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Apple Reportedly Preparing First Low-Cost MacBook With iPhone Chip for Early 2026

The plan signals a shift toward competing with Chromebooks as well as entry‑level Windows PCs.

Overview

  • Bloomberg, echoed by Reuters, reports the project code-named J700 is in active testing at Apple with early production underway at overseas suppliers for a first-half 2026 launch.
  • Apple is said to target a price well under $1,000 to court students, businesses, casual users, and would‑be iPad buyers seeking a traditional laptop experience.
  • The laptop will reportedly use an A‑series iPhone processor and a smaller, lower‑end LCD, marking the first consumer Mac to ship with an iPhone chip, which internal tests indicate can outperform the M1.
  • The display is expected to measure slightly under the MacBook Air’s 13.6 inches, with an entirely new, lower‑cost design approach; Apple declined to comment on the reporting.
  • Current pricing context shows the M4 MacBook Air at $999 (often discounted to $799 by retailers) and the older M1 Air near $599 at Walmart, while some analysts speculate a $599–$699 entry price for J700 that remains unconfirmed.