With a reported 12.9-inch screen, it could position itself as the MacBook with the smallest display in Apple's lineup.
The MacBook Air is currently the most affordable laptop in Apple's lineup
Apple has been rumoured to be working on a low-cost MacBook for quite some time now. Although no official announcement has been made so far, a recent leak suggests that the Cupertino-based tech giant could make some compromises in terms of hardware to offset costs. It is tipped to miss out on a True Tone display, high peak brightness, and a backlit keyboard. The low-cost MacBook may also omit fast charging support.
According to a tipster's post on the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo, Apple's purported low-cost MacBook could miss out on a True Tone display, with a separate source claiming the laptop may not support the P3 wide colour gamut either. It is also rumoured to lack support for high-impedance headphones, a feature available on higher-end MacBook models.
In addition, the display's maximum brightness is expected to be lower than the 500-nit panel offered on the MacBook Air. Charging capabilities may be limited, too. The tipster claims the low-cost MacBook will not support fast charging of any kind, potentially resulting in longer charging times compared to Apple's lineup.
Connectivity hardware could also differ from higher-end models. Instead of using Apple's proprietary wireless solution, the laptop is said to feature a MediaTek Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which is reportedly the same component used in the base iPad model.
Other potential compromises include the absence of a backlit keyboard, potentially affecting work in low-light environments. Storage configurations are expected to include 256GB and 512GB options, though there may be a special 128GB tier reserved for education buyers. Lastly, the tipster mentioned that the low-cost MacBook could use slower SSD storage compared to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.
With a reported 12.9-inch screen, the purported laptop may position itself as the MacBook with the smallest display in Apple's lineup. The rumoured MacBook is expected to be placed in the sub-$1,000 (roughly Rs. 90,700) price band, making it the most affordable MacBook in the market.
While the launch timeline remains under wraps, the tech giant is reportedly hosting a “special Apple experience” on March 4 in London, New York, and Shanghai. The low-cost MacBook is rumoured to be one of the anticipated introductions, alongside the iPhone 17e.
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