Apple’s intentions for a budget-friendly MacBook remain on course, with the price staying the same, according to a report.
Apple's long-awaited budget Mac is finally coming together, featuring concrete timelines, established pricing, and a strategy aimed at taking on mainstream Windows laptops.
Despite the worsening global memory crisis and escalating DRAM prices affecting the PC and laptop market, Apple's plans for an entry-level MacBook remain unchanged, along with its initially speculated pricing.
According to supply chain sources cited by Mirror Daily, Apple has "secured its memory supply," likely indicating long-term agreements with memory suppliers for its products, and is set to "launch a new entry-level laptop."
Reports suggest that the annual shipment of the entry-level MacBook is anticipated to be between five and eight million units, potentially representing 20-30% of Apple's total Mac sales (based on previous sales data).
This indicates that Apple is genuinely considering the cheaper MacBook model. Out of the total shipments, Quanta Computer (a Taiwanese company) might provide around 2.3 million units as part of the initial order batch.
Apple's long-term manufacturing partner, Foxconn, could also gain from the new offering. The affordable MacBook might be powered by Apple's efficient and powerful A18 Pro chipset, which performs exceptionally well in the iPhone 16 Pro lineup.
The report indicates that the launch price will be between $699 and $799. If this occurs, Apple could capture a considerable portion of the mid-range Windows laptop market, which would help increase its annual Mac sales.
It's clear that Apple has leveraged its position as a major memory buyer, aiding in keeping the expected MacBook pricing stable.
However, concerns arise regarding the discounted pricing of Apple's 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB), a laptop that is significantly more powerful and often enters the mid-range pricing bracket. In December 2025, it was available for $749.
Thus, the company should tread carefully with the pricing of the entry-level MacBook to ensure it does not serve merely as a bait to elevate sales of the M4 MacBook Air.
The report does not specify the expected release date for the entry-level MacBook, yet other industry sources hint at a launch in spring 2026 (around March, April, or May of that year). More information about the device is likely to emerge soon.
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Apple’s intentions for a budget-friendly MacBook remain on course, with the price staying the same, according to a report.
A recent report indicates that Apple's affordable MacBook is set to launch in 2026, with a price tag below $800, and aims to challenge the core of the Windows laptop market.