Bad news about the budget MacBook.

Rendered image of a cheap MacBook based on rumors. Image: @zellzoi/X .

According to DigiTimes , Apple is expected to launch a cheaper MacBook in March. Due to rising component costs, including DRAM and NAND storage chips, the device may be more expensive than rumored.

Initially, estimates suggested the product's starting price would be around $600 in the US. However, Apple may increase the price to $700-$800 . Nevertheless, students may still receive a $100 discount when purchasing through Apple's online store.

For comparison, the MacBook Air M4 starts at $1,000 , or $900 for students. Apple's pricing for cheaper MacBooks will directly impact the MacBook Air.

The company plans to produce 15-16 million devices in two years, with over 8 million in the first year alone. However, DigiTimes quotes several analysts as saying that this target is too optimistic, especially since the product may be more expensive than rumored.

Faced with rising memory prices, some computer manufacturers are hoping that components from Chinese companies can alleviate the shortage, but these companies are prioritizing supplying memory to the domestic market.

Apple and Samsung were once considered the least affected brands. However, in a recent earnings report, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that the impact would become more pronounced from the second quarter of 2026 onwards.

Not only memory, but the price of raw materials for lithium batteries has also skyrocketed. Battery manufacturers reported that cobalt prices pushed battery costs up by 10-15% in February. Following the export ban from the Democratic Republic of Congo, global cobalt prices increased by 161%, from $21,500 /ton (February 2025) to $56,200 /ton.

The first batches of the budget MacBooks are expected to ship next week. Quanta Computer is the primary assembly partner, while Foxconn will join later. Apple initially planned to begin production in late 2025, but had to postpone it to the first quarter of 2026.

According to analyst Henry Chang from DigiTimes , total MacBook sales in 2026 are expected to reach 21 million units, a 2.16% increase over 2025. Apple's first-quarter laptop sales could outperform competitors, despite market fluctuations.

Apple has announced an "Apple Experience" event on March 4th in New York, London, and Shanghai. The company plans to share information about its new product lineup with the media. According to MacRumors , the devices will be launched via press release rather than a live event.

The budget MacBook will likely have a design similar to the MacBook Air but with reduced hardware. The device is expected to integrate the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone instead of the M chip, and have a screen size similar to the iPad Pro (12.9 inches).

Based on the A18 Pro's specifications, the new laptop will likely feature 8GB of RAM and a standard USB-C port instead of the faster Thunderbolt. It will come in a variety of colors including gold, green, blue, and pink.

Apple is expected to reuse the MacBook name (without Air or Pro). The MacBook line existed from 2006-2012 and 2015-2019, all using Intel processors. If the rumors are accurate, this would be the first time the basic MacBook line features a chip developed in-house by Apple.