For average consumers, especially students, the MacBook Air M4 remains the laptop of choice. Nothing really comes close to Apple’s MacBook Air; however, the device, which starts at Rs 99,900 (or $999 in the US), isn’t exactly affordable and therefore alienates many potential buyers. But Apple may have a solution to make the MacBook more accessible.
DigiTimes, citing “supply chain sources,” reports that the affordable MacBook will start at $699 (or Rs 61,113), or $599 (or Rs 52,370) with an education discount. If true, this would mark the first time the company has ever offered a MacBook for less than $999. In fact, the initial stage of production is reportedly scheduled to begin sometime next month, with full-scale manufacturing potentially underway by the end of the year.
This isn’t the first time we have heard that Apple is working on a low-cost MacBook. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously claimed that Cupertino has been developing a budget MacBook designed specifically for developing markets.
The entry-level notebook will feature a 12.9-inch screen, slightly smaller than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air. Interestingly, the laptop will not use an M-series chip but will instead be powered by the A18 Pro, the same chip found in the iPhone 16 Pro. This means that while an A18 Pro MacBook will be fast and even support Apple Intelligence, it will still be slower compared to the M4 MacBook Air. The $599 MacBook will be available in blue, pink, silver, and yellow colour options, reminiscent of the iBook G3, which was also offered in fun, candy-like colours.
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Why Apple’s needs a low-cost MacBook
A low-cost MacBook has been rumoured for years, but Apple has never brought it to market, possibly due to concerns that it could cannibalise iPad sales. The $599 MacBook is also likely to impact MacBook Air sales, especially in markets like India, where consumers will have an additional option to choose from: one that runs a full-fledged version of macOS. However, it’s likely that Apple will use different casing materials or colours to differentiate it.
All said and done, the idea behind the $599 MacBook could be aimed at capturing some market share from Windows laptops. With Windows 10 reaching end-of-support in October this year, many consumers are expected to purchase new notebooks. If Apple is able to offer a $599 MacBook, it could prove beneficial for Cupertino.
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In recent quarters, Apple’s growth has been the highest among its key competitors. According to IDC, Cupertino was the fourth biggest PC vendor in the world in Q2 2025, with a market share of 9.1 per cent.
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