A day after analyst Ming-Chi Kuo corroborated a long-time rumor that Apple could possibly be planning to launch a low-cost MacBook within the close to future, information aggregator account yeux1122 on the Korean weblog Naver mentioned their sources additionally consider this might occur.
Extra curiously, their provide chain supply would have talked about low-cost fashions in March 2018, July 2021, and September 2023 – that means Apple has lengthy thought of relaunching its MacBook model for fairly a while.
Though we heard experiences from a number of sources this 12 months, it’s nonetheless unclear what Apple might launch. Yeux1122 thinks Apple might launch a 12-inch mannequin and a 13-inch model for academic functions. Kuo solely says, “Apple may take into account (however hasn’t determined but) introducing a extra inexpensive MacBook mannequin to spice up shipments, with a goal of 8-10+ million models per 12 months.”
Beforehand, BGR reported that Apple could possibly be engaged on a 12-inch MacBook and speculated that Cupertino might tackle this pc by including an M1 chip, 128GB of storage, and 6GB of RAM. That means, it might make this machine cheaper however far more highly effective than any Chromebook accessible.
With Mac gross sales declining, a brand new low-cost mannequin could possibly be precisely what the corporate must take a extra vital stake within the schooling market, particularly to offer customers a substitute for the entry-level iPad fashions.
Curiously, in June 2022, Bloomberg mentioned Apple deliberate to launch a 12-inch MacBook on the finish of 2023 or early 2024. DigiTimes, in September 2023, mentioned this Mac might arrive “as early because the second half of 2024.”
One factor is for positive: with so many experiences a couple of 12-inch MacBook, it’s turning into extra probably that Apple is certainly readying one thing for the subsequent few months. And with the M3 chips about to reach, an M1 choice turns into much more potential to come back sooner somewhat than later.
That mentioned, launching a 12-inch mannequin and a 13-inch particularly for academic functions appears a bit sketchy, as they’d be very related in specs. BGR will preserve reporting on upcoming Mac merchandise.
