Apple's new 'cheap' MacBook aims at the budget market, but there's a deeper motive
Source: ZDNet
Apple MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue
Photo credit: Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Apple could announce a new “cheap” MacBook on March 4.
- It will likely use the A18 chip found in the iPhone 16 Pro.
- Prices are expected to start around $599.
Background
Rumors of a new low‑cost MacBook have been circulating for years. The upcoming event in New York on March 4 is expected to reveal details about the device.
Apple’s affordable 13‑inch MacBook is rumored to feature a low‑power A18 processor—rather than the usual M‑series chips—allowing Apple to keep costs down. The design may include a modest display and a smaller form factor.
“The device will be well under $1,000,” says Apple insider Mark Gurman (Bloomberg Power On).
For comparison, the current MacBook Air can dip below $749 during sales.
A realistic starting price is around $599; anything higher would make it difficult to stand out in the crowded MacBook lineup and the market for refurbished units. A sub‑$500 price point would put the laptop in direct competition with budget PCs and Chromebooks.
Also: How Nothing plans to crash Apple’s March launch party
Historical context
Apple previously released a 12‑inch MacBook (2015) with an Intel processor. The model was:
- Locked at 8 GB RAM and priced over $1,000.
- Equipped with the controversial butterfly keyboard.
- Limited to a single USB‑C port.
Although the 2015 MacBook didn’t succeed, it provided valuable lessons for a future budget offering. It’s plausible that Apple will simply name the new device MacBook, positioning it as a fresh entry in the existing line.
Sources: ZDNET, Bloomberg Power On, Apple insider reports.
Read the room
Jason Hiner/ZDNET
It’s no secret that, in this economy, consumers are spending less, upgrading more slowly, and being far more budget‑conscious. All this, combined with the upgrade fatigue of yet another new laptop or iPhone making their current gear feel obsolete, makes expanding into the budget‑laptop market not only strategic but necessary.
But would mass‑producing a $500 laptop dilute Apple’s premium image? Maybe, but Apple doesn’t really have anything to lose. The MacBook Air and Pro will continue to receive incremental upgrades this year with the M5 chip, and a cheap laptop would:
- Offset the lack of major developments on the core lineup.
- Give Apple access to market share in the one area it has historically lacked: the budget sector.
Also: MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Air: We tested both models, and here’s which one to buy in 2026
Who is the intended demographic?
- Students – the primary target.
- Budget‑conscious users – anyone looking for a low‑cost, portable device.
- Kids and teens – for schoolwork and media consumption.
- Travelers – a lightweight, battery‑efficient companion.
The A18’s performance will make the device well‑suited for:
- General web browsing.
- Everyday productivity tasks.
- Seamless integration with the iPhone (FaceTime, Messages, and, hopefully, the Phone app).
Expected limitations
- No Thunderbolt – the A18 chip doesn’t support Thunderbolt, so ports would be standard USB‑C.
- Display – unlikely to match the MacBook Pro’s Liquid Retina XDR quality.
- Camera – probably a lower‑end sensor, if one is included at all.
These constraints aren’t deal‑breakers. Not every consumer needs three 8K displays; many just want an affordable, battery‑efficient device that handles web browsing and integrates with their existing iPhone out of the box. That could be exactly what this device is designed for.