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| The upcoming budget MacBook will launch next week with a 12.9-inch display and A-series processor. |
The ongoing DRAM pricing fiasco has shaken up consumers and corporations equally. While the end-consumer undoubtedly has had to endure the consequences of the AI hype machine eating up supply, plenty of consumer giants have faced severe short-term issues as well. For the first time in years, it looks like even Apple—the undisputed master of supply chain logistics—is feeling the heat.
Apple is particularly well-known when it comes to mastering supply chains, and has been able to weather unforeseen component pricing fluctuations pretty well, for the most part. However, according to a recent report by DigiTimes, the company has begun feeling the heat, and is struggling to adhere to original pricing plans for its upcoming low-cost MacBook.
12.9-inch MacBook: Not so cheap after all?
Expected to arrive early next month during the 3-day long "Apple Experience" event, the new cheap MacBook will mark Apple's foray into the budget laptop segment, targeting students in particular. The product will be powered by an A-series SoC, likely the A18 Pro with a meagre 8 GB of memory, sport a 12.9 inch display, and ship in a bunch of playful colors.
However, the "budget" label hinges entirely on one thing: price. And that is where things get complicated.
Industry pundits had previously hinted at a roughly $599 to $699 price bracket for the MacBook, but considering the current scenario, there appears to be a possibility that Apple may not be able to achieve the aforementioned price. As of right now, a price between $699 and $749 seems to be more likely, as stated by DigiTimes.
This potential price hike puts Apple in a precarious position. The company has a history of making confusing product stack decisions. Back in 2015, Apple’s 12-inch MacBook was just as pricey as the MacBook Pro, but featured significantly worse specs. It was a beautiful machine, but it was a tough sell for anyone who actually checked the spec sheet. History, it seems, may be repeating itself—but the stakes are even higher this time.
The "Air" Elephant in the Room
The biggest challenge for this new low-cost MacBook isn't the DRAM shortage; it's the MacBook Air.
Considering that the MacBook Air with the M4 SoC is currently available for just $899 on Amazon, the low-cost MacBook will definitely be a tough sell at $749. The Air sports a much, much faster M4 SoC, twice the memory, as well as a larger display.
For just $150 to $200 more, a student or budget-conscious buyer can get a device that is arguably twice as fast and features the industry-leading thermal efficiency of the M4 chip. When you can grab the MacBook Air M4 for just $899 on Amazon, paying $749 for a device with an A18 Pro chip and only 8GB of RAM feels less like a "budget option" and more like a compromise.
A Different Strategy?
That said, Apple might position the product differently, as it once did with the 12-inch MacBook launched back in 2015. That product was also substantially less powerful than the MacBook Pro, which it was sold alongside with at an identical price.
The logic this time around might be portability and simplicity. The A18 Pro is no slouch—it’s the same chip expected to power the next iPhone, and for basic tasks like browsing, streaming, and document editing, it will be more than sufficient. Coupled with the lightweight design and a 12.9-inch display, Apple might be betting that students will prioritize the "cool" factor and the brand ecosystem over raw processing power.
But in 2026, the definition of "sufficient" is shifting. With AI features requiring on-device processing and multitasking becoming the norm, an 8GB RAM configuration in a "new" laptop feels outdated before it even ships.
With only around a week left to go before the "Apple Experience" event kicks off, Apple enthusiasts definitely won't have to wait long before finding out whether this is a truly accessible MacBook or a nostalgic throwback to the confusing pricing tiers of the past.
Source(s): DigiTimes
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| Apple's 12-inch MacBook was just as pricey as the MacBook Pro, but featured significantly worse specs. |