Apple's new 'cheap' MacBook aims at the budget market, but there's a deeper motive

"Apple's new affordable 13-inch MacBook is rumored to feature a low-power A18 processor -- the same chip found in the iPhone 16 Pro -- rather than the typical M-series processors used in MacBooks. This would allow it to keep costs low, particularly if paired with more modest hardware such as a less flashy display and a smaller form factor."

"The A18 chip is a powerful piece of hardware, and although it doesn't quite match the performance of the M-series processors found in the MacBook Air and Pro, it's more than capable of handling everyday use cases for which affordable laptops are designed."

"I would estimate a starting price of around $599, noting that anything higher than that wouldn't be impactful enough to differentiate it, given the number of products in the expansive MacBook catalog (and the massive discounts available on renewed products)."

Apple is expected to announce a new budget-friendly MacBook on March 4 at a special event in New York. The affordable 13-inch model will reportedly feature the A18 processor found in the iPhone 16 Pro rather than traditional M-series chips, enabling lower costs through modest hardware specifications including a less advanced display and smaller form factor. The A18 chip, while not matching M-series performance, sufficiently handles everyday computing tasks. Pricing is estimated between $599 and under $1,000, positioning it below the MacBook Air's $749 baseline to effectively compete with budget PCs and Chromebooks while maintaining differentiation within Apple's MacBook lineup.

Read at ZDNET