The MacBook is coming back – or at least that’s what the rumors claim. Next week, Apple is expected to announce a colorful, low-cost, non-Air, non-Pro MacBook powered by its own mobile processors. By avoiding its expensive M-series chips, Apple may reportedly be able to reach a lower price of $699 or $799 for the MacBook. The $999 MacBook Air is the cheapest laptop on the company’s website right now, but Apple sold the older M1 MacBook Air in 2024 at Walmart for $700, which dropped to $650 later last year.
The Walmart deal was a smart way for Apple to test the feasibility of a cheaper MacBook without creating an entirely new product. But now the M1 Air’s design looks seriously dated, and the company also needs to move on from the six-year-old M1 chip. Now is the time to get serious about delivering a truly low-cost Apple laptop.
There’s another compelling reason to bring back the cheaper MacBook: It’s the perfect way to appease disgruntled Windows users, something Apple hasn’t done since its “Get a Mac” ads from the mid-2000s. I think the runaway success of the iPhone and iPad has reduced Apple’s focus on competing directly with Windows. The attractive designs of the 2011–2015 era MacBook Airs and Pros were their main selling points, but Apple’s push toward USB-C-only machines and unreliable butterfly keyboards later made it clear that it was no longer solely focused on the Mac.
But now Microsoft has deviated from AI — it’s been de-emphasizing Copilot and AI features for years, instead of improving the Windows experience with more useful upgrades. The recent discussion of agentic AI capabilities, which would let Copilot automatically handle tasks for you, also drew a lot of criticism from Windows users. And with all the focus on AI, Microsoft has also released some disastrous Windows updates in the last year that have screwed up OS installations. So, why doesn’t Apple do live broadcasts for Windows users?
Last year, I covered why it’s a good time to move from Windows to Mac, and I haven’t been able to let go of that idea since. Apple’s M-series chips are surprisingly fast and efficient, and its hardware tends to be more durable than typical PCs. Rumors point to Apple developing a new aluminum case for the lower-priced MacBook, so it will feel more polished than the typical sub-$1,000 Windows laptop. macOS has also avoided the bloat that has plagued Windows for years – you can turn off Apple Intelligence with two clicks if you want, and there are no annoying ads to deal with.
And while it used to be difficult to transition from Windows to Mac, it has become much easier these days, especially if you rely primarily on web apps. It also wouldn’t be hard for Apple to create short tutorials to help Windows users learn the basics of macOS, like installing apps and combining app windows. Apple could also be making a play for iPhone owners using Windows who may not be aware of the many ways to integrate iOS and macOS. iPhone mirroring can be a big attraction in itself.
Rumors also suggest that the upcoming MacBook may use the A18 Pro from the iPhone 16 Pro, a chip that benchmarks faster than the M1. Even though it only has six cores, which makes it slower for heavier workloads than the M2, the A18 Pro-powered MacBook will still have more than enough power for basic productivity work. Not everyone needs staggering amounts of GPU power in a MacBook Air — especially if upgrading means they can save $200 to $300.
I’m not saying all this out of any kind of Apple-loving bias. I usually use a MacBook Pro for work, but I’m a Windows user at heart. Windows was my gateway to computing in the 90s, when Macs were far more expensive than PCs. These days, I spend more time creating podcasts, playing PC games, and surfing the Internet on my Windows desktop than working on a Mac.
And yet, it’s hard to deny what Apple is doing right today – the only thing missing is an affordable laptop entry. A $699 or $799 MacBook just makes sense. And for many Windows users, it will be the freedom from Microsoft that they need.
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