According to Thurrott.com, Apple is planning to ship its first A-series MacBook in early 2026 with the codename J700. This entry-level laptop will sell for “well under” $1000 and feature an entirely new design with a smaller sub-13.6-inch LCD display. The device will use an A-series processor rather than Apple’s M-series chips and target people who would otherwise buy Chromebooks or low-end Windows PCs. Apple is currently testing the MacBook internally and has begun early production with overseas manufacturers. The A-series chip allegedly outperforms the M1 processors from 2020, and the device promises better battery life than current MacBook Air and Pro models.
Apple‘s Budget Play
This is fascinating because Apple hasn’t really competed in the true budget laptop space before. The cheapest MacBook right now is the $999 M4 MacBook Air, which isn’t exactly impulse purchase territory. But “well under $1000” could mean $799 or even $699 – that’s Chromebook and budget Windows laptop pricing. And honestly, that’s a huge market Apple has basically ignored until now.
Here’s the thing: Apple’s been incredibly successful with the M-series transition, but they’ve also raised prices across the board. The MacBook Pro starts at $1599 now! So this feels like a strategic pivot to capture the other end of the market. They’re basically saying, “Okay, we’ve got the premium segment locked down – now let’s go after everyone else.”
Why A-Series Instead of M-Series?
The A-series chip move is particularly interesting. Apple’s been unifying everything around M-chips, so going back to A-series feels like a step backward. But think about it – they probably have tons of A-series manufacturing capacity from older iPhone and iPad production. And if the performance beats the M1, that’s still plenty powerful for web browsing, documents, and light media editing.
Basically, they’re using proven, cheaper-to-produce technology to hit a price point they couldn’t reach with M-series chips. It’s smart from a cost perspective, though I wonder how they’ll position it marketing-wise. “It’s not an M-chip, but it’s still great!” doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Who Should Be Worried?
If this thing actually delivers at, say, $799 with decent performance and that legendary Apple build quality? Chromebook makers should be sweating. And budget Windows laptop manufacturers too. Because let’s be real – most people buying cheap Windows laptops aren’t doing anything that requires Windows specifically. They just want a computer that works and doesn’t feel like garbage.
But the timing feels a bit off to me. Early 2026 is over a year and a half away. The Chromebook threat isn’t exactly new, and Windows 10 end-of-life concerns will have largely passed by then. Still, better late than never for Apple to finally acknowledge that not everyone wants to drop a grand on a laptop.
The bigger question is whether this will cannibalize iPad sales. Because at this price point, you’re getting awfully close to iPad Pro territory. And for many people, a “real” laptop at that price might be more appealing than a tablet with keyboard accessories.
