According to a report from Taiwan, Apple is currently developing a low-cost Macbook series to compete against Google’s Chromebook models, especially in the education sector. The new model is expected to be launched in the second half of 2024.
The report from DigiTimes says that the new line will be a totally different line from Apple’s current Air and Pro lines. The material for the casing is said to be metal but made of “different materials” which paired with lower cost for the internal components.
If this product comes to market, it can go against the cheaper Google Chromebooks, which offer limited performance using low-to-mid-tier components to keep the cost down. Apple has already been pushing iPads as a computer replacement, particularly in the education sector.
According to DigiTimes Research, over 13.9 million Chromebooks were shipped in 2019, increasing to over 30.4 million in 2020 and 33.5 million in 2021. Most of the units shipped were to the education sector and were also made popular during the global pandemic where cheap internet-connected machines were in high demand.
This report is the first time that we have heard that Apple is actively developing low-cost devices, placed below their premium Macbook lineup. Apple currently already has an education program, where customers can buy the latest Apple products with special education discounts, which is great for teachers and students.
If Apple is looking to introduce the new low-cost Macbook for the educational market, this will differentiate the product line for the company. On one side, there are the cheaper, Macbooks for the educational and selected markets. On the other, the premium products priced for higher yield markets and customers.
[SOURCE]
