Apple is apparently preparing a budget-friendly MacBook that will be unconventional in many ways. It's expected to be significantly more affordable than any previous MacBook model, run on an iPhone chip, and come in striking colors that Apple hasn't dared to use in over two decades. New leaks also reveal that the planned color palette was originally intended for the 2022 MacBook Air but wasn't implemented at the time. The unveiling is expected on March 4, 2026.
The idea of a colorful MacBook is older than many would suspect. Back in October 2021, a well-known source claimed that the redesigned MacBook Air would be released in similarly vibrant colors as the 24-inch iMac with the M1 chip. Apple tested the color options internally but ultimately decided against it. The MacBook Air with the M2 chip was released in July 2022 in the familiar Apple colors of silver, starlight, space gray, and midnight blue.
These color ideas have now resurfaced in a new context. The Chinese leaker "Instant Digital" wrote on the platform Weibo that Apple originally developed and tested the bright and playful colors for the MacBook Air with the M2 chip. What was rejected back then is now said to be making its way into the most affordable MacBook Apple has ever planned.
The planned colors: As colorful as they haven't been since the 90s
What has leaked out so far
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reported in his newsletter "Power On" that Apple has internally tested six colors for the budget MacBook: light yellow, light green, blue, pink, classic silver, and dark gray. Gurman cautioned, however, that it is unlikely all six variants will actually be released.
Apple itself provided another clue to the final color selection, albeit without explicitly stating it. The invitation graphic for the event on March 4, 2026, clearly shows the colors yellow, green, and blue, which many observers interpret as a deliberate preview of the product colors.
A look back: The iBook G3 as a model
Should Apple actually launch with such a vibrant color palette, the affordable MacBook would be the company's most colorful laptop since the iBook G3 era of the late 1990s. Back then, Apple offered the iBook in Tangerine, Blueberry, Indigo, Graphite, and Key Lime. The design was a cultural phenomenon and made computers truly appealing to a broad audience for the first time. It seems Apple is now aiming to recapture that spirit.
Technology: iPhone chip instead of M-series
A18 Pro as the core
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the budget MacBook will not be equipped with an M-series chip, but rather with an iPhone processor. Specifically, it will reportedly use the A18 Pro, the same chip already found in the iPhone 16 Pro. This is an unusual decision for a MacBook, but it makes sense in the context of cost optimization. Manufacturing and sourcing the A18 Pro is significantly cheaper for Apple than producing a dedicated M-series chip.
Display and housing
The device is expected to feature a display of just under 13 inches. The casing is made of aluminum and, according to Gurman, is manufactured using a new, faster process that Apple developed specifically to keep production costs down. This process is a key factor in Apple's ability to keep the device's retail price as low as planned.
The price: Well under $1,000
Ming-Chi Kuo has clearly stated that the budget MacBook will be priced significantly below $1,000. This would be a historic low for a MacBook and would place the device in a price range where Apple has simply not been present until now.
Strategy: Apple's answer to Chromebooks
Students and companies as target group
Apple is specifically targeting two groups with the new MacBook: students and business users. Both have often opted for cheaper alternatives because the initial investment in the MacBook ecosystem was too high. With a device under $1,000, Apple aims to close precisely this gap.
Chromebooks as a direct competitor
It is widely believed that Apple is specifically targeting Chromebooks with its affordable MacBook. These devices from Google dominate, particularly in schools and corporate environments, because they are inexpensive, require little maintenance, and are easy to manage. With the new MacBook, Apple aims to gain a foothold in precisely this market segment and win over users who previously lacked access to the Mac ecosystem or couldn't afford it.
The event: March 4, 2026
Apple is inviting members of the media to an event billed as a "special Apple Experience." It will take place simultaneously in New York, London, and Shanghai on March 4, 2026, at 9:00 AM ET (3:00 PM CET). Apple is expected to officially unveil the affordable MacBook at this event. The invitation graphic, featuring striking yellow, green, and blue colors, has already generated considerable buzz and further fueled speculation about the new device.
A MacBook that could shake up the market
The affordable MacBook isn't just a typical product update. It's a strategic move by Apple to reach a completely new customer base. A price well under $1,000, an iPhone chip, a new manufacturing process, and a color palette not seen since the iBook G3 make this MacBook a device that could seriously shake up the entry-level laptop market.
Whether Apple will actually release all the planned colors, what other technical details will follow, and how the device ultimately compares to Chromebooks will be revealed on March 4, 2026. Expectations are certainly high. (Image: Apple)
- macOS 26.3 code reveals three new Apple products
- Apple Experience: Is Immersive F1 coming?
- Meta launches a new attack in the smartwatch market
- MacBook 2026: These colors are planned
- Apple could surprise with a product week in March
- Report: Apple plans two new Home devices
- Apple is developing three new AI wearables with Siri
- iPad Pro: Why major updates are missing
- iPhone 18 Pro: No major upgrade in sight
- MacBook soon with integrated privacy screen?
- Apple launches hardware offensive in spring 2026
- CarPlay in Teslas: Why it's taking longer
- Affordable MacBook: All the info on the March launch
- iOS 27 brings more stability and battery life
- iPhone 18 Pro: These changes are planned
- iPhone Flip: Prototype apparently already tested
- The iPhone Fold brings new life to the book format
- Siri: Apple struggles with AI upgrade problems
- iPhone 18 Pro: Will true internet via satellite be coming?
- iPhone 18 Pro: Prices likely to remain stable despite high costs
- AirPods Pro with cameras: This is what Apple is planning for 2026
- Apple M5 Leak: Pro and Max could be the same chip
- iOS 27: Focus on bug fixes and system performance
- Apple Fitness+ undergoes restructuring: What's next?
