Apple is reportedly working on a new low-cost MacBook that will likely be powered by an iPhone chipset. The Cupertino giant is expected to target students who would otherwise buy Chromebooks or Windows PCs.
Apple is said to be working on an affordable MacBook for some time now. The Cupertino giant has seen a rise in MacBook sales recently, but its devices remain at the higher end, including the base M4 MacBook Air. Now, the company is planning to fill the gap in the lineup, with the low-cost MacBook targeting students and users on a budget.
According to Bloomberg, Apple will use less-advanced components to keep the price of the affordable MacBook under $1,000 (roughly Rs 88,740) in the US. The report states that the device will be powered by an iPhone chipset. Previously, it was believed that the low-cost MacBook would use the A18 Pro chipset from the iPhone 16 Pro.
On the surface, the iPhone chip may raise doubts over performance. However, the report suggests that it would perform better than the M1 chipset.
Additionally, the new MacBook is expected to pack a lower-end LCD compared to the 13.6-inch unit in the MacBook Air.
Apple wants to target students with new MacBook
Apple is planning to target students with its low-cost MacBook. The company wants to cater to users who would normally use a Windows laptop or a Chromebook at around $600 (roughly Rs 53,000) in price. As per IDC, Apple stood in fourth place in terms of global PC market share in the third quarter of 2025 with 9 per cent. The company trailed behind Lenovo, HP and Dell.
