Apple to Sell Low-Cost 12-Inch and 13-inch MacBooks for $700 or Less

[canon-cinema-0r]

I have an underpowered MacBook 12in and I love the lightness and form factor. They can easily do this using parts they pretty much already have developed. They should drop the “Air” title and then maybe have “MacBook” , “MacBook Plus” and “MacBook Pro”

Why not call the 12" Air? And forget it being cheap, every other notebook brand has two expensive range: the big ones with lots of power, and the small, light ones around 1kg. Apple tries to go against everyone else, and this time it's not a good thing, they've already burned themselves with pricing the 15" Air above the 13" one. A cheap, plastic macbook should be around 14", Air as the small and light premium at 12" and 14" (also going back to the wedge design), Pro as the powerhouse premium at 14" and 16". What they do now just doesn't make sense.

But I won't complain if they bring out a usable 12" under 1000$, but that would loose them money, just how they lost money when they offered the iphone mini for less than the bigger one.

 

[scorpio vega]

I would be shocked if Apple released a genuinely "low cost" anything. Not their style.

That is not entirely true. No one would have thought apple would ever release a phone like the 5C. While not low cost itself, the design was definitely very unapple like

Followed up with the original (and still current) SE debuting at under $400 in 2016 and even today getting an iphone under $500 shows apple is able to go low cost if they recycle form factors but upgrade intenrals.

 

[sdz]

Hopefully it comes with a 5G Modem.

 

[Digitalguy]

They can't succeed with a really crap product. 128GB, one USB port and weedy speakers is a non starter. If they go cheap it still must be respectable, and those measures you describe save maybe $5-10 tops.

The M1 MacBook Air could profitably sell at $700, and it's still a good laptop (even despite the lack of MagSafe and the need for dongles)

The M1 air is too good to be sold at $700 and not cannibalize the M3 air (or whatever). Many of us here would like a great MacBook, in my case 12" one, with great specs, regardless of the price and this creates a bias. We wouldn't like a low end MacBook. But Apple has to make compromises not so much to save money, but to separate the lines.
Look at the iPads, look at how Apple has gone out of their way to gimp the iPad 10 just to differentiate it from the Air, and they are probably not saving much.
This is Apple, it's not just a matter of costs but of separating lines and creating a decoy effet to push you to the better model.

 

[lowkey]

Using still a 12” MacBook 2015. Still works good for basic things as this rumored Mac would be good for.

Good idea…but Apple would have to change the business model and make their profits on volume instead of per sale.

But..an M1 12”…Humm….

Yeah, but the low cost 12" could be seen as a bit of a 'gateway' computer marketed to a younger generation. Get them hooked on OSX early, broaden the user base, then profit as they move up the range as they upgrade.

Something that could run an external monitor, connect to my server, run office suite and a bit of photoshop and indesign will do. Even my old 2015 Macbook could run those apps well enough for general use imo.

 

[oldMac]

My other reaction is equally skeptical: maybe some school districts actually have a serious education program that makes use of computers, but I would expect most school systems are just blowing gratuitously large amounts of money on computers to try to look like they're doing something, and most of the money isn't helping the kids one bit.

Some of my impressions are at least 20 years old,

Yes. Your impressions are quite dated.

Our school system (a good public school in NJ) uses chromebooks from grade 3 through high school. All assignments are in Google classroom. Virtually all schoolwork and homework is done on the laptop: Calendars, assignments, supplemental reading, videos, etc. Basically all communication is via email, for which every student has a school-issued account.

Does the computer has an actual use in the curriculum? If so, what is the computer useage supposed to accomplish? Why do students need a laptop, as opposed to a computer lab stocked with desktop machines?

They accomplish the same thing that every business accomplishes by using them. Efficiency of communication, the almost complete elimination of paper, faster dissemination of information, etc.

Are there other learning benefits, as well? I’m sure there are. Mostly just in the more efficient use of time, but also in interactive assignments, education by video, etc.

Google has done an amazing job of making every student in the Google classroom program super comfortable with Gmail, Google Docs, Google sheets, etc. Thrse students will surely carry this into the business world and influence corporate decisions in the future.

 

[jonnysods]

I’d like the highest spec’d 12” MacBook Pro possible please.

100%. It's the perfect travel companion. I sold my 2017 i7 MB this year reluctantly, it just couldn't keep up anymore but man I miss the size and weight. They can use an M1 if they want to keep it low cost, I'm totally good with that!

 

[JippaLippa]

I'm all for it!
However I don't feel 2 models of such similar sizes are needed.

 

[ric22]

The M1 air is too good to be sold at $700 and not cannibalize the M3 air (or whatever). Many of us here would like a great MacBook, in my case 12" one, with great specs, regardless of the price and this creates a bias. We wouldn't like a low end MacBook. But Apple has to make compromises not so much to save money, but to separate the lines.
Look at the iPads, look at how Apple has gone out of their way to gimp the iPad 10 just to differentiate it from the Air, and they are probably not saving much.
This is Apple, it's not just a matter of costs but of separating lines and creating a decoy effet to push you to the better model.

