There’s not lengthy to go now. Based mostly on Apple’s looming “world expertise” on March 4, dwindling inventory of the M1 MacBook Air, and a near-universal consensus amongst pundits and leakers, the much-anticipated low cost MacBook can be with us within the subsequent seven or so days. However we nonetheless don’t know the reply to the important thing query.
Precisely how low cost are we speaking about?
As a result of right here’s the factor: As a basic rule, Apple doesn’t do low cost. It prefers to give attention to the premium finish of the market the place the margins are increased, and it might probably get extra mileage out of its luxurious model. Conversely, dabbling within the price range market dangers tarnishing that model: if everybody can afford an iPhone, proudly owning an iPhone stops being a standing image.
From the iPhone 5c and Apple Watch SE to the AirPods 4 and Mac mini, followers have typically obtained excited in regards to the imminent launch of a “low cost” Apple product, then been disenchanted when it seems to sit down roughly on the border of price range and solidly inexpensive mid-market. They’re (largely) good merchandise completely able to delivering worth for cash. However that isn’t fairly the identical as being out-and-out low cost.
Certainly, regardless of rising prices of residing within the U.S. and a number of other main worldwide markets, Apple seems much less inclined than ever to cater to consumers on a strict price range. This time final yr, it launched the iPhone 16e, which was definitely extra inexpensive than its siblings however price $170 greater than the iPhone SE it nominally changed. The brand new “e” telephone felt like a sign that Apple not wished to take part (or fake to take part) within the price range smartphone market. And the iPhone 17e, which we count on to launch in a matter of days as nicely, is unlikely to reverse that call.
So what could be an affordable asking value for a MacBook with an A19 iPhone chip? For comparability functions, let’s think about the remainder of Apple’s present vary. On the high, the MacBook Professional begins at $1,599 for the 14-inch mannequin with an M5 chip, whereas the MacBook Air begins at $999 for the 13-inch mannequin with an M4 chip. Even when a budget MacBook has the identical 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM as these fashions (which isn’t assured), it’ll price lower than each of these, so we are able to begin subtracting from a thousand.
On the different finish, probably the most fascinating comparator is the M1 MacBook Air. Apple as soon as bought this machine for $999 gone its prime, and it continued to be bought by Walmart till very lately. In 2024, Walmart bought the M1 Air for $699, however the value fell over the months to $599, $549 and at last all the best way down to $499 on Cyber Monday final yr, so this provides us a flooring.
Now that we’ve established that low cost is between $499 and $999, let’s drill down deeper. The price range MacBook can be focused at prospects who have to do gentle work on the go, and that’s veering into iPad territory. The entry-level and mini variations of the iPad don’t fairly match that concentrate on viewers, however the iPad Air is about proper. That begins at $599. Chuck within the Magic Keyboard, and we’re as much as $868. I’d count on our MacBook’s price ticket to sit down someplace between these two numbers, hopefully nearer to the decrease finish.
And this is kind of the place pundits have ended up. Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg, says the price range MacBook will price “nicely beneath $1,000.” Others have extra ambitiously claimed it may begin as little as $599 to compete within the well-liked Chromebook market, and perhaps Apple will handle this by making heavy compromises on the specs and have set. However I’d be shocked by that, given how lately Apple followers have been anticipated to half with the identical quantity for a five-year-old MacBook Air. Based mostly on our expertise with the transition from the iPhone SE 3 to the iPhone S16e, I’d count on the A19 Professional MacBook to price someplace between $699 and $799, with a reduction of $50 or $100 for training consumers.
After all, there are many prospects on the market who’d be delighted if Apple went decrease. Our colleagues at PCWorld have a complete article recommending laptops beneath $500, and this consists of one choose beneath $300 and one other beneath $200. If Apple really needed to smash the ultra-budget Chromebook market, it will be focusing on numbers like that. But it surely received’t. And the earlier we settle for this, the higher.
Foundry
Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which incorporates all of the Apple information you missed final week in a helpful bite-sized roundup. We name it Apple Breakfast as a result of we predict it goes nice with a Monday morning cup of espresso or tea, nevertheless it’s cool if you wish to give it a learn throughout lunch or dinner hours too.
Trending: High tales
The Mac you’ve at all times needed is coming quickly! Or because the Macalope places it, a colourful MacBook is coming to ward off the Siri doom.
The iPhone 17e nonetheless received’t be ok to lure Android customers, reckons Mahmoud Itani.
iOS features a rising set of built-in options to curb unwelcome calls and notifications. You possibly can kill iPhone spam with these 10 suggestions.
What if we informed you that Apple as soon as thought-about launching a “retro iPod”? Due to newly printed materials, we now have an enchanting glimpse into the iPod that by no means was.
Overlook Siri 2.0. OpenAI’s smarter chatbot is already built-in into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, and ChatGPT is your iPhone’s secret superpower.
The saga of Apple’s rumored Well being+ service makes Apple’s service chief appear to be a robust chief. So can Eddy Cue break Apple’s hunch?
Podcast of the week
Apple has one thing cooking for March 4, and the indicators point out that we’re getting the laptop computer we’ve been ready for. We’re speaking in regards to the upcoming occasion and new developments in Apple AI {hardware} on the newest episode of the Macworld Podcast.
You possibly can catch each episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our personal website.
The rumor mill
macOS 26.3 might need simply spilled Apple’s greatest March 4 secrets and techniques.
No, Apple received’t drop USB-C from the iPhone 18.
Low-cost MacBook in ‘enjoyable colours’ leads flurry of upcoming Mac releases.
Transfer over Meta: Apple good glasses are coming.
Video of the week
Don’t name it a particular occasion. It’s an expertise. Get pleasure from all our short-form video on TikTok or Instagram.
Software program updates, bugs, and issues
Lastly! Apple provides MacBook battery cost restrict to macOS 26.4.
iOS 26.4 beta suggests Apple hasn’t given up on its AI well being coach.
iOS 26.4 beta introduces AI playlists for Apple Music.
And with that, we’re achieved for this week’s Apple Breakfast. In the event you’d prefer to get common roundups, join our newsletters, together with our new e mail from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous tackle the most recent information and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You may as well observe us on Fb, Threads, Bluesky, or X for dialogue of breaking Apple information tales. See you subsequent Monday, and keep Appley.
