According to Techmeme, Google and Epic Games have reached an agreement to settle Epic’s 2020 antitrust lawsuit with proposed changes to Android and Google Play pending court approval. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly testing a new low-cost Mac priced under $1,000 that uses iPhone-class chips instead of M-series processors. This budget Mac still outperforms early M1 Macs according to sources. The move would expand Apple’s entry-level Mac lineup without hurting Air and Pro average selling prices. Analyst Austin Lyons noted this could be the oft-rumored everyday low-priced MacBook that he previously discussed during CNBC Apple earnings coverage.
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The budget Mac we’ve been waiting for?
This feels like Apple finally acknowledging what many of us have been saying for years – their computer pricing has become completely detached from reality for regular people. A sub-$1,000 Mac that actually performs well? It’s about time. The fact that they’re using iPhone-class chips is the real genius move here. Apple’s mobile processors have been absolute beasts for years, and repurposing them for entry-level computers makes perfect sense.
Think about it – they’re sitting on this incredible chip technology that already powers billions of devices. Why not leverage that investment across more product categories? It’s basically free performance that doesn’t require massive R&D spending. And the performance beating early M1 Macs? That’s actually pretty impressive when you consider how revolutionary those first M1 machines were.
What this says about Apple’s strategy
Here’s the thing – Apple’s product roadmap has looked pretty confused lately. They pulled out of the car project after a decade of development. The Vision Pro is… well, let’s just say it’s not exactly setting the world on fire. Smart home? They’re basically an also-ran. A ring? Maybe someday, but not today.
So what’s left? Actually making their core products more accessible. As Austin Lyons pointed out, this might be one of the few near-term demand levers Apple can actually pull. When you’ve exhausted the premium market, you either innovate or you democratize. Apple seems to be choosing the latter path for Macs.
Who this actually helps
This could be huge for students, budget-conscious professionals, and emerging markets. Remember when Apple used to have that plastic MacBook that everyone loved? This feels like the spiritual successor to that – a machine that doesn’t make compromises where it matters most.
The education market alone could be massive. Schools and universities have been drifting toward Chromebooks and cheaper Windows machines because Apple’s pricing became completely untenable for bulk purchases. A sub-$1,000 Mac that performs well could reverse that trend overnight.
Why now makes sense
Apple’s timing here is interesting. The PC market has been soft, and Apple needs growth somewhere. Their iPhone business is mature, iPad sales are… well, they’re iPad sales. The Mac lineup has been their bright spot recently, but it’s still a premium-priced category.
Basically, Apple needs to find new customers, and they’re not going to find them at $1,299 and up. This move feels like recognition that there’s an entire segment of potential Mac users who’ve been priced out of the ecosystem. Will it work? That depends on how cheap “under $1,000” actually means. $999 is technically under $1,000, but $799 would be a game-changer.
