The low-cost MacBook will get a slick video, not just a press release

Source: 9to5Mac

Apple’s low‑cost MacBook has been a long time coming, and it now seems clear that we can expect it to be launched in the first week of March.

Apple has a special event scheduled for March 4, but a subsequent report says that this will not include a keynote presentation. Instead, we can expect a series of press releases similar to those we saw back in 2024.

The upcoming low‑cost MacBook

The cheapest brand‑new MacBook you can currently buy directly from Apple is the 13‑inch MacBook Air, starting at $999. We’re expecting a dramatic reduction in the starting price for a new budget model powered by the A18 Pro chip.

Specs we are expecting:

• 12.9‑inch display (compared to 13.6 inches for the current MacBook Air)
• A18 Pro processor, instead of an M‑series chip
• Fun new colors—potentially blue, pink, and yellow (with a possible silver option)
• Pricing around $699

It’s not yet clear whether Apple will use the bright colors to visually distinguish this model from the more expensive MacBook Air, as it did with the iBook years ago.

Launch timing

Apple has scheduled a special event for March 4, but there is no sign of a simultaneous keynote broadcast online.

A report suggests that Apple plans to launch a number of new products via press releases across the first three days of the week, culminating in a hands‑on experience for selected tech writers on Wednesday.

Other products expected to be announced include:

• New M5 MacBook Air
• New M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models
• New Mac displays
• iPhone 17e
• A18 base iPad
• M4 iPad Air

The low‑cost MacBook demands more

The low‑cost MacBook seems too big a deal to be handled solely with press releases, even if a hands‑on session follows. My expectation is that, alongside a press release, Apple will provide a reasonably extensive video presentation.

We saw a similar approach in October 2024, when Apple launched several products via press releases but also released a 10‑minute video that covered Apple Intelligence and devoted more than half of its runtime to the new 24‑inch M4 iMac.

I think we can expect a pre‑recorded mini‑keynote covering multiple announcements, with the focus on Apple’s most affordable ever laptop.

Do you agree? Share your thoughts in the comments.