According to Thurrott.com, Apple plans to ship its first A-series MacBook in early 2026 under the codename J700. This entry-level laptop will target Chromebook and low-end Windows PC buyers with a price “well under” $1000. It features an entirely new design with a smaller sub-13.6-inch LCD display and promises better battery life than current MacBooks. The device will use an A-series processor instead of M-series chips and allegedly outperforms M1-based Macs from 2020. Apple is already testing the device internally and has begun early production with overseas manufacturers.
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A Confused Strategy
So Apple wants to fight Chromebooks with a sub-$1000 MacBook. Here’s the thing: Chromebooks typically sell for $200-$400, not anywhere near $1000. Even “well under” $1000 probably means $799 or $899 – that’s still premium laptop territory, not Chromebook competition. And why use A-series chips when Apple just spent years convincing everyone that M-series is the future? It feels like a step backward. Basically, they’re creating a product that’s too expensive for the budget market but too compromised for the premium market they dominate.
The Timing Makes No Sense
Gurman claims this is about fighting Chromebook threats and capitalizing on Windows 10 end-of-life frustration. But Windows 10 support ends in October 2025 – six months before this MacBook supposedly launches. By early 2026, that migration will be old news. And Chromebooks? They’ve been dominating education for years without Apple seeming to care. Why suddenly react now? The whole justification feels like someone at Apple needed to justify a project that doesn’t have a clear market need.
This Creates More Problems Than It Solves
Look at what this does to Apple’s own lineup. The current cheapest MacBook Air starts at $999. This new device would cannibalize those sales while also competing with iPads – especially since many people use iPad with keyboards as laptop replacements. And let’s be honest: who’s really choosing between a $300 Chromebook and any MacBook? These are completely different customers with different needs and budgets. Apple seems to be chasing a market that doesn’t really exist while potentially confusing their existing customers.
Remember When Apple Tried This Before?
This isn’t Apple’s first rodeo with budget Macs. The 12-inch MacBook was their last attempt at a super-portable, and it failed because of keyboard issues and underwhelming performance. The plastic MacBooks of the early 2000s were budget options that never really caught on. Apple succeeds when they make premium products people aspire to own, not when they chase the bottom of the market. A cheaper MacBook with older technology sounds like a recipe for another forgotten product in Apple’s history books.
