Gurman: Cheaper iPad to Debut Next Week, Sub-$1,000 MacBook Likely Not Ready Yet

Apple plans to introduce a cheaper iPad next week that should appeal to the education market, and new software for the classroom, according to Bloomberg News' Mark Gurman. The new products should be announced at Apple's education-themed event on Tuesday at Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago.

97ipad
Apple is also said to be working on a new, lower-priced notebook, likely to replace the MacBook Air with a sub-$1,000 price in the United States:

A new, cheaper MacBook laptop is in the works and likely destined to replace the MacBook Air at a price less than $1,000, but it probably won't be ready in time for next week, the people said. The MacBook Air, introduced about a decade ago, hasn't seen a major change since 2010, the same year the iPad came out. Although the laptop is popular with college students, it has languished as Apple focuses on more expensive Macs.

At first glance, it would appear that Gurman is referring to a lower-priced 12-inch MacBook, as many people believe that Apple will eventually phase out the MacBook Air. However, the "MacBook laptop" wording is perhaps intentionally vague, in case it does end up being a cheaper MacBook Air.

12-inch MacBook models currently start at $1,299, and were last updated with Kaby Lake processors and faster graphics in June 2017. MacBook Air starts at $999 and hasn't received a meaningful update since March 2015.

mac macbook family trio
Earlier this month, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple plans to launch a more affordable MacBook Air in the second quarter of 2018, which essentially runs between next week and the end of June. WitsView researcher Yubin Qiu estimated the notebook could start at $799 to $899 in the United States.

Gurman said the new MacBook "probably won't be ready in time for next week," suggesting it won't be unveiled at the Chicago event. Of course, Apple could still mention the notebook at the event, even if orders begin later.

Gurman nor Kuo have elaborated on what we can expect from the new MacBook or MacBook Air, whichever it ends up being, but it's reasonable to assume that we'll see a bump to the processors and graphics. If it's a new MacBook Air, a Retina display is also a possibility, but that may go against the sub-$1,000 price.

Apple hasn't specified if the Chicago event will be live streamed. MacRumors will provide coverage on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Central Time.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forums: MacBook Air, MacBook

Top Rated Comments

Naimfan Avatar
78 months ago
Apple kills the Air in favor a cheaper Macbook with garbage keyboard and no ports!

Woohoo!

And Apple will tell us how "courageous" it is . . .
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheShadowKnows! Avatar
78 months ago
How many ports are you using anno 2018 on your laptop. I mean apart from a usb-stick every now and then and charching I'm really not using any ports.

If you want more ports than you should just buy a mac book pro. Physical ports are destined to be gone and I for one am glad Apple's taking a front role in killing off ports and forcing companies to go wireless. If it was for people like you we'd still be using cd-roms and floppy disks.
Wow, dude. Not using any ports?
No disrespect on your use case, but I ask, then: Why don't you buy an iPad or IOS phablet and call it the day?
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Taipan Avatar
78 months ago
Wow, dude. Not using any ports?
No disrespect on your use case, but I ask, then: Why don't you buy an iPad or IOS phablet and call it the day?
So you're saying the only difference between a notebook and a tablet is the number of ports?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ACST Avatar
78 months ago
Apple kills the Air in favor a cheaper Macbook with garbage keyboard and no ports!

Woohoo!

And Apple will tell us how "courageous" it is . . .
How many ports are you using anno 2018 on your laptop. I mean apart from a usb-stick every now and then and charching I'm really not using any ports.

If you want more ports than you should just buy a mac book pro. Physical ports are destined to be gone and I for one am glad Apple's taking a front role in killing off ports and forcing companies to go wireless. If it was for people like you we'd still be using cd-roms and floppy disks.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sracer Avatar
78 months ago
How many ports are you using anno 2018 on your laptop. I mean apart from a usb-stick every now and then and charching I'm really not using any ports.

If you want more ports than you should just buy a mac book pro. Physical ports are destined to be gone and I for one am glad Apple's taking a front role in killing off ports and forcing companies to go wireless. If it was for people like you we'd still be using cd-roms and floppy disks.
So basically, "If I find no use in something then nobody else needs it either." Interesting philosophy. o_O
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Velin Avatar
78 months ago
TLDR: product with atrocious keyboard to be released.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2 Perspective Gray

Five Key Upgrades Coming to iPhone 16

Friday March 15, 2024 1:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone is Apple's top-selling product, and it gets an update every year. In 2024, we're expecting the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, with an arguably more interesting feature set than we got with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Capture Button All four iPhone 16 models are set to get a whole new button, which will be...
When To Expect New iPads Feature 1

Apple to Announce New iPads on March 26, Rumors Claim

Monday March 18, 2024 4:02 am PDT by
Apple is widely expected to release new iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models in the next few weeks. According to new rumors coming out of Asia, the company will announce its new iPads on Tuesday, March 26. Chinese leaker Instant Digital on Weibo this morning 日发布%23">claimed that the date will see some sort of announcement from Apple related to new iPads, but stopped short of calling it an...
airpods 3 orange

Two New AirPods 4 Models Expected to Launch in September or October

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:56 am PDT by
Apple suppliers will begin production of two new fourth-generation AirPods models in May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Based on this production timeframe, he expects the headphones to be released in September or October. Gurman expects both fourth-generation AirPods models to feature a new design with better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Expected to Depreciate Heavily

Tuesday March 12, 2024 9:04 am PDT by
Resale value trends suggest the iPhone SE 4 may not hold its value as well as Apple's flagship models, according to SellCell. According to the report, Apple's iPhone SE models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company's more premium offerings. The third-generation iPhone SE, which launched in March 2022, experienced a significant drop in resale value, losing 42.6%...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

iOS 17.4.1 Update for iPhone is Imminent

Monday March 18, 2024 5:27 am PDT by
iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 should be released within the next few days, with a build number of 21E235, according to a source with a proven track record. MacRumors previously reported that Apple was internally testing iOS 17.4.1. As a minor update for the iPhone, it will likely address software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear if the update will include any other changes. ...
M3 iPad Feature 3

New iPads Likely to Begin Shipping in April

Monday March 18, 2024 9:52 am PDT by
Apple's new iPad Pro models with OLED displays will likely begin shipping to customers in April, according to information shared today by Ross Young, CEO of display industry research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also said the new iPad Pro models might not ship until "deeper" into April in his Power On newsletter on Sunday:I've repeatedly said that new...
iOS 17 Passkey With Apple ACCOUNT Feature

'Apple ID' Expected to Change to 'Apple Account' Starting With iOS 18

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:13 am PDT by
MacRumors was first to report that Apple was planning to rebrand "Apple ID" to "Apple Account" across its software platforms and websites like iCloud.com as early as this year, and now Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has corroborated this change. A mockup of the new Apple Account branding In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the new "Apple Account" branding will start to be used later this...