Apple’s low-priced MacBook preview: Colorful design + long battery life, H1 will be launched next year?

[ Gearbest Technology News]According to foreign media reports, Apple plans to launch a low-priced MacBook in the first half of 2026, aiming to compete with cheap notebooks such as Chromebooks and Windows PCs. This notebook is expected to be priced at “well below $1,000” and may become the most affordable model in Apple’s MacBook product line.

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Design and display

This low-priced MacBook is expected to use an LCD display of about 13 inches, slightly smaller than the current 13.6-inch MacBook Air, and will not be equipped with mini-LED technology or ProMotion high refresh rate. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that the new machine may be available in a variety of eye-catching colors, including silver, blue, pink and yellow, similar to the iMac design style.

Core configuration: A18 Pro chip

The device will be equipped with the same A18 Pro chip as the iPhone 16 Pro, built on Apple’s second-generation 3nm process, equipped with 8GB of memory and supports Apple Intelligence functions. Performance tests show that its single-core CPU performance is close to the M3 Ultra level, its multi-core performance is better than the first-generation M1 chip, and its GPU performance is also comparable to the M1. This means it can handle daily tasks smoothly, such as document editing, web browsing, video playback and light creation.

Function and positioning

The A18 Pro chip enables this MacBook to run all iPhone 16 Pro-supported apps, including Apple Arcade games (but not high-performance gaming), and serves as a low-cost alternative to iPad-plus-keyboard combos. The device may only have one USB-C port (or two), but battery life is expected to be on par or better than the MacBook Air (up to 18 hours of video playback).

Price comparison with competing products

Currently, Apple’s official website has stopped selling the M1 MacBook Air. Referring to the pricing of iPad Air (13-inch, US$799) and iPad mini (A17 Pro chip, US$499), the new MacBook may be priced between US$499 and US$799 (approximately RMB 3,600-5,700 yuan), becoming a key product for Apple to seize the education market and entry-level users.

Release time

Apple plans to update the MacBook Air product line in early 2026, and low-priced MacBooks may be released at the same time. This move will expand Apple’s influence in the affordable notebook market and provide users with richer choices.

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