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officialjngtech

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 4, 2020
18
48
Will there be a more affordable (yet powerful) MacBook like iPhone SE? Since Apple is making their own silicon now. Let me know what you guys thought. It’s kinda interesting.
 

iOS Geek

macrumors 68000
Nov 7, 2017
1,658
3,443
Will there be a more affordable (yet powerful) Macbook like iPhone SE? Since Apple is making their own silicon now. Let me know what you guys thought?
It's an interesting thought! Honestly, looking at what we currently have and looking strictly at cost...I would say that the Air (being that it's the cheapest "complete package" yet provides great value for that cost) could be argued to be an "SE" though not explicitly in name. You could maybe even argue the Mini as an "SE", though I would probably not go that route considering you still have to add on a monitor and other accessories.

I'd say unlikely but not impossible. Given that an SE device is made by making sacrifices, I'm not even sure what sacrifices I would expect to see!
 

weaztek

macrumors 6502
Aug 28, 2009
435
260
Madison
I would say that the Air (being that it's the cheapest "complete package" yet provides great value for that cost) could be argued to be an "SE" though not explicitly in name. You could maybe even argue the Mini as an "SE", though I would probably not go that route considering you still have to add on a monitor and other accessories.
I agree. These are the cheapest Macs we've seen in a very long time. I don't expect any lower price points than these M1 entry level machines.

The iPad at $250 (when on sale) is also a heck of a deal to get into the Apple ecosystem.
 

iOS Geek

macrumors 68000
Nov 7, 2017
1,658
3,443
They could do a plastic body instead of milled aluminum and lower end chips - would be good for the education market.
That plastic body comment sent me to Wikipedia ? The iBook. Didn't even think about that! Interestingly enough, the search page I landed on was "List of Macintosh models by case type". When you get to the iBook category, there is "iBook" and "iBook SE". Can't say I recall ever hearing of the iBook SE directly by the "SE" name!
 

officialjngtech

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 4, 2020
18
48
I just got a feeling they will release a sub $600 laptop. Look at the lowest new iPad which is $329 starting point. It might not have the latest technology but it will be more affordable. Still good enough for education purpose
 
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officialjngtech

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 4, 2020
18
48
I just got a feeling they will release a sub $600 laptop. Look at the lowest new iPad which is $329 starting point. It might not have the latest technology but it will be more affordable. Still good enough for education purpose
They might bring back the “MacBook” not the Air and the Pro
 

Chompineer

Suspended
Mar 31, 2020
502
1,183
Ontario
I just got a feeling they will release a sub $600 laptop. Look at the lowest new iPad which is $329 starting point. It might not have the latest technology but it will be more affordable. Still good enough for education purpose

Considering most education software requires windows...
 

Argon_

macrumors 6502
Nov 18, 2020
425
256
I just got a feeling they will release a sub $600 laptop. Look at the lowest new iPad which is $329 starting point. It might not have the latest technology but it will be more affordable. Still good enough for education purpose
They could make the body of the device from a bioplastic. Would be a great PR move. Toss in an A14 or down binned M1.
 

HarryWild

macrumors 68020
Oct 27, 2012
2,050
720
Will there be a more affordable (yet powerful) MacBook like iPhone SE? Since Apple is making their own silicon now. Let me know what you guys thought. It’s kinda interesting.
Hope not! The stripped down crippled previous generation components will hurt the naive buyers in the long run!
 

thenewperson

macrumors 6502a
Mar 27, 2011
992
912
I'd definitely love it if they did. Can't see them going down as low as $599, but keeping the current M1 Air in its 8GB/256GB/7-core variant at like $799 when the next Air comes seems doable.
 

Serban55

Suspended
Oct 18, 2020
2,153
4,344
Now with their own chips...Apple is obviously take their own strategy from iphones, ipads apple watch etc
Since every category has it...mac will has it too
So expect in 1-2 years to have under 700$ an Macbook Air SE or something with M1
Or even better, Mac Mini with M1 under 500$
 

MarkAtl

macrumors 6502
Jul 9, 2019
402
407
I would love a new MacBook. I don’t see it happening, though. I think it would take away from the new Air and MacBook Pro sales.
I could see an ultraportable 12” MB that’s 2 lbs. That won’t be cheaper than the Air though.
 

Apple_Robert

Contributor
Sep 21, 2012
35,649
52,437
In a van down by the river
I could see an ultraportable 12” MB that’s 2 lbs. That won’t be cheaper than the Air though.
That is a good thought. At the same time, I wouldn’t be looking to spend more on a MacBook than what I can get with the new Air. A proposed MacBook would be used primarily around the house and as a subsequent device to my iPad Pro.
 

MarkAtl

macrumors 6502
Jul 9, 2019
402
407
That is a good thought. At the same time, I wouldn’t be looking to spend more on a MacBook than what I can get with the new Air. A proposed MacBook would be used primarily around the house and as a subsequent device to my iPad Pro.
Given Apple will soon control the entire ecosystem of their Macs and won’t be subject to Intel’s chip roadmap I can see -

MacBook SE or iBook - plastic, low end, education, $799

MacBook Air 13” - good for nearly everyone, $999

MacBook 12” - ultraportable, $999

Macbook Pro 14” - $1299

Macbook Pro 16” - $1799

The differentiators will be screen size, # of ports, eGPU support (or not) and memory/storage options.

Apple can bin their chips so the worst ones go to the SE, medium to the Air or 12” and the best for the MBP. Probably 2 lines of chips where the M1 goes mainstream and a M1X or M2 with more cores for the MBP, especially 16”.
 
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Apple_Robert

Contributor
Sep 21, 2012
35,649
52,437
In a van down by the river
Given Apple will soon control the entire ecosystem of their Macs and won’t be subject to Intel’s chip roadmap I can see -

MacBook SE or iBook - plastic, low end, education, $799

MacBook Air 13” - good for nearly everyone, $999

MacBook 12” - ultraportable, $999

Macbook Pro 14” - $1299

Macbook Pro 16” - $1799

The differentiators will be screen size, # of ports, eGPU support (or not) and memory/storage options.

Apple can bin their chips so the worst ones go to the SE, medium to the Air or 12” and the best for the MBP. Probably 2 lines of chips where the M1 goes mainstream and a M1X or M2 with more cores for the MBP, especially 16”.
I am going to hold off getting a M1 model and see what Apple offers early next year. Maybe we will see a MacBook at the kind oil price point you stated. If so, I would buy, depending on final specs.
 

MarkAtl

macrumors 6502
Jul 9, 2019
402
407
I am going to hold off getting a M1 model and see what Apple offers early next year. Maybe we will see a MacBook at the kind oil price point you stated. If so, I would buy, depending on final specs.
Pure speculation on my part, but previously Apple would need to use Y chips for the MB, Y or U for the Air, U for the Pro, B for the Mini, etc.

They have a lot more flexibility now.
 

officialjngtech

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 4, 2020
18
48

MarkAtl

macrumors 6502
Jul 9, 2019
402
407
There was an education only M1 MacBook air introduced a week ago.
It's basically the same as a regular model with half the storage, right? Sounds like Apple had a bunch of 128GB chips committed that they needed to use and came out with this model. Still a lot of room to cut between that price and an iPad though.
 

MarkAtl

macrumors 6502
Jul 9, 2019
402
407
I remember plastic Apple laptops...particularly a white bodied one. It felt weird in the hand!
There were several that came to mind -

My wife had one of these:

35gdgcoGJlrFgVAW.standard


And then I remember watching that show Sex and the City 20 years ago that SJP's character had one of these:

FcHHbWykfxTk54tj.standard


 
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