According to Android Authority, Apple is developing a lower-cost Mac laptop specifically for students and mainstream buyers. The machine is expected to sell for around $699 to $799, positioning it “well under $1,000.” To hit this price point, Apple will reportedly use less-advanced components like an iPhone-class A-series processor and a smaller, lower-end LCD panel. This screen would be sized slightly below the current MacBook Air’s 13.6-inch display. This move represents a significant shift in Apple’s strategy to make macOS more accessible at a budget price.
<h2 id="business-shift”>A Major Strategic Pivot
Here’s the thing: Apple has always been the premium option. For years, if you wanted a “cheap” Apple laptop, your best bet was hunting for discounts on older models or awkwardly turning an iPad into a pseudo-laptop with a keyboard. That’s a compromised experience. A sub-$800 MacBook is a completely different ballgame. It’s Apple admitting there’s a huge market segment they’ve been completely missing.
So why now? The education market is the obvious answer. Chromebooks absolutely dominate schools. They’re cheap, they work, and they’ve locked in an entire generation of students. Apple wants a piece of that. Getting a Mac into a student’s hands early is a brilliant ecosystem play. You hook them on macOS, iMessage, and the Apple environment, and you’ve likely got a customer for life. This isn’t just about selling one laptop; it’s about future-proofing their user base.
The Component Gambit
Using an iPhone-class processor is fascinating. Apple’s A-series chips are incredibly powerful and efficient. The real question is, will macOS run well on them? It probably will, but it might require some software optimization. And a smaller, lower-end LCD? That’s where you’ll really feel the cost-cutting. But for a student primarily writing papers and browsing the web, will they care? Probably not.
Basically, Apple is taking a page from its own playbook. They perfected the art of using a single, powerful chip architecture across multiple devices with the M-series. Now they’re looking at their vast inventory of A-series chip designs and thinking, “We can make these work in a laptop, too.” It’s a smart way to leverage existing technology and keep costs down without starting from scratch.
This could be a massive problem for Chromebooks. Why would a school or parent choose a Chromebook over a real Mac at a similar price? The perceived value of the Apple brand is enormous. If Apple can actually deliver a decent experience at that price point, the Chromebook’s main advantage—being cheap—evaporates. The laptop market is about to get a lot more interesting.
