According to Wccftech, Apple’s first low-cost MacBook is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2026 and is already in early production and active testing. The base model is expected to be priced between $599 and $699, representing a dramatic shift from Apple’s typical premium-only strategy. This move targets both Chromebooks and Windows 10 customers as Microsoft ends support for that operating system. Apple has already experimented with budget pricing by discounting the M1 MacBook Air below $700 at Walmart, while the current cheapest new MacBook is the $999 M4 MacBook Air. The company sees an opportunity to capture market share in the education and budget laptop segments where it’s traditionally been absent.
Sponsored content — provided for informational and promotional purposes.
Why This Makes Sense Now
Here’s the thing – Apple‘s timing is actually pretty brilliant. Microsoft just ended support for Windows 10, leaving millions of users looking for alternatives. And the education market? It’s absolutely dominated by Chromebooks that Apple has never seriously challenged. By entering at the $600 price point, Apple can finally compete in spaces where their $999 starting price was always a non-starter.
But can Apple actually make money at these prices? They’ve been testing the waters with those Walmart M1 Air discounts, and apparently the numbers work. The education market is huge, and getting students hooked on macOS early could pay dividends for decades. It’s basically the iPhone SE strategy applied to laptops – use slightly older components in a proven design to hit an aggressive price point.
The Technical Trade-Offs
So what gets cut to hit that $599 price? We’re probably looking at an older chipset – maybe an M2 or even a specially designed entry-level M-series processor. Storage will likely start at 128GB, and the display might be a step down from the current Air models. The body could use more plastic components rather than all-aluminum construction.
The real question is whether Apple can maintain their famous user experience while cutting costs. I’ve used those $300 Chromebooks, and they’re frankly terrible. If Apple can deliver something that feels premium while costing half what their current laptops do, they might actually disrupt the entire budget laptop market. But hitting that sweet spot between cost-cutting and quality is incredibly difficult – even for Apple.
What This Means For Everyone Else
Chromebook manufacturers should be sweating. Apple entering this space changes everything. Parents who might have bought a Chromebook for their kid might spring for a “real” MacBook at similar prices. And Windows laptop makers? They’re already struggling to compete with Apple’s silicon advantages at the high end – now they’ll face pressure from below too.
This feels like one of those moments where Apple recognizes they’ve maxed out the premium market and need to expand downward. The smartphone market taught us this pattern – eventually you run out of people who can afford $1,000+ devices and need to address the broader market. With early production already underway and education markets ripe for disruption, 2026 could mark Apple’s most significant laptop launch in years.
