Rumours are swirling that Apple is gearing up to do the unthinkable—launch a “budget-friendly” MacBook. Yes, you read that right. A MacBook that doesn’t cost too much. Have I stepped in a parallel dimension or what? If the reports are true, we could see this miracle hit the market in early 2026, priced well below Apple’s usual (read: unaffordable) range.
This time around, the target market appears to be different: students and casual users who currently choose Chromebooks or low-cost Windows machines and even Apple customers who want to create an ecosystem but can’t afford multiple devices.
To hit this segment, the new budget MacBook is expected to dial down some high-end features in favour of affordability—a lower-end LCD screen and potentially slightly smaller display than the current MacBook Air. Rumors also suggest the budget MacBook will be similar to the M1 MacBook Air, but powered by Apple’s A18 Pro chip used in the iPhone—a processor expected to deliver M1-level performance for some tasks and even surpass it in others.
As for the pricing, reports suggest the new MacBook would cost well around the Rs 50,000 range. That would place it squarely in Chromebook/Windows territory and open Apple’s laptop ecosystem to the broader audience it intends to target.
Of course, Apple hasn’t confirmed a thing—and with their track record, the “budget” MacBook could still end up costing more than your monthly rent. But if the rumours hold true, this could be Apple’s boldest move in years. A budget MacBook that doesn’t make your wallet bleed could bring a whole new audience into the ecosystem. And for consumers who have wanted a MacBook but hesitated at the price, this could be the moment to start manifesting (if you think that works). However, until the prophesied device is not launched in the market, I’ll be cautiously optimistic and maybe just a little sceptical.
