an apple I would consider running a Mac economic to attract users who currently use Chromebooks or entry-level Windows PCs, according to Bloomberg.
This computer will have a chip similar to the one used in the iPhone, with the aim of offering an affordable alternative for certain segments of the market.
The new hardware will be aimed at students, companies and people who need a device for simple tasks such as browsing the Internet, working with documents or editing basic multimedia content.
Sources familiar with the project informed the aforementioned media. In addition, Apple will try to attract potential iPad buyers who prefer to use a traditional laptop.
The machine, codenamed J700, will be in internal testing and in early production with international suppliers.
The focus will be on offering a product that is competitive in terms of price and functionality.attracting those who do not need high-end hardware, but want to enter the Apple ecosystem.
Apple’s strategy will be to expand its presence in the education market and among casual users, thus competing with available alternatives from other manufacturers.
A budget Mac could be released in the first half of 2026. Such an opportunity would represent a strategic shift for Apple, a company that has traditionally focused on premium hardware and maintained high profits.
Until now, the company has avoided competition in the budget segment, preferring the exclusivity and added value of its products.
However, Apple will face growing pressure from Chromebooks, affordable laptops that run Google’s Chrome OS operating system.
Added to this challenge is the potential opportunity to attract Windows PC users. Microsoft’s recent move to Windows 11 has caused discomfort for some users of previous versions who have lost access to security updates, which may motivate the search for alternatives.
News of a hypothetically affordable Mac would have immediate ramifications in the market. Shares of HP Inc., a major PC maker, briefly fell to a one-day low after the data was released.
For its part, the prices of Dell Technologies Inc. and HP fell about 2%, while Apple rose less than 1% to $270.25, Bloomberg reported.
A budget Mac will cost less than $1,000 if less advanced components are used to achieve this goal.
The laptop will use a processor similar to that of the iPhone and an entry-level LCD screen. In addition, its screen may be the smallest in the current Mac lineup, slightly smaller than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air.
This variant would be the first time Apple decided to include an iPhone chip in a Mac instead of using a processor designed exclusively for computers. Internal tests would suggest that this smartphone chip could offer higher performance than the M1 used in the brand’s laptops until recently.
Apple has used iPhone processors in entry-level iPads for years, though the company has switched to M-series chips for higher-end models.
now Apple will explore a similar approach in the Mac segmentaiming to produce an affordable laptop, but with a level of performance that surpasses previous generations.
Currently, Apple’s most affordable model is the MacBook Air M4, which is priced at US$999, although it can drop to US$899 with discounts for the education sector.
