Apple Reportedly Expects 'Major Rush' of Customers This Week
Source: MacRumors
Apple has advised its retail store employees to expect a major rush of customers this week, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
In his Power On newsletter, Gurman noted that some employees believe Apple’s preparations for new products this week are “on par with what happens before the debut of new iPhones in the fall,” suggesting that at least one of the devices slated for unveiling between Monday and Wednesday will have major mainstream appeal.
Rumored Lower‑Cost MacBook
The product likely to generate the most interest is the rumored lower‑cost MacBook. The newsletter describes it as an “incredible value” that could “drive a serious number of switchers from Windows machines and Chromebooks.”
- Pricing: Estimates range from $599 to $799 in the United States. Qualifying college students and educators are expected to receive $100 off the regular price.
- Processor: Expected to be powered by the iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 Pro chip, rather than an M‑series chip.
- Display & Ports: Rumored to feature a 12.9‑inch display and regular USB‑C ports (instead of faster Thunderbolt ports).
- Memory: Likely to include 8 GB of RAM based on A18 Pro specifications.
- Colors: Possible fun color options such as yellow, green, blue, and pink.
Other Expected Announcements
Beyond the lower‑cost MacBook, most of the other new products are anticipated to focus on chip upgrades with minimal design changes. Potential announcements include:
- iPhone 17e with an A19 chip
- iPad Air featuring an M4 chip
- iPad 12 powered by an A18 chip
- MacBook Air equipped with the M5 chip
- MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips
These updates suggest a week centered on performance enhancements rather than major new form factors.