Cheap MacBook may launch on March 4

Apple has just sent invitations to the media to attend its events in three major cities in the world: New York (USA), London (UK) and Shanghai (China) on March 4. The invitation has a familiar 3D Apple logo design with yellow, green and blue circles.

The event is simply described by “Apple” as a “Special Apple Experience” showing that the scale will be smaller than the launch ceremony broadcast live from Apple Park in June or September every year. Previously, the company had several times organized experience sessions for the media with new Mac computer lines. Guests at that time were often much more limited than at the iPhone launch ceremony.

Theo Phonearenathis could be the debut of a low-cost MacBook, using the A18 Pro chip like the iPhone 16 Pro. The device will have a 13-inch screen and a price of less than 1,000 USD, lower than the MacBook Air line using M series chips. The device will still have a slim design, aluminum frame and many colors to choose from.

Meanwhile, Macrumors believes that Apple can display many new products at the same time at this experience event. Most notable are still the MacBook lines with low-cost versions using iPhone chips, MacBook Pros adding M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, iPad Air 8th generation, iPad 12th generation. Upgraded Studio Display screens next to Apple TV and new mini HomePod are also likely to appear.

Sources say the iPhone 17e will launch earlier on February 19 through a press release and display at the March 4 event. It is unclear when the product will be released.

If the rumors are correct, Apple will have the first MacBook using the A-series chip – which is only equipped with iPhone and iPad. A18 Pro reaches 3,400 average performance points with single core and from 8,500 to 8,600 multi-core points measured with Geekbench 6 tool. This parameter is lower than the M4 chip on MacBook with 3,700 single-core points and 14,800 multi-core points.

Theo Tom’s Hardwareproducing MacBooks using iPhone chips can help Apple increase its competitive position in the low-cost laptop market, especially Chromebooks and mid-range models running Windows. The product is mainly aimed at the education sector and people who only use laptops for basic needs such as emailing, web browsing and other simple tasks.