Apple To Take On Chromebooks With Budget MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Apple is set to enter the low-cost laptop market for the first time, with a new Mac model expected to launch in the first half of 2026 – a direct challenge to Chromebooks and entry-level Windows PCs.

The device is in active testing and early production with Apple’s overseas suppliers, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

It will reportedly sell for well under US$1,000 (A$1,500), marking a major shift from Apple’s long-held premium-only strategy.

The budget MacBook will target students, small businesses and casual users who mainly browse the web, write documents or perform light photo and video editing.

It will feature a smaller LCD display, slightly below the 13.6-inch size of the MacBook Air and will be powered by an iPhone-class processor rather than Apple’s usual M-series Mac chips.

This will mark the first time the company has used an A-series chip in a Mac.

The developments match earlier rumours of a 13-inch MacBook featuring the A18 Pro iPhone chip.

Despite the change, internal tests reportedly show performance that rivals the first-generation M1 MacBooks due to the efficiency of Apple’s smartphone silicon.

Using less advanced components and materials will allow Apple to hit a lower price point, positioning the laptop closer to the cost of a Chromebook or iPad with keyboard accessories.

The move signals Apple’s intent to gain ground in the education and entry-level computing markets, which have long been dominated by Google and Microsoft.

Chromebooks, popular in schools for their affordability, can sell for as little as a few hundred dollars, far cheaper than Apple’s A$1,799 MacBook Air.

Analysts say the strategy could boost Apple’s PC market share, currently sitting around 9%, while introducing more consumers to the macOS ecosystem.

Alongside the new budget model, Apple is also preparing an updated M5 MacBook Air and M5-powered MacBook Pros for release next year, as part of a wider Mac lineup refresh.

If successful, Apple’s low-cost MacBook could become the company’s most accessible computer yet and a serious threat to Chromebook makers like HP, Lenovo and Dell.