Apple is working on a low-cost alternative to challenge the Chromebook’s dominance in the segment. The MacBook lineup currently caters to professionals looking for productivity devices, and they demand a premium over their Windows counterparts. However, this could soon change as Apple introduces an affordable MacBook to compete against the likes of the Chromebooks.
Apple Working On A Low-Cost MacBook
According to a DigiTimes report, Apple is working on a low-cost MacBook to challenge the dominance of Chromebooks in the education sector. These MacBooks could launch as soon as the first half of 2024. They will still have metal casing but will ship with less powerful internals to reduce the overall cost of the device. This could mean using older chipsets to lower the price.
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However, the report claims that Apple suppliers such as Foxconn and Quanta Computer do not have any such project lined up next year, which means the launch is unlikely to happen early next year. But there is a slight chance that we might see affordable MacBooks in late 2024.
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Windows laptops and Chromebooks currently dominate the education sector with their high popularity among students. Thanks to their affordable price, over 13.9 million Chromebooks were shipped in 2019 and 30.4 million in 2020. In 2021, this number further rose to 33.5 million shipments. The pandemic has affected Chromebook shipments, but the number has increased after lockdowns ended.
To attract the Chromebook audience, Apple could price its affordable MacBook below $1,000 (around Rs.80,000). Currently, the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch is the company’s cheapest laptop at Rs.99,900 in India. The Cupertino Giant also offers student and educational discounts on its laptops but failed to convince enough Chromebook users to make the switch. The iPad remains the only affordable device from the company that can rival the likes of the Chromebook and cheap Windows laptops.
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