Apple is preparing to release its first budget MacBook, priced below $1,000, in the first half of 2026. The laptop, codenamed J700, is currently in early production and marks the company’s entry into the more affordable PC market segment.
The new model aims to compete directly with Chromebooks and Windows-based laptops by offering Apple’s design and ecosystem advantages at a lower price point. Analysts say the move reflects Apple’s effort to expand its user base amid slowing demand for high-end devices.
If successful, the budget MacBook could boost Mac sales and strengthen Apple’s position in the education and entry-level consumer markets, areas where competitors like Microsoft and Google have maintained an edge.