Apple’s long-rumored low-cost MacBook now appears set for an official debut in early March 2026. Multiple reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and other industry sources point to a launch around March 4, tied to a special Apple media experience taking place in New York, London, and Shanghai.
Unlike routine spec bumps that arrive quietly, this low-cost MacBook is shaping up to be a more significant release. While Apple may rely on press releases for several upcoming products, reports suggest the company could also publish a prerecorded video presentation, similar to its October 2024 format, to spotlight its most affordable laptop yet.
The low-cost MacBook is expected to feature a 12.9 inch display, slightly smaller than the 13.6 inch panel on the current MacBook Air. It will reportedly use the A18 Pro chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 16 Pro lineup, instead of an M series chip. Since both chip families are ARM based, this shift is technically feasible and could help Apple reduce costs while maintaining solid performance for everyday tasks.
Design wise, the new MacBook is said to retain an aluminum chassis rather than switching to plastic. Reports indicate Apple is using a revised manufacturing process designed to be faster and more cost effective than its current MacBook production methods.
Color is another major focus. The low-cost MacBook could arrive in light yellow, light green, blue, pink, classic silver, and dark gray. Not all shades may ship at launch, but this would mark Apple’s most colorful MacBook lineup since the iBook G3 era. The playful finishes would also visually distinguish it from the more muted MacBook Air models.
Pricing is expected to fall well below $1,000. Most estimates place the starting price between $599 and $699 in the United States. That would significantly undercut the current 13 inch MacBook Air, which starts at $999 but frequently sees discounts.
Memory remains a key question. Some reports have mentioned 8GB of RAM, but Apple has recently standardized 16GB as the baseline for new Macs to support Apple Intelligence features. It is still unclear whether this entry level MacBook will fully support Apple Intelligence or position itself more as a mainstream productivity and education device.
If announced in early March, the low-cost MacBook is expected to launch alongside updated M5 MacBook Air models and new MacBook Pro configurations powered by M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. That timing would give Apple a broad Mac refresh across multiple price tiers, with the low-cost MacBook targeting students, first time Mac buyers, and users currently considering Chromebooks or budget Windows laptops.
With an aluminum build, A18 Pro chip, and bold new colors, Apple’s low-cost MacBook could become one of its most disruptive laptop releases in years if pricing lands where current reports suggest.
