GB of memory, or even just a single USB-C port.

For the iPhone 17e, Pu believes Apple will use an A19 chip, an 18-megapixel Center Stage camera, and Apple's C1 modem, with most other specifications remaining unchanged from the iPhone 16e. Other rumors suggest the iPhone 17e could transition to the Dynamic Island instead of the current notch at the top of the display.

For the 12th-generation iPad, there are no design changes expected, but Apple will upgrade it with an A18 chip, enabling the low-cost iPad to support Apple Intelligence for the first time.

Pu's equity research report broadly corroborates several other reports indicating that Apple will pursue a split-launch cycle for its iPhones going forward. The second half of next year will see the iPhone 18 Pro models launch alongside Apple's first foldable iPhone. Meanwhile, the regular iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and second-generation iPhone Air will arrive in the first half of 2027.

The iPhone Air 2 was reportedly supposed to arrive in tandem with the iPhone 18 Pro models, but poor sales on its maiden outing has caused Apple to delay the second version while it looks at a redesign, possibly featuring dual rear cameras.

Pu believes that Apple will be largely immune to recent DDR memory price rises through 2026, thanks to its strong procurement power.

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

I don’t really expect much from this. They may just want to increase price of base model by adding a new lower cost under the base.

 

[freedomlinux]

we literally have never seen macOS apps running off an A chip in a sustained sort of way

Weren't the Apple Silicon DTK units (those Mac Mini-shaped developer kits in 2020) using an A12Z? Granted, an A18 wouldn't be an -X or -Z improved CPU, but it would be 6 generations newer...

I don't recall hearing complaints about macOS performance on the DTK

 

[Richard8655]

No mention of 17e pricing, so assuming carry over of 16e price at 599. But I see a lot of rumors elsewhere of possible $499.

 

[ChrisMac47]

No mention of 17e pricing, so assuming carry over of 16e price at 599. But I see a lot of rumors elsewhere of possible $499.

Well we all wish!

But I doubt it, Apple are greedy, they MUST protect their 40% margins, no exceptions.

 

[crsh1976]

Weren't the Apple Silicon DTK units (those Mac Mini-shaped developer kits in 2020) using an A12Z? Granted, an A18 wouldn't be an -X or -Z improved CPU, but it would be 6 generations newer...

I don't recall hearing complaints about macOS performance on the DTK

I do, but performance issues were always dampened by the fact that it was an iPad stuffed in a Mac body, and mostly that it was a dev kit rather than a final product, with a fan running at 100% all the time. It was meant for developers, it came with a lot of caveats and limitations, and it was fine for the intention it was put out for.

Benchmark numbers gave the A12Z a decent grade compared to Intel chips in Macs at the time, but it lagged behind the M1 once the first Apple Silicon devices were out.

So it worked, and still will - but apps have come a long way on both A chip devices and M chip Macs - I really wonder how Apple would position an A chip Macbook vs a MBA running off the M4-M5 for the price (we all know Apple doesn't go in the "dirt cheap" bracket).