I agree with you. I grasp the concept of gimping, considering Apple have shoved the concept down our throats. The question always is- how crap is too crap? Apple struggle with that sometimes.

So yeah, we do need differentiation between lines, but at Apple prices all products should be "good". Good/better/best. Rather than heavily gimped/somewhat gimped/mega expensive and not artificially gimped.

 

[MaverickCC]

Crazy idea I know but could maybe drop the Air to a sane price? Nah, didn't think so.

Who buys a Chromebook outside school needs? If that's the market they are targeting then why not offer students/schools a better discount on the Air? Oh yeah... profits.

I don't see the point in a <$700 MacBook.

Also I don't want to use a tiny 12" screen lmao. 13" is bad enough.

"Oh yeah ... profits." 🤣 Well yes, that is kinda the point...

 

[loby]

I'm all for it!
However I don't feel 2 models of such similar sizes are needed.

I have to admit..I agree. Just purchased a MacBook Air (with a good price) in starlight last week and also have a 12" MacBook in gold (2015).

Yes...the 12" MacBook is just a little smaller and lighter (really like it and voiced it many times), but...compared to the current MacBook Air..now that I have one, the MacBook Air is just plan better overall (including the size and weight - is acceptable).

 

[GalileoSeven]

Bring back the 11" MBA/12" MB !!

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

This would definitely be an interesting move for Apple.

 

[smulji]

Yep. I like this too. I mean, the 'air' moniker was all about super-thin and light originally. But that naming convention doesn't really work as a 'mid range' moniker. It also isn't fully applicable any more, especially if a 'MacBook' is going to be thinner and lighter than an Air.

So yeah, ditch the Air name and just make the current MacBook Air the 'Macbook'. Then whatever new smaller one that comes out can be the SE.

What about the desktops?

Mac SE (mini)
Mac (studio)
Mac Pro

😆 It probably doesn't work as well... simply having a Mac called 'Mac' seems oddly silly.

iMac SE, iMac and iMac Pro could work., 24", 27" and 32"

Yeah, that branding scheme doesn't work as well for the desktop line. I think what Apple has now works for desktops.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

The chromebook program is dominating in the US and I am sure this is Apple trying to get a part of that pie. In addition offering a lightweight laptop for daily tasks (browsing, writing homework on a computer, consuming media) currently does not require a high end device and they can take advantage of this very market with an MacBook SE (or Lighter than Air, or whatever). The only thing they would cannabalize would be their iPad lineup, though the question is what benefits them more in the long run.

From the iPad the upgrade path is very slim, only up to a pro. For the MacBook and their seemingly renewed vow to gaming could mean a whole generation of people that would rather choose the simplicity of a MacBook (with desktop class features) than a windows machine. This seems more of a long term plan than creating and upsetting the whole market and I can see them - with a businessplan in mind - succeed.

With the chromebooks, the hardware is only half the story; Google has a really strong back-end and cloud services setup for schools that Apple has no response to.

The software and services is just as important, if not more-so, than the hardware.

 

[tipoo]

I agree with all but the polycarbonate shell. That does not fit apple's design aesthetic

What else would drop cost without sacrificing the display?

 

[trip1ex]

Even the iPad still has one port, but hopefully this low cost laptop would still have a few more.

Making things lighter and smaller sometimes cost more, if it is allowed to be a bit bigger and heavier, it could be less fragile and better for kids.

Yeah it's not going to have more than the 1 port for power like an iPad. Maybe you'll be able to plug in an adapter to get more ports but ...not even sure about that. They could take away things like the ability to hook it up to a bigger screen. IN the name of lower cost and not cannibalizing the MBA as much.

Yes very true about smaller things often costing more but this isn't that. We're talking about at most a slightly smaller laptop according to the rumors maybe even same size as MBA - 12" maybe 13". And that's still bigger than iPads that are much cheaper.

I highly doubt it would be heavier to any great degree. Most of the weight in a MBA or iPad is probably the battery. And to cut costs I would imagine the battery would only be smaller. They would be using the same silicon give or take as in the MBA/iPad/iPhone/AppleTV so size can remain small and weight similar at worst.

They could possibly use cheaper materials. They seemingly have moved on to aluminum and glass but possible they could make a return to plastic although seems doubtful given how much they tout the environment and use of recyclable materials. Plastic would be lighter than glass/aluminum.

 

[trip1ex]

Look no further than the low end iPad (really every low end Apple device) for the playbook on how to make a cheaper MacBook.

Smaller/lower quality screen. Slower(older) cpu/gpu. Less RAM. Worse camera. Slower USBC. No/lesser secure authentication (no touchid/faceid.) worse speakers. slower wifi. Lower storage capacity. Fewer sensors. No external monitor support. older form factor. smaller battery/worse battery life. smaller keyboard/trackpad. ...

 

[DavidSchaub]

Look no further than the low end iPad for the playbook on how to make a cheaper MacBook.

