Apple is preparing to enter the low-cost laptop market for the first time, developing a budget Mac specifically aimed at pulling customers away from Chromebooks and entry-level Windows PCs.
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This new machine, currently code-named J700, is in active testing and early production. It represents a significant departure for the company, which has historically focused on premium devices with substantial profit margins and has previously vowed not to chase market share with lower-end offerings.
The move is a clear response to the growing dominance of Google’s Chrome OS in the education and casual computing sectors. The J700 is designed for students, small businesses, and casual users whose primary needs include web browsing, document creation, and light media editing.
Apple is also directly targeting potential iPad buyers who might prefer the greater flexibility and integrated experience of a traditional laptop running the full macOS operating system.
The machine is currently slated for launch in the first half of next year.
To achieve a price point well under $1,000, Apple is making strategic compromises on internal components:
- iPhone Processor: The J700 will be powered by an iPhone processor, marking the first time Apple has used a smartphone chip in a Mac, rather than a computer-specific M-series chip. This decision cuts costs, though internal testing indicates the chip’s performance can still surpass older silicon like the M1.
- Smaller Display: The machine will use a lower-end LCD display and will feature the smallest screen of any current Mac, coming in slightly under the 13.6-inch panel used in the MacBook Air.
- New Design: Unlike past efforts where Apple simply discounted an older model (like the M1 MacBook Air), the J700 will be an entirely new design, built from the ground up for affordability.
The new budget Mac is expected to land in a price range similar to the popular student pairing of an entry-level iPad with the Magic Keyboard Folio (which costs around $600 combined).
Apple’s cheapest current model is the $999 M4 MacBook Air (which drops to $899 with educational discounts). By moving into the budget tier, the J700 will challenge rival laptops that often sell for only a few hundred dollars. The appeal will be its superior battery life, Apple’s acclaimed design, and seamless integration with the wider Apple ecosystem.
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A cheaper, high-quality Mac could spur a new wave of adoption, building on momentum from the Mac segment, which was Apple’s fastest-growing hardware category last quarter.
The launch of the J700 comes as Apple is planning a comprehensive set of updates across its product line for 2026. The company is set to debut the M5 MacBook Air early next year, followed by new M5 Pro and M5 Max-powered MacBook Pros, alongside updates to the Mac mini and Mac Studio lineups.
Further out, a major revamp of the MacBook Pro is anticipated for late 2026 or early 2027, which is expected to include an M6 chip and an iPhone-style OLED touch screen.
This draft is clearer and focuses on the high-level business strategy behind the technical details. If you’re happy with the structure, we can refine the tone further or focus on expanding the competitive section against Chromebooks.
