According to Wccftech, Apple’s first low-cost MacBook is targeting a launch in the first half of 2026 and is already in early production and active testing. The base model is expected to be priced between $599 and $699, representing a significant departure from Apple’s premium-only strategy. This move directly targets Chromebooks and Windows-based budget laptops while attempting to capture Windows 10 customers after Microsoft ended official support. Apple has previously experimented with budget pricing by discounting the M1 MacBook Air below $700 at Walmart, but this would be their first purpose-built affordable laptop. Currently, the cheapest new MacBook is the M4 MacBook Air at $999, though student discounts can bring it down to $899.
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The Apple Tax Is Getting Smaller
Here’s the thing – Apple has always been the luxury car dealer in a world of economy sedans. They’ve happily ceded the budget market to Chromebooks and cheaper Windows machines while raking in those sweet, sweet margins. But the landscape is changing. With Windows 10 support ending, there’s a massive pool of potential customers who need to upgrade but might not want to pay premium prices.
And let’s be real – Apple’s been testing the waters already. That M1 MacBook Air at Walmart showed them there’s serious demand below the $700 price point. Now they’re going all-in with a product designed from the ground up to be affordable. It’s a smart play, honestly. They can’t keep growing by just selling $1,000+ laptops to the same affluent customers.
Who Actually Buys This Thing?
So who’s the target here? Students, obviously. Parents shopping for back-to-school laptops. Small businesses that need reliable machines without the premium price tag. But the real prize might be the Windows 10 refugees. Microsoft basically created a perfect storm by ending support for an operating system that millions still use.
Think about it – if you’re going to have to learn a new system anyway, why not jump to macOS instead of Windows 11? At similar price points, Apple’s ecosystem becomes way more accessible. The education market has been dominated by Chromebooks for years, and Apple’s basically been absent from that conversation. Until now.
2026 Feels Both Soon And Far Away
The timing is interesting. Early production already underway for a 2026 launch suggests Apple is serious about hitting that window. But 2026 also feels like forever in tech time. What happens if Google or Microsoft drop their prices even further in the meantime? As some observers have noted, the budget laptop space is brutally competitive.
Still, Apple’s playing the long game here. They’re not trying to win the race to the bottom – they’re trying to create an affordable gateway into their ecosystem. Get someone their first MacBook at $599, and suddenly you’ve got a potential iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch customer for life. The margins might be thinner on the laptop, but the lifetime value of that customer could be enormous.
Basically, Apple’s finally admitting what we’ve all known – sometimes people just want a computer that works without taking out a second mortgage. And if they can pull this off without compromising too much on quality? The budget laptop market is about to get really interesting.
