Upcoming Low-Cost MacBook May Come in Yellow, Green, Blue, and Pink

[MacRumors]

Apple has tested a range of playful color options for its upcoming low-cost MacBook, going well beyond the muted tones available on its current laptop lineup, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says the colors tested so far include light yellow, light green, blue, pink, classic silver, and dark gray, although he says it's unlikely all of them will ship. The palette would make the budget MacBook the most colorful laptop Apple has offered since the iBook G3 era in the late 90s, which included Tangerine, Blueberry, Indigo, Graphite, and Key Lime.

As previously reported by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the low-cost machine will retail for well under $1,000 and run an iPhone chip – potentially the A18 Pro – rather than an M-series processor. It will feature a slightly-under-13-inch display and an aluminum chassis, which is being built using a new, faster manufacturing process that Apple developed to keep costs down, according to Gurman.

Apple is trying to compete with Chromebooks, targeting the budget MacBook at students and enterprise users, and is reportedly preparing for a launch event as early as March.

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Article Link: Upcoming Low-Cost MacBook May Come in Yellow, Green, Blue, and Pink

 

[sublunar]

A18Pro with M4 class single core performance would be good - how many ports would it have though?

 

[_apple_apple_]

Darn, was really hoping for purple (for a family member)

 

[mansplains]

No orange? 😡
I imagine it would follow the current iMac colors

 

[orbital~debris]

The palette would make the budget MacBook the most colorful laptop Apple has offered since the polycarbonate MacBook era that ran from 2006 to 2010.

Was this written by an uninformed AI or MacRumors staff member? Or am I misremembering something?

For 'colourful' and polycarbonate in combination, I'd argue you need to go further back, to iBook G3 (1999-2003). Black and white MacBooks aren't the best description of colourful, but the iBook's Tangerine, Blueberry, Indigo, Graphite and Key Lime are…

 

[azentropy]

I care more about the size and weight than I do about the colors.

 

[Veinticinco]

“Aimed at students and enterprise customers” you say?

I think 2013 would like a word…

 

[Windoes]

Oh gimme pink

 

[bigandtasty]

Great to hear skittle colors are staying on the lower end iBooks.

 

[klasma]

How about a slider in accessibility settings where you can adjust the color?

 

[artifex]

If they aren't bold colors (so they can be picked out easily from a messy desk or coffee table) I'd rather have a classic black or grey. But if it means one unpopular color gets extra discounts, I'd just get that one and cover it with stickers 😉

 

[AND411]

Silver and dark grey for enterprise users?

 

[timmyh]

Was this written by an uninformed AI or MacRumors staff member? Or am I misremembering something?

For 'colourful' and polycarbonate in combination, I'd argue you need to go further back, to iBook G3 (1999-2003). Black and white MacBooks aren't the best description of colourful, but the iBook's Tangerine, Blueberry, Indigo, Graphite and Key Lime are…

My switch from PC to Mac happened in 2004! Thanks for the tip, I'll add those iBook colours.

 

[amaze1499]

Considering what the current software/OS can do with the hardware it probably will be a decent deal. I take bets on how big the SSD will be. 😏 256 anyone?

 

[Sputman99]

Sounds great - we need a cheaper MacBook for those struggling to afford the M versions - maybe use less power by removing Liquid Glass ( and also make the UI look better )

 

[orbital~debris]

My switch from PC to Mac happened in 2004! Thanks for the tip, I'll add those iBook colours.

You're welcome! Happy to be of assistance 🙂

 

[Adora]

I really hope this thing won't be an "iBook" running iPadOS or some closed down version of macOS, with stock and App Store apps only.

 

[MilaM]

I'm a little bit worried, that an underpowered MacBook like this will serve as an excuse to make the rest of the product line up more expensive.

 

[JSRinUK]

the low-cost machine will retail for well under $1,000

Ah, so now it's "well under $1,000". What happened to the more specific $599 from 6 months ago?

I suspect "well under" is going to do a lot of heavy-lifting here when we see it's $899 for regular customers, with anything near $599 only going to a privileged few - such as those who can get Apple Creator Studio for $2.99/mo while the rest of us are charged $12.99.

Skeptical? What - me? 😂

 

[tomtad]

Ah, so now it's "well under $1,000". What happened to the more specific $599 from 6 months ago?

I suspect "well under" is going to do a lot of heavy-lifting here when we see it's $899 for regular customers, with anything near $599 only going to a privileged few - such as those who can get Apple Creator Studio for $2.99/mo while the rest of us are charged $12.99.

Skeptical? What - me? 😂

I would look at iPads with keyboards as a guide to price

iPad Air plus keyboard = £863
MacBook Air = £999

iPad plus keyboard = £578
MacBook = £699 ?

I would say that's your most likely price

 

[555gallardo]

Was this written by an uninformed AI or MacRumors staff member? Or am I misremembering something?

For 'colourful' and polycarbonate in combination, I'd argue you need to go further back, to iBook G3 (1999-2003). Black and white MacBooks aren't the best description of colourful, but the iBook's Tangerine, Blueberry, Indigo, Graphite and Key Lime are…

I love how your comment is literally unreadable on the cover page when using dark mode

 

[Astuces iOS]

This new mac is useless and no one will buy it ! Used MacBook Air m2 is better btw !

 

[HiFifreak]

Mark Gurman says : The Iphone 10 is delayed and wont come before 2027.

 

[tomtad]

This new mac is useless and no one will buy it ! Used MacBook Air m2 is better btw !

Hmm it depends. If it comes in a unique design, some colours, no notch (!), I can certainly see the appeal even though yes an M2 is better.

 

[madebybela]

Been looking to forward to this for awhile. Even though they say it's aimed at students/enterprise, I already have a spec'd out Mac mini for work, so getting an M-series MacBook seems redundant and overkill. This would be perfect for leisure.