Apple Reportedly Planning Cheaper Macs to Compete With Budget Chromebooks, PCs

Apple may release more affordable Mac laptops to compete with Chromebooks and budget-friendly Windows laptops as early as 2026. 

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports the company has plans to roll out a machine for “well under $1,000.” According to Gurman, the new laptop is already in early production under the codename J700. This matches earlier rumors that a low-cost MacBook Air was in the pipeline at around $599, which would allow Apple to directly compete with other cheap laptops, including Chromebooks…