Apple has told its retail store employees to expect a "big influx" of customers this week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the Power On, Gurman said some employees believe Apple's preparations for new products this week are "on par with what happens before the launch of new iPhones in the fall," suggesting that at least one of the devices set to be unveiled between Monday and Wednesday will have "a big impact on the general public."
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The new product that will likely attract the most interest is the rumored budget MacBook, which is described as an "incredible value" within Apple, according to the newsletter. Apple believes a more affordable MacBook will help "attract a significant number of users who will be switching from Windows PCs and Chromebooks," Gurman wrote.
While there have been no specific rumors about the starting price of the budget MacBook, estimates range from $599 to $799 in the United States. In any case, students and educators who qualify should get a $100 discount off the regular price. The budget MacBook is expected to be powered by the iPhone 16 Pro's A18 Pro chip, rather than an M-series chip, and will likely feature a smaller 12.9-inch display.
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Based on the A18 Pro specs, this MacBook will likely feature 8GB of RAM, and the laptop will feature regular USB-C ports instead of the faster Thunderbolt ports. Like the iBook from the early 2000s, this MacBook has been rumored to come in fun color options, like yellow, green, blue, and/or pink. Aside from the budget MacBook, most if not all of the other new products launching this week are expected to feature upgraded chips and nothing more.
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Possibilities include an iPhone 17e with the A19 chip, an iPad Air with the M4 chip, an iPad 12 with the A18 chip, a MacBook Air with the M5 chip, and MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
