Mac: Apple prepares to enter low-cost laptop market for the first time

Apple is gearing up to launch its first budget MacBook, targeting cost-conscious buyers of Chromebooks and entry-level Windows laptops. The affordable notebook, aimed at students, businesses, and everyday users, is said to focus on web browsing, document work, and light media editing.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
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Code-named J700, the machine is currently in active testing at Apple and in early production with overseas suppliers. The Cupertino, California-based company plans to launch it in the first half of next year, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the product hasn’t been announced.
The move would represent a strategic shift for Apple, which has historically focused on premium devices with hefty profit margins. The company also has vowed not to chase market share with lower-end offerings.
Apple plans to sell the new machine for well under $1,000 by using less-advanced components. The laptop will rely on an iPhone processor and a lower-end LCD display. The screen will also be the smallest of any current Mac, coming in at slightly below the 13.6-inch one used in the MacBook Air.
This would mark the first time that Apple has used an iPhone processor in a Mac, rather than a chip designed specifically for a computer. But internal tests have shown that the smartphone chip can perform better than the Mac-optimized M1 used in laptops as recently as a few years ago…
[T]he upcoming model will be an entirely new design, rather than a discounted older machine.
In schools, Apple’s entry-level iPad paired with the Magic Keyboard Folio is a popular setup, costing roughly $600 combined. The new Mac would fall in a similar range but offer better battery life, the greater flexibility that comes with the macOS software and an integrated keyboard. That could appeal to students and consumers alike.

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MacDailyNews Take: An A19 Pro-level chip can certainly power a MacBook – and very efficiently, too. With the M5 MacBook Air also on deck, 2026 will be a banner year for Apple’s indomitable Mac!
All scores below are from Geekbench 6. Data is aggregated from user-submitted results and reviews; real-world variance can occur due to thermal throttling, software, or configuration. Higher scores indicate better performance.
Geekbench 6: Apple A19 Pro vs. Apple M1

Metric
Apple A19 Pro(iPhone 17 Pro)
Apple M1(MacBook Air/Pro)
A19 Pro Advantage

Single-Core
~3,900–4,020
~2,200
+77%

Multi-Core
~9,700–11,000
~8,200–8,500
+15–30%

GPU Compute (Metal)
~45,000–46,000
~20,000–22,000
+110–130%

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