Summary
- Apple plans to launch a budget MacBook, codenamed J700, to compete with entry-level Chromebooks and Windows PCs. The launch could take place in the first half of 2026.
- The J700 would use an iPhone chip instead of M-series processors and will have an LCD display smaller than 13.6 inches. The price would be less than $1,000.
- Apple seeks to expand its share of the PC market, currently at 9%, facing competition from Lenovo, HP and Dell.
Apple would be developing the brand’s first low-cost laptop to compete directly with entry-level Chromebooks and Windows PCs in the educational and corporate sector.
Journalist Mark Gurman, from Bloombergspoke to sources familiar with the matter and revealed that the new device is codenamed J700. It would already be in active testing and initial production with suppliers in Asia. The launch could take place in the first half of 2026.
The Mac was the hardware category that grew the most in the last quarter, with an increase of 13%, reaching US$8.73 billion, which amounts to R$47.1 billion in direct conversion.
To achieve a final price “well below $1,000”, Apple would be cutting costs on key components. According to the publication, the J700 will not use M series processors (designed for computers), but rather an iPhone chip.
It would be the first time that an Apple smartphone chip has equipped a Mac. However, internal tests have shown that the component for mobile devices (which was not specified) can still surpass the performance of the M1, launched for the brand’s laptops a few years ago.
In addition to the processor, the cost cutting would also come from the screen. The J700 may arrive with an LCD panel and a smaller display than any current Mac, with a size smaller than the 13.6 inches of the Air model.
The new Mac would be positioned in a similar price range to the entry-level iPad with the Magic Keyboard Folio keyboard, but offering the full macOS experience. Currently, Apple’s cheapest Mac is the MacBook Air M4, at R$12,999, while Chromebooks are sold for less.
Change of strategy?
The move could represent a significant change in strategy for Apple, which has historically focused on premium products with high profit margins.
A Bloomberg points out that the company faces a “growing threat” from Chromebooks and sees an opportunity to attract Windows 10 users who have not migrated to the most recent version of the Microsoft system, the controversial Windows 11.
Currently, Apple occupies fourth place in the global PC market, with around 9% share in the third quarter, according to data from consultancy IDC. The company lags behind Lenovo, HP and Dell, all of which focus on Windows or ChromeOS devices.
Source: https://tecnoblog.net/noticias/apple-quer-macbook-economico-e-com-chip-de-iphone-para-peitar-chromebook/
