Apple is preparing to enter the low-cost laptop market for the first time. The new device will be aimed at people who mainly browse the web, work with documents, or do light media editing.
Apple is preparing to enter the low-cost laptop market for the first time. The new device will be aimed at people who mainly browse the web, work with documents, or do light media editing.
The device, codenamed J700, is currently being actively tested by the company and is already in the early stages of production by foreign suppliers. It will appear on the market in the first half of 2026, writes Bloomberg.
The device will be equipped with an iPhone processor and a lower-end LCD screen. It will be the smallest display among all current Mac models: its diagonal will be slightly smaller than 13.6 inches, like the MacBook Air.
This would be the first time Apple has used an iPhone processor in a Mac, rather than a chip designed specifically for PCs. However, internal testing has shown that this smartphone processor could perform better than the Mac-optimized M1, which was used in laptops a few years ago.
Apple has long used iPhone chips for its iPads, but a few years ago switched its higher-end devices to M-series processors.
Currently, the cheapest Mac from Apple is the M4 MacBook Air for $999. However, Chromebooks start at a few hundred dollars, with premium versions costing around $600.
Also popular is the basic iPad and Magic Keyboard Folio combo, which costs around $600. The new Mac will fall into the same price range, but will offer better battery life, more flexibility thanks to macOS, and an integrated keyboard. This could appeal to both students and consumers.
