Who said owning an Apple laptop always has to drain your savings? For those of you who really want to experience the smoothness of the macOS ecosystem but have a tight budget, there's good news. Apple is reportedly preparing a budget or entry-level MacBook version that is ready to launch soon!
This laptop is specially prepared to compete with the Chromebook and mid-range Windows laptop market typically used by school kids or college students. Curious about how cool the specs and price are? Let's break down the leaks!
1. Premium Design with Cheerful Colors
Even though it's called "cheap," Apple refuses to make a product that looks cheap. Leaks indicate that this MacBook will still use premium aluminum material, not plastic body.
What's most intriguing is that Apple is reportedly going to offer bolder and more fun color options. Besides classic colors like Silver and Dark Gray, there will be bright color choices like Light Yellow, Light Green, Blue, and Pink. It will feel nostalgic like old Apple laptops, but with a super modern design!
2. Compact Screen, Perfect for Mobility
For size, this affordable MacBook version is predicted to have a screen size of around 12.9 to 13 inches. The size is just right—not too small for typing assignments or work, but also easy to slip into a backpack. The screen panel will likely still use a standard LCD (not OLED), but typical of Apple, the color quality will still be pleasing for daily use.
3. Surprise Under the Hood: Using iPhone Chip!
Now, this is the most unique part. To keep the selling price low, Apple reportedly won't use M-series chipsets (like M1, M2, or M3) in this laptop. Instead, they will put in the A18 Pro chip—yes, the exact same chipset used in the iPhone 16 Pro!
Even though it's "just" a phone chip, the A18 Pro's performance cannot be underestimated. For an entry-level laptop, this chip's power is more than enough for smooth browsing, opening many tabs while listening to music, typing documents, and even light photo editing. Another advantage? The battery is guaranteed to be super durable because phone chips are designed to be much more power efficient.
4. When Will It Be Released and How Much Will It Cost?
Based on the strongest leaks from technology journalist Mark Gurman (Bloomberg), this cheap MacBook version is predicted to be announced at a special Apple event in early March 2026.
So, how much will it cost? Rumors say this MacBook will be priced around USD 599 to USD 799. If this price leak comes true, it will be one of the most affordable MacBooks ever released by Apple in the modern era.
Conclusion
For those of you who only need a laptop for assignments, light office work, or just want to enjoy the Apple ecosystem without worrying about installments, this budget MacBook version is definitely worth waiting for. Better hold off on buying a new laptop this month, who knows, this rumor might actually come true in March!
Written by
Wilan
A regular contributor to Bali Island Tekno who actively shares knowledge about technology, programming, and the world of software engineering.