Apple's upcoming low-cost MacBook is one of the year's most anticipated consumer devices. And, in what constitutes a nod to the ongoing memory crisis, the device will feature reduced RAM to preserve its low retail price.
As per the reporting by Taiwan's Mirror Daily, , the same SoC that powers the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, and remains comparable to the M1 chip in performance.
Surprisingly, and in what likely constitutes a nod to the constrained memory supply, the new cheaper MacBook is expected to sport just 8GB of RAM, which is a hefty downgrade from . Even so, do note that up until 2024, 8GB constituted the base RAM for most MacBooks.
Elsewhere, the report goes on to note that the low-cost MacBook will feature a 12.9-inch screen, which also constitutes an apparent downgrade from the 13.6-inch LCD panel that the device was previously rumored to feature. As a differentiating factor, the device will reportedly feature a brightly colored body, replete with color options such as yellow or goose pink.
The report adds that Apple has secured sufficient memory for the upcoming low-cost MacBook and expects to record an annual sales volume of between 5 million and 8 million units.
Finally, the report notes that the low-cost MacBook will be priced at between $699 and $799. Do note that Apple's current cheapest MacBook Air starts retailing at $899.
We've aggregated the low-cost MacBook's expected specs in a dedicated post . As such, apart from the specs detailed by Mirror Daily, the new device is expected to sport:
- A USB 3.2 Gen 2 controller capable of speeds of 10Gb/s or 1.25GB/s.
- No Thunderbolt controllers.
- Apple is likely to use the aluminum chassis of the MacBook Air for its upcoming low-cost MacBook, albeit with reduced component specs.
- A haptic trackpad, but without a backlit keyboard.
Follow to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.