Apple battling rising component costs in low-cost MacBook production

Chance Miller | Feb 25 2026 - 5:47 am PT

What can we expect from Apple's rumored new MacBook, with an iPhone processor? | Renders of colorful MacBooks shown

Apple is expected to make multiple product announcements next week, culminating in a special “Apple Experience” for the press on Wednesday. A new low-cost MacBook is rumored to be among the new products.

A new report today from Digitimes reaffirms Apple’s work on a more affordable MacBook, and how the company is battling increasing component costs.

Apple’s new low-cost MacBook is imminent

The report says that volume shipments for the new low-cost MacBook are expected to begin in March, aligning with a likely release that month. Supply chain sources estimate that Apple will ship 15-16 million units of the device over the first two years.

Apple has battled delays in production of the new MacBook, the report explains. Mass production was first slated to start in late 2025, but was ultimately pushed to the first quarter of 2026.

Like most of the industry, Apple is also facing pressure from rising component costs. Digitimes emphasizes that this is particularly impacting memory prices and battery costs.

It’s hard to predict the price of unreleased Apple products, but here’s what Digitimes says:

With costs climbing, the affordability of the “budget” MacBook is increasingly in question. Early rumors pointed to a US$599 price tag, close to the record low once seen for the M1 MacBook Air at Walmart.

Most estimates now place it between US$699 and US$749.

As we’ve outlined before, the new low-cost MacBook will be powered by the A18 Pro chip and will have a 12.9-inch display. This will make it the smallest laptop Apple sells, with the MacBook Air measuring at 13.6 inches. According to Bloomberg, Apple has tested the MacBook in multiple colors including light yellow, light green, blue, pink, classic silver and dark gray.

Are you interested in Apple’s more affordable MacBook? Do you think it’ll be a hit? Will it cannibalize the MacBook Air? Let us know down in the comments.

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