Apple will launch an entry-level MacBook with 8GB of RAM this spring, priced below $799 despite global memory price increases. The device marks Apple's first laptop to use an iPhone-class processor instead of traditional M-series silicon.
According to supply chain sources cited by TrendForce, Apple secured DRAM supply agreements through at least the first half of 2026. The company reportedly signed new contracts with Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Kioxia to cushion the impact of rising memory costs.
This allows Apple to maintain its planned $699-$799 price range while competitors face pricing pressure.
The entry-level MacBook will feature just 8GB of DRAM, half the 16GB standard in current MacBook Air and Pro models. Industry sources suggest this configuration will support Apple's AI assistant, Apple Intelligence, without significant performance impact.
The device represents Apple's first laptop to adopt an iPhone-class A-series processor, likely the A18 Pro chip found in iPhone 16 Pro models.
Apple expects annual shipments of 5-8 million units for the new model, equivalent to 20-30% of its total Mac sales. Quanta Computer will secure more than half of the manufacturing orders, with Foxconn handling the remainder. The spring 2026 launch window matches March, April, or May availability.
The pricing strategy targets the mid-range Windows laptop market where Apple currently lacks presence. At $699-$799, the device undercuts the M4 MacBook Air, which sold for $749 in December 2025 promotions.
Apple's integrated hardware-software design allows more efficient memory use compared to Wintel systems, potentially mitigating the 8GB limitation.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously predicted Apple would sell 5-7 million units of a cheaper MacBook in 2026. The timing coincides with Microsoft ending Windows 10 support in 2025, creating potential migration opportunities from budget PC users.
Apple's high-margin Services business, which accounted for 26.2% of fiscal 2025 revenue, provides financial cushion against memory cost pressures. Services carry 70-80% gross margins, up from 24.5% in 2024 and 22.2% in 2023.
Combined with in-house chip design across M-series, A-series, S-series, and C-series processors, Apple achieves economies of scale that offset component price increases.
The entry-level MacBook represents Apple's most aggressive push into the sub-$800 laptop segment since discontinuing the 12-inch MacBook in 2019. It follows the company's pattern of using iPhone processors in lower-cost devices, similar to the 8GB iPhone 5C strategy from 2014.
Manufacturing partner Quanta will produce approximately 2.3 million units in the initial batch. The device reportedly features a 12.9-inch display and aluminum construction, maintaining Apple's design standards while cutting costs through component selection and processor choice.
