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Apple is reportedly planning to launch a low-cost MacBook in the first half of 2026 to “lure away customers from Chromebooks and entry-level Windows PCs,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The new, unnamed laptop is currently being tested at Apple, and production has already started overseas.

Apple Reportedly Developing Budget MacBook to Compete with Chromebooks and Low-Cost PCs

This upcoming model is expected to be cheaper than the $999 M4 MacBook Air.

Apple has generally avoided competing in the low-cost laptop market, choosing instead to market iPads or older Mac models as more affordable alternatives.

In 2024, Apple partnered with Walmart to sell the M1 MacBook Air for $699, later dropping the price to $649 and then to $599.

The M1 MacBook Air, released in November 2020 with 8GB of RAM, does not support Apple Intelligence and is no longer promoted by Apple.

The new low-cost MacBook is rumored to be powered by an A-series iPhone chip rather than an M-series Mac chip.

Early speculation suggested it might use the A18 Pro chip, but Apple has since introduced the A19 Pro in the iPhone 17 Pro, and Gurman’s report does not specify which one will be used.

Apple’s M-series chips are built from the A-series architecture but are larger, faster, and generate more heat due to their higher performance.

Despite this, Gurman notes that whichever A-series chip Apple chooses, it will perform better than the M1 chip.

Specifications and Features

The laptop will reportedly feature “less advanced” components compared to existing MacBook models.

The display is expected to be a lower-end LCD that’s “slightly smaller” than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air screen.

Gurman also reports the new MacBook will have “an entirely new design.”

Apple aims to boost its Mac sales overall, as reflected in its Q4 2025 financial report showing a double-digit year-over-year increase in Mac revenue.

The release of this cheaper MacBook would mark Apple’s first serious attempt to enter the low-cost laptop segment.

The target audience for this device includes general-purpose users who primarily rely on productivity software, web browsing, and basic content creation.