Budget MacBook 2026: Apple enters the affordable notebook market
8 November 11:17
Apple is planning to enter the affordable laptop market for the first time, creating a budget Mac model that will target users of Chromebooks and entry-level Windows devices. The new device should attract the attention of students, business users and those who need a laptop for surfing the Internet, working with documents and basic media editing, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports with reference to KHRE INVEST.
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New budget MacBook: characteristics and target audience
The model, codenamed J700, is undergoing active testing at Apple and initial production with the participation of foreign suppliers. It is expected to be launched in the first half of 2026.
The new MacBook will be aimed at those users who consider the iPad as an alternative but prefer a traditional laptop with a keyboard. To ensure an affordable price, the company plans to use less advanced components, including an iPhone processor and a budget LCD display. The screen diagonal will be slightly less than 13.6 inches, which is smaller than the MacBook Air.
This is the first time Apple has used an iPhone processor in a Mac, instead of the M-series chip designed specifically for computers. Internal tests have shown that the smartphone processor demonstrates better performance than some previous MacBook models on the M1.
Apple’s strategic shift
Traditionally, Apple has focused on premium products with high margins. The new budget laptop will mark the company’s first major step toward attracting users who usually buy more affordable Windows devices and Chromebooks.
Apple has already experimented with the market through discounted MacBook Airs for $700 at Walmart, but the upcoming model will be a completely new design, not the old discounted model.
Competition and the market
Chromebooks are sold from a few hundred dollars to $600 for premium versions. The current cheapest MacBook Air costs $999 and student discounts can bring the price down to $899. The new Mac will offer a similar price range, but with a better battery, full macOS, and an integrated keyboard.
Apple controls about 9% of the global PC market, behind Lenovo, HP, and Dell. An affordable MacBook could help Apple grow its share, especially in the iPhone-dominated US.
Future plans to update the Mac lineup
In addition to the budget laptop, Apple is preparing the M5 MacBook Air for the beginning of the year and updated MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max processors. New Mac mini, Mac Studio, and in late 2026 or early 2027, MacBook Pro with M6 and OLED screen, as well as two external displays are also expected.
