Apple’s Rumoured Budget MacBook Might Come In 2026

By Danial Martinus • 07 Nov 2025 in Gear

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Apple might finally be releasing a proper “budget” MacBook in 2026.

According to reports from Bloomberg, the company is quietly working on a new, more affordable Mac notebook slated for release in the first half of next year. The price tag? It’s apparently “well under US$1,000” or RM4,174, making it a real steal by Apple standards, if it ever comes to fruition.

A big deal for a lot of people

For students, casual users, and anyone who just couldn’t justify spending a lot of money on a MacBook, this new budget offering could be their golden ticket into the Apple productivity ecosystem.

The cheapest MacBook you can currently get in Malaysia is the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air, which starts at RM4,499 (or RM4,069 with education pricing).

But if you want a lower barrier of entry into the Mac ecosystem, you can also opt for the M4 Mac Mini, which starts at RM2,499.

Of course, the caveat is the fact that you’ll need a separate display, which will add on costs if you don’t already have one. Plus, it’s basically a desktop, which means you can’t really take it anywhere.

A more seamless ecosystem for the budget-conscious

What makes this rumoured budget MacBook so intriguing is how it could fit into existing Apple ecosystems.

For years, people who couldn’t shell out enough cash for a MacBook resorted to using iPads with Bluetooth keyboards. This kind of setup works for a lot of people, but it’s never been a true laptop replacement. A proper, affordable MacBook could fill that gap instantly.

The rumoured specs of this new MacBook are just as juicy. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, whose past predictions and industry-insider knowledge have come very close to the real thing, the new budget MacBook will run on the same chip used in the iPhone 16 Pro, the A18 Pro chip.

It’ll also come with a 13-inch LCD screen, which would make it the same size as a base MacBook Air. Of course, the display itself won’t be as crisp, but that’s a compromise most people will probably be willing to make.

There’s also talk of this affordable MacBook coming in a variety of fun and bright colours, including Silver, Blue, Pink, and Yellow.

At the end of the day, this means Apple can cut costs while still delivering enough power and performance for those who mostly use laptops for web browsing or light productivity.

Will you be getting one if it’s released?