As Apple’s shock October Mac occasion looms, a brand new leak has hinted on the firm’s plans to launch not one however two low-cost MacBooks that might be lower than $700.
Apple will host its Scary Quick occasion on October 30, with headlines anticipated to incorporate the brand new M3 Apple silicon processor and a brand new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Professional. However whereas they could be a few of Apple’s greatest MacBooks, they’re additionally the costliest. At present, Apple’s least expensive MacBook is the M1 MacBook Air from 2020, which is crying out for an improve. What’s extra, the lineup as a complete may actually use a less expensive possibility, one thing Apple additionally appears to have found out.
A person on Naver with a observe document of leaking Apple’s plans has this week claimed that Apple is at the moment growing a “12-inch base” and “13-inch academic fashions.” Until the previous is a pizza, it may point out that Apple plans to carry again its famed 12-inch kind issue as a really low cost Chromebook different alongside a extra financially viable 13-inch mannequin for college students. Within the feedback of the publish, the supply reiterated that these fashions would price lower than $700.
Low-cost technique – iMore’s take
Earlier this 12 months Digitimes reported that Apple “is reportedly growing a low-cost MacBook collection to compete with Chromebook fashions within the schooling sector that might be launched as early because the second half of 2024.” That report claimed the cheaper mannequin could be completely different even from Apple’s present entry-level MacBook Professional and Air fashions, utilizing cheaper chassis supplies and cheaper elements to save lots of prices.
These laptops are nonetheless possible some months away in the event that they exist in any respect, however these rumors are selecting up steam. Even Apple’s least expensive M1 MacBook Air continues to be fairly an costly buy for some households, specifically college students in full-time research. To me, there doesn’t appear to be any draw back to Apple releasing a less expensive different. Positioning it as a Chromebook rival makes much less sense, nonetheless. As we’ve observed beforehand, the preferred Chromebooks on Amazon price round $2-300, cheaper than even Apple’s Tenth-gen iPad. The concept you’d be capable to purchase a present MacBook for anyplace close to that cash is a pipe dream. Even the most affordable MacBook is probably going going to be dearer than any price range Home windows or Chrome machine, however it can make the Mac line extra accessible, at the least to some, and that may solely be a very good factor.
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