According to Techmeme, Apple is testing a new low-cost Mac priced under $1,000 that uses iPhone-class chips instead of M-series processors. The device reportedly still outperforms early M1 Macs while expanding Apple’s entry-level Mac lineup without hurting Air and Pro average selling prices. This comes as Google removed 749 million URLs linked to Anna’s Archive, a popular shadow library for pirated books, over copyright claims. Those takedowns represent about 5% of all copyright removal requests Google processes.
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The budget mac strategy
Here’s the thing – Apple‘s been stuck in innovation limbo lately. They pulled out of the car project, their XR headset is moving slowly, and they’re not really competing in smart home or wearables beyond watches. So what’s left? Basically, they’re going back to basics with affordable hardware. A sub-$1,000 MacBook makes perfect sense when you look at their current lineup gaps.
And let’s be real – the education market alone could make this thing a winner. Schools and students have been priced out of the Mac ecosystem for years. At under $1,000 with performance that beats early M1 models? That’s a compelling proposition. It’s like Apple finally admitting that not everyone can drop $1,200+ on a laptop.
The chip angle is fascinating
Using iPhone-class chips instead of M-series processors is actually brilliant. It keeps costs down while still delivering solid performance. Think about it – today’s iPhone chips are more powerful than the M1 was when it launched. So they’re basically repurposing existing silicon in a new form factor.
But here’s my question – will consumers see “iPhone chip” as a downgrade? Apple’s marketing team will need to carefully position this. They can’t make it sound like a compromise, even though it technically is from a specs perspective. The performance needs to speak for itself.
Where this leaves competitors
This move could seriously pressure Windows laptop makers who’ve been enjoying the sub-$1,000 space. Chromebooks might feel some heat too, especially in education. When Apple enters a price segment, they tend to dominate it.
I’m watching how this plays out with interest. As Austin Lyons noted, this might be the “every day low-priced MacBook” we’ve been hearing rumors about for years. The timing feels right – Apple needs growth levers, and premium markets are getting saturated. Sometimes the simplest innovations are just making your existing products more accessible.
