Apple plans low-cost laptop to compete with Chromebooks

Apple is preparing a budget Mac laptop aimed at competing with Chromebooks and entry-level Windows PCs, according to Bloomberg.

The new device, designed for students, businesses, and casual users, is in active testing and early production, with a launch planned in the first half of 2025.

The laptop will use an iPhone processor and a lower-end LCD display, making it the first Mac to run on a smartphone chip rather than a Mac-specific processor.

Apple intends to price the device well below US$1,000, positioning it closer to Chromebooks, which often sell for a few hundred dollars.

The screen will be smaller than the current 13.6-inch MacBook Air.

The company has not commented on the reports, and no official announcement has been made.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Chromebook saturation and shifting school buys

Demand is near saturation, with 93% districts planning 2025 buys as growth slows, while Chromebooks hold 52.4% in North America 1. Apple’s reported sub-$1,000 Mac would face devices that cost a few hundred, so the gap stays wide 1.
Procurement (the process of selecting and buying devices) shifted 1. Now 68% of funding comes from local and state rather than federal emergency funds, and many districts moved to rolling refresh cycles (planned, recurring device replacement) 1 2. In Indonesia, Chromebook shipments fell after decentralization let schools redirect funds 3.
A first-half 2025 launch could meet district refresh windows, though Apple must work through district-level procurement where budget flexibility has replaced federal mandates 1 3.

Device management in a cross-platform shift

Corporate Chromebook use is growing 8.2% CAGR 1, creating friction as teams test options. Vendors with unified endpoint management (tools that let IT teams manage multiple device types and operating systems from a console) across Chrome OS, macOS, and Windows can support pilots of Apple’s budget Mac alongside Chromebook fleets.
Chromebooks lower ownership cost with fewer help-desk calls and Google’s 10-year auto-update promise 1. Mobile Device Management (MDM) vendors (software used by IT teams to configure, secure, and support devices) matching lifecycle management tools for budget Macs can stand out.
K-12 (kindergarten through 12th grade) online education software providers serve $228.27 billion market 4. They need cross-platform support, since districts may pilot different device types during 2025–2026 refresh cycles as budget Macs arrive alongside Chromebook contracts.