It’s no secret that buying a new Mac usually means parting with at least a thousand dollars. But according to some recent code leaks, Apple might finally be ready to change that. A new, more affordable MacBook appears to be in the works, aimed squarely at students and casual users who don’t need a supercomputer.
But Apple doesn’t just give away hardware for free. To hit a lower price point, the company is making some strategic compromises that might surprise long-time fans. Here is what we know about the trade-offs coming to the budget line.
Trading aluminum for something cheaper
The premium feel of a MacBook comes from its solid aluminum frame. It’s heavy, cold to the touch, and expensive to make. Leaked details suggest Apple is looking at different materials for this new model. We might see a mix of cheaper metal alloys or even a high-quality plastic finish.
It’s a move we haven’t seen since the white plastic MacBooks of a decade ago. While it might not feel as luxurious, it would significantly drop the weight and the manufacturing cost. For someone tossing a laptop in a backpack, that might actually be a win.
What’s happening inside the machine?
Don’t expect the latest and greatest silicon here. While the pros are eyeing the newest chips, this budget model will likely use older parts. We are probably looking at the M1 or M2 chips—processors that are still fast for daily tasks but much cheaper for Apple to produce now.
There are a few other areas where you’ll notice the difference:
- The Display: Expect thicker borders around the screen and a standard LCD panel instead of the vibrant displays on the Air or Pro.
- Port Selection: You’ll likely get the bare minimum. Think two USB-C ports and a headphone jack, with no MagSafe charging.
- Storage and RAM: The base model will likely stay at 8GB of memory, which is plenty for browsing but tight for heavy video editing.
So, who is this for? It’s for the person who wants macOS without the typical high price tag. If you spend your day in browser tabs and word processors, you won’t miss the extra power. The big question is whether Apple can keep that premium feel while cutting so many corners.