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According to industry sources, Apple is preparing a new affordable entry-level MacBook. The company is allegedly planning to rely on a bright design and more aggressive pricing policy, and use A-series processors, which are traditionally installed in iPhones, instead of the usual M-chips. The presentation may take place as early as March 2026.
This is a model aimed primarily at the educational segment and corporate clients. In order to achieve a lower starting price, the manufacturer is departing from its previous strategy and considering the integration of a mobile processor of the level of the upcoming iPhone 18. Such a move will reduce production costs without a critical decrease in performance for typical educational and office scenarios. The device will run macOS, but will be below the MacBook Air line with M chips in terms of power.
According to Bloomberg, the development of the hybrid concept has been going on for several months. Observer Mark Gurman notes in his Power On newsletter that the laptop will have a display slightly smaller than 13 inches. It is also reported that a new manufacturing process for the case will be used. At the same time, Apple is likely to keep aluminum as the main material, abandoning plastic even in the budget segment.
The idea of an affordable computer for education is not new to the company. In 2002, the eMac was introduced, designed specifically for schools as a more affordable alternative to the iMac G4. Later, a white polycarbonate MacBook gained popularity among students and pupils, which remained on sale until 2011 due to its durability and affordable price.
In terms of design, the new product can be inspired by the modern iMac line, i.e., it will have a pastel color scheme with a keyboard that matches the body. An additional advantage of the A-series chips is the built-in support for 5G modems. This opens up the possibility of producing versions with mobile connectivity, which may be relevant for educational institutions without full Wi-Fi coverage or for field workers. The energy efficiency of the mobile processors will potentially allow for an autonomy of more than 20 hours.
The expected starting price will be around $699, which is significantly lower than the MacBook Air, which usually costs more than €1000. At the same time, experts draw attention to the issue of software compatibility. Although iOS applications already run on Apple Silicon, macOS will have to be further optimized for A-chips to ensure smooth multitasking and comfortable work with desktop scenarios. Whether the company is considering creating a separate simplified version of macOS for such a device is currently unknown.
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