We’re gearing up for the official announcement of the low-cost MacBook this week, and Apple reportedly believes it will offer “incredible value.”
The company thinks it will bring two types of new user into the Mac world. That’s important not just for sales of the MacBook itself, but what it means for the Mac lineup as a whole – even for those of us who have no plans to buy the machine …
‘Incredible value’
Of course, Apple’s idea of incredible value may not align with consumer views, but it has been suggested that the starting price could be as low as $599. Even with the rumored compromises, that would be a pretty amazing deal as a list price, given that it currently costs $999 to buy the cheapest MacBook Air.
The company is reportedly targeting two markets, neither of whom currently owns a Mac of any kind:
- Windows and Chromebook users
- iPhone users who don’t currently own a computer
If the price does indeed come in at the low end of what we’re expecting, I think that first target group is very realistic. There is absolutely a market among laptop users who would love to own a MacBook but are not willing to pay a four-figure price for it.
Faced with a choice between a Chromebook and a budget Windows laptop in the $300 to $400 range, I do think there are a substantial number of people who would be willing to pay the extra for a MacBook.
The second of these markets is probably a smaller one, but is still a realistic target. There are absolutely people who start with an iPhone, initially find that the device is all that they need, but who later go on to buy an iPad. Anyone who does so with a keyboard would definitely now be a potential customer for the low-cost MacBook instead.
We may not see people lining up around the block to buy the MacBook, but I do think it will prove a hit.
Switching platforms has never been easier
There was a time when switching from Windows to Mac was a pretty big deal. There were Windows apps for which you would need to find Mac equivalents, and for non-techie users even shifting their data from one platform to a new one was non-trivial.
These days, however, it’s never been easier. So much of our computing today is done with web apps and cloud storage. Our non-techie family and friends may still seek our assistance, but we’ll be able to get them up-and-running in very little time and with way less hand-holding than would once have been the case.
The compromises seem acceptable
A report last week suggested that the machine will have a number of compromises in order to hit Apple’s desired price point.
We already expected it to be powered by the A18 Pro chip, but that’s unlikely to be an issue. A fairly lengthy list of potential additional compromises has been suggested. What’s interesting to me in that even for 9to5Mac readers, who we’d expect to be more demanding, our poll wasn’t as devastating as I’d imagined.
It’s true that almost all of you did see a deal-breaker in the list, but even the 8GB RAM limitation only hit 30% of the votes, with everything else significantly lower. Couple that to a second poll showing that the new MacBook is one of the two expected announcements that most excite you (alongside a new Apple Studio Display), that seems an encouraging sign for Apple.
A gateway drug to the Mac world
It does then look like the new MacBook could bring a lot of people into the Mac universe. That’s good for Apple’s bottom line in the short term, as we can be confident that the company will be making its usual margins on the device, but it’s potentially even better news in the longer term.
Once you’ve owned a Mac, most people would be exceedingly reluctant to go back to Windows. That’s even more the case if somebody already owned an iPhone, as they will now be experiencing all of the benefits of the interconnected Apple ecosystem.
Some people’s usage is such that the entry-level MacBook will continue to be all that they ever need. Others, however, will be tempted to upgrade further down the line. That provides Apple with a very valuable future sales funnel from a $600 machine to a four-figure one.
Could be good news for the MBA and MBP
Macworld’s Alex Blake also thinks the MacBook could be good news for the rest of us. If Apple wants to protect the existing market for the MacBook Air, he suggests the company will have to up its game. Improvements to that machine would put similar pressure on the MacBook Pro, again forcing upgrades there.
We’ll of course be bringing you full coverage of all of Apple’s announcements this week, together with a hands-on from the special event on Wednesday.
- Official Apple Store on Amazon
- Apple’s iPhone cases: iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max | iPhone Air
- Wireless CarPlay adapter (2026 update)
- AirTag holders and accessories
- Mac Pro-style Mac mini casing
- NordVPN – privacy-first VPN with no logs and independent audits to verify
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments