Apple to introduce a low-cost MacBook powered by Apple Silicon
Has Apple really run out of surprises? Image c/o: Jacinta Iluch Valero/Flickr
The rumour that Apple plans a low cost Mac powered by an iPhone chip has returned: Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo picked up on news of a low cost mobile Mac earlier this year, now Bloomberg is reprising the story, anticipating such a product will launch in the first half of next year ,
Ming-Chi Kuo had told us that Apple’s lower cost MacBook Air would be equipped with an A-series processor, like those used in iPhones. Bloomberg confirms this, adding that the new 13-inch Apple laptop will use less-advanced components so it can reach the sub-$1,000 price point.
A lot to play for
It comes at a good time. After all, not only have even entry-level Macs running M4 or M5 chips have plenty of horsepower to spare, to the extent that even a lower-specced Mac running an A series chip will still have more than enough “oomph” to compete with the lower end of the Windows market.
It goes beyond pure performance as introduction of a lower cost Apple computer is likely to seem super-attractive to Windows users hoping to switch to a better platform rather than follow Microsoft’s migration to Windows 11.
For many people, a Mac with this much power would be enough, and if the price is right then they’ll look to this machine. Web browsing, social media, document editing and making short video clips will all sit serenely in this model’s purview.
The power of Apple Silicon
The report states that internal testing has proved that the A-series iPhone chip planned for use in this affordable Apple notebook can perform better than the M1 processor Apple introduced just a few years ago – and those machines are nowhere near EOL. The truth is that Apple Silicon has transformed Apple’s position in the PC industry.
Right now, almost one in five notebooks sold in America comes from Apple. We shall see if offering Macbooks at lower price points will stimulate even more interest in the platform. I think it probably will.
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