An intriguing rumor has surfaced suggesting that Apple might release a more budget-friendly MacBook series that could compete, especially with Chromebook laptops.
The Taiwanese newspaper DigiTimes has reportedly spoken to sources claiming that Apple may start manufacturing cheaper laptops. According to the reports, Apple could use different materials to create a more affordable computer. Considering the popularity of Chromebooks, it’s not entirely implausible that Apple is looking to gain more market share by venturing into the budget laptop segment.
In 2021, over 33 million Chromebooks were sold, as reported by DigiTimes. If Apple were to enter the budget laptop market, the source cited by DigiTimes believes this could happen sometime in the second half of 2024. Apple has made some attempts in the past to create slightly more budget-friendly products, such as the iPhone SE, but it is not typically known for competing in the lower-priced market segments.
Therefore, rumors about a more affordable MacBook series should probably be taken with a grain of salt for now. The cheapest laptop Apple currently sells is the 13-inch MacBook Air with an M1 chip.
