Apple goes colourful as budget MacBooks may come in yellow, pink: Report

Reportedly, Apple's entry-level MacBook may debut in new colours, marking a shift from the muted tones usually seen in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lineup

Apple may be preparing to launch a budget-friendly MacBook model in the coming months. According to a report by 9To5Mac, citing Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the new entry-level MacBook is expected to arrive in several “fun colours.” The company has reportedly tested shades such as light yellow, light green, blue, pink, classic silver, and dark grey. As reported, the low-cost MacBook could be announced at an event in March.

Apple’s entry-level MacBook: What to expect

According to the report, Apple is experimenting with more playful colour choices for this model. Mark Gurman said that the company has tested light yellow and light green, along with blue and pink. More traditional finishes like silver and dark grey are also said to be under consideration. If these colours make it to the final product, it would mark a shift from the more muted tones usually seen in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lineup.

 

 

Chip and performance

 

According to a previous report, the low-cost MacBook may be powered by the A18 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 16 lineup, instead of the M-series chips found in current Macs. The A18 Pro has reportedly delivered performance in certain tasks that comes close to Apple’s original M1 chip.

 

Design and display

 

The report from 9To5Mac suggests this lower-cost MacBook might feature a more compact 12.9-inch display, noticeably smaller than the 13.6-inch panel on the MacBook Air. The report noted that the device is not expected to use plastic, despite that being a possible cost-cutting option. Instead, Apple is said to be working on a new aluminium manufacturing process that is faster and more cost-effective than the one used for current MacBook models.

 

Launch timeline

 

Bloomberg’s latest report suggests that the device could be announced at an event in March. However, an earlier January report by 9To5Mac, citing Bloomberg, indicated that the launch may be delayed. 

 

Expected pricing

 

According to the previous report, the new model is expected to be priced around $699, which would place it well below the MacBook Air’s $999 starting price in the US. In India, the MacBook Air with the M4 chip currently starts at ₹99,900, suggesting that this entry-level MacBook could arrive at a much lower price.