Smaller/lower quality screen. Slower(older) cpu/gpu. Less RAM. Worse camera. Slower USBC. No/lesser secure authentication (no touchid/faceid.) worse speakers. slower wifi. Lower storage capacity. Fewer sensors. No external monitor support. older form factor. ...

Exactly, except:

- I think there is zero chance it won't support a USB-C connected external monitor, Even the phones can mirror. That is basically free.

- I expect that TouchID is pretty cheap for Apple st this point, as they already have it made.

 

[ric22]

What else would drop cost without sacrificing the display?

I think we should consider the MacBook Air 13" the bottom of the rung. If they need to make it cheaper than that is, they probably just shouldn't sell it. They could penny pinch on the processor if the later A series are cheaper than the M-Series, but I can't see that saving much.

Apparently, when new, the 13" M1 Air cost $583 to build. The chassis and battery cost a combined $38. How much more could they save with a polycarbonate shell? $5?

Let's suppose the cost has diminished to $500 at this stage. Is $200 profit per device too little? How much can they make on future services? What is it worth to Apple to bring new users into the eco system?

Edit: Link to the component and build costs.

 

[kc9hzn]

Let's look at an example: Lenovo Newest Flagship Chromebook, 14'' FHD Touchscreen Slim Thin Light Laptop Computer

Current Amazon price is $198.80 .

Is Apple really going to compete in that market?

It's "new" enough to have few enough comments at Amazon. Here is one of them:

View attachment 2302635

"Overpriced" at the Amazon price!

If someone complains about Amazon pricing because Costco probably has it for $10 or $20 lower price, do really think Apple is going to want to compete for that person's business?

It seems that there are two levels in the Chromebook market. That level can only charitably be described as “immediate e-waste” (“put it in your bin today!”, as DankPods might put it). If Apple can’t get an iPad into that price range, they certainly won’t release a MacBook in that range. Then there’s the premium Chromebook range ($300 to $500 on the low end, $500-$800 on the high end), and I’m sure Apple would want to have an answer to that price range, at least the $500-$800 segment.

 

[kc9hzn]

The M1 air is too good to be sold at $700 and not cannibalize the M3 air (or whatever). Many of us here would like a great MacBook, in my case 12" one, with great specs, regardless of the price and this creates a bias. We wouldn't like a low end MacBook. But Apple has to make compromises not so much to save money, but to separate the lines.
Look at the iPads, look at how Apple has gone out of their way to gimp the iPad 10 just to differentiate it from the Air, and they are probably not saving much.
This is Apple, it's not just a matter of costs but of separating lines and creating a decoy effet to push you to the better model.

I think Apple could slot in an entry level MacBook and still keep the Air as an enticing option, but they wouldn’t be able to offer any sort of upgrade SKUs (more storage or more RAM). A base 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a lower clock speed, fewer GPU core M1 (similar to how Apple used to put lower clock speed A series chips in the iPod touch to meet its price point), and that probably wouldn’t cannibalize the MacBook Air too much. Especially with only 1 USB-C port (would that also be a Thunderbolt port? possibly, but probably not).

 

[Mainsail]

With the chromebooks, the hardware is only half the story; Google has a really strong back-end and cloud services setup for schools that Apple has no response to.

The software and services is just as important, if not more-so, than the hardware.

Yes, this is a very important point. Apple would need to develop some educational cloud storage options that school districts could utilize. There is no way school districts would require individual students pay for cloud storage.....that model does not work in public schools.

 

[trip1ex]

Exactly, except:

- I think there is zero chance it won't support a USB-C connected external monitor, Even the phones can mirror. That is basically free.

- I expect that TouchID is pretty cheap for Apple st this point, as they already have it made.

Well I wouldn't bet on any one thing in the low end Apple device playbook for the most part. But I would bet that most of those shortcuts will taken.

There is wireless screen mirroring to compensate if there was no monitor out connection from the gpu. Or of course someone can get an MBA instead which would be the point of not having it.

"Already made" not a good argument for not having something given everything higher end is already made. It's a matter of cost and not cannibalizing the MBA.

But sure they would probably include TouchID given they are heavy into secure authentication tech and given the iPads and iPhones have it or FaceID. Doubt they would want to go backwards in that area. That might not be touchable.

And if they introduced FaceID to MBAs and MBPs then TouchID (or TouchID alone) would become the "lesser" authentication tech for a cheap MacBook and help extend/maintain the cannibalization barrier between it and the MBA.

Note: iPhone and Watch can authenticate in place of TouchID if they didn't include it on a low cost MB. I would guess lower cost Chromebooks don't have "TouchID."

 

[ric22]

I think Apple could slot in an entry level MacBook and still keep the Air as an enticing option, but they wouldn’t be able to offer any sort of upgrade SKUs (more storage or more RAM). A base 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a lower clock speed, fewer GPU core M1 (similar to how Apple used to put lower clock speed A series chips in the iPod touch to meet its price point), and that probably wouldn’t cannibalize the MacBook Air too much. Especially with only 1 USB-C port (would that also be a Thunderbolt port? possibly, but probably not).

It's still a computer, so will still need 256GB and 2 USB ports as a bare minimum.