Apple Plans Low-Cost MacBook—Cheaper Than You’d Ever Expect

Apple Inc. is covertly developing a low-cost MacBook that will usher in its substantial introduction to the laptop segment that is affordable to consumers. According to the sources that are aware of Apple's development plans, the new device, which is referred to as J700 internally, will be aimed at students, professionals, and casual users who will mainly browse, write, or stream light media contents.

The new Mac model has already been taking place in active testing at Apple's facilities and early manufacturing trials with global suppliers. The company wants to launch the device in the first half of 2026, the sources said, asking not to be identified since the product has not yet been publicly announced. Apple did not comment on the matter.

The company's decision is a clear sign that they have totally reversed their strategy of selling only high-end products with high margins. The tech giant that was always reluctant to target the budget market has now decided to challenge the Chromebooks of Google and the low-end Windows laptops that have gained popularity in schools and offices mainly due to their low prices.

Chromebooks, which are usually priced between $250 and $600, have the education sector as their biggest market. In Comparisons, Apple’s least expensive MacBook is currently $999 or $899 with an educational discount, which makes it a no-go for many students. The upcoming Mac is likely to be priced much less than $1,000, thus shortening that gap.

Apple sliders the new laptop with an iPhone-derived processor instead of its high-end Mac chips. This will be the first Mac to have an iPhone-class processor, and Apple has internally tested it to be faster than the M1 that powered previous MacBook models.

The device is going to have a smaller LCD display, which will be just a bit smaller than the 13.6-inch panel of the MacBook Air, and it will also be made with materials that are not that sophisticated to reduce the price. Nevertheless, the device will still have Apple’s impressive reliability and snugness within the Apple ecosystem, thus being able to work perfectly with iCloud, iMessage, and AirDrop.

The firm’s intention is to draw the attention of pupils and nonprofessional users who wouldn’t mind buying an iPad with a keyboard or a basic Windows laptop instead. The new Mac will not only have a longer battery life but also provide full macOS functionality, and come with a built-in keyboard, all of which will lead to a more complete laptop experience than an iPad.

For education in general, the iPad and Magic Keyboard Folio combo, which is currently offered by Apple, costs around $600. Chromebooks, on the other hand, are quite cheaper than that. The new low-cost Mac is set to be positioned in the same price bracket but with wider features.

As per the IDC report, Apple has a share of approximately 9% in the global PC market which puts it third behind Lenovo, HP, and Dell. Nevertheless, some experts think that the introduction of an economical Mac could lead Apple to gain some footholds in the U.S. education and small business markets, where Chromebooks and Windows have a stronghold.

In the last quarter, Apple’s Mac line generated $8.73 billion in revenue, which is a 13% increase compared to the same period last year and has become the fastest growing segment of the company’s hardware portfolio. This trend might slow down slightly as Apple goes through a series of launches throughout 2026.

In addition to the new budget Mac, Apple has also scheduled to release an updated M5 MacBook Air, M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, and the Mac mini, Mac Studio and MacBook Pro models with M6 chip and OLED touch screens are expected to come in late 2026 or early 2027.

As per the industry observers, the entry of Apple into the budget laptop segment might lead to a huge shift in the market.