Apple's Cheap MacBook is Said to Come in a Variety of Bright Colors, Released as Soon as March

The model Macbook will likely be powered by the iPhone chip, namely the A18 Pro. (photo: x @Papalog2321 ·)

JAKARTA - Apple is reportedly preparing a more affordable MacBook that will appear more colorful than the current MacBook line. This device is said to target the student and enterprise user segments, with a price tag well below 1,000 US dollars (Rp16.8 million).

The latest information comes from Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, through his Power On newsletter. He revealed that despite being positioned as a cost-effective model, Apple will not cut material quality. The MacBook with the code name J700 will still use an aluminum body, not plastic.

Apple is even reportedly developing a new manufacturing process that allows aluminum shells to be produced faster and more cost-efficiently than the methods used in Apple's current laptops. This approach is considered to help reduce prices without sacrificing the quality of the assembly.

However, some compromises remain. One of them is the screen size which is rumored to be slightly below 13 inches, so that this device will be more compact and easy to carry.

Use the iPhone Chip to Press the Price

Unlike the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lines that use M-series chips, this cheaper model is likely to be powered by an iPhone chip, the A18 Pro. This strategy is believed to allow Apple to cut production costs while still delivering adequate performance for basic productivity, browsing, and academic tasks.

If it is true that it uses iPhone-class chips, this will be a different approach in the Mac product segmentation strategy, as well as opening up more competitive pricing opportunities.

More Bold Color Options

One of the main attractions of this device is the more expressive color options. According to Gurman, Apple has been testing a number of bright colors over the past year, going beyond the pencil color palette that is synonymous with modern MacBooks.

Some of the colors tested include light yellow, light green, blue, pink, classic silver, and dark gray. However, not all of these color options will be available at the official launch.

If realized, this will be one of the most colorful MacBooks in recent years, given that the current MacBook line tends to come in neutral colors such as silver, space gray, and midnight.

Target Release March

Gurman said Apple is preparing a launch event that could potentially be held as early as March. Thus, the public is likely not going to have to wait long to see the debut of this cheap MacBook.

With a price "well below" 1,000 US dollars and a premium aluminum design, this model is expected to be an attractive option for students, educational institutions, and companies that need large quantities of work devices with a more efficient budget.

Although it has not been officially announced by Apple, this report shows Apple's diversification strategy in expanding the Mac market to a segment that is more sensitive to price without abandoning its premium design identity.