Apple Focusing on These Eight New Low-Cost Devices in 2025

Apple's slate of 2025 products look to be dominated by a large number of low-cost and entry-level devices. Here's what to expect.

AppleEventLogoFeature
With advancements like Apple Intelligence and all-new in-house chip designs, Apple is reportedly looking to enhance many of its budget-friendly offerings, ensuring they remain competitive in an increasingly crowded market. These updates also indicate a slight shift in Apple's approach to low-cost devices, moving beyond entry-level hardware to introduce features once reserved for premium models, such as OLED displays, Face ID, and advanced wireless technology.

Indeed, Apple's first custom modem and Bluetooth chip is coming to entry-level devices first. Similarly, the company is focusing on lower-end smart home devices such as the HomePod mini, Apple TV, and Command Center, before devoting attention to higher-end models. We're expecting a total of eight new or refreshed low-cost Apple devices this year:

  • MacBook Air (M4)
  • iPhone SE (fourth generation)
  • iPad (11th generation)
  • AirTag (second-generation)
  • Command Center
  • ‌HomePod mini‌ (second generation)
  • ‌Apple TV‌ 4K (fourth generation)
  • Apple Watch SE (third generation)

The ‌MacBook Air‌ will finally be upgraded to the M4 chip, delivering up to 25% faster multi-core CPU performance than the current model. It could also gain support for two external displays and a 12MP webcam with Center Stage. Launching in spring 2025, the new models will likely maintain their current starting price of $1,099. All models now start with 16GB of memory as standard.

The iPhone SE 4 is rumored to feature a design similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 14, including a 6.1-inch OLED display, ‌Face ID‌, a USB-C port, and a 48MP rear camera. It will likely be powered by the A18 chip with 8GB of RAM to support ‌Apple Intelligence‌ and will debut Apple's first in-house 5G modem. Expected to launch in March 2025, the new ‌iPhone‌ SE is expected to be priced between $400 and $500, with a slight increase from the current $429 due to significant upgrades.

The 11th-generation ‌iPad‌ will retain the 10.9-inch display and Touch ID power button but will likely upgrade to an A17 Pro or A18 chip with 8GB of RAM to enable ‌Apple Intelligence‌. Expected in spring 2025, the device may continue to start at $349, with the possibility of a base storage upgrade to 128GB.

The AirTag 2 will include an upgraded Ultra Wideband chip for a threefold increase in tracking range, better Vision Pro integration, and a tamper-proof speaker for enhanced anti-stalking measures. Launching in mid-2025, it is expected to maintain the current $29 price point.

Apple's Command Center will serve as an all-new smart home hub product with a 7-inch display, built-in speakers, a camera for FaceTime, and proximity sensors for dynamic interface adjustments. It will run a new "homeOS" with widget-focused controls and Siri integration. Expected to launch around March 2025, the price is yet to be confirmed but is expected to be competitive with similar products like Amazon's Echo Show, which is priced at $90. A higher-end version of the device on a robotic arm is expected to debut in 2026, so the initial Command Center is likely to be an entry-level device akin to the ‌HomePod mini‌.

The second-generation HomePod mini is expect to gain a new in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip supporting Wi-Fi 6E, improved audio quality, and a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for better handoff. Likely to launch in mid-2025, the device will likely retain its $99 price point.

A new ‌Apple TV‌ 4K is rumored to feature an updated A-series chip, likely the A16 or newer, Wi-Fi 6E support, and possibly a built-in camera for ‌FaceTime‌. Expected to launch in 2025, the device could see a starting price drop to $99 from the current $129, aligning better with competitors like Amazon's Fire Stick.

The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3 will likely feature larger displays, a faster chip, the S10 or S11 chip, and may adopt a more affordable plastic casing. The current model will be three years old this fall. Expected in late 2025, the device could maintain its $249 starting price or potentially decrease slightly to compete with rival devices and appeal to parents purchasing for children.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 13 New Features

Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iphone 17 dummies sonny dickson

iPhone 17 Air Almost as Thin as Its Buttons, New Images Show

Thursday April 24, 2025 2:14 am PDT by
If you missed the video showing dummy models of Apple's all-new super thin iPhone 17 Air that's expected later this year, Sonny Dickson this morning shared some further images of the device in close alignment with the other dummy models in the iPhone 17 lineup, indicating just how thin it is likely to be in comparison. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be around 5.5mm thick – with a thicker ...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Launching Later This Year With These 16 New Features

Thursday April 24, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the ultra-thin device. Overall, the iPhone 17 Air sounds like a mixed bag. While the device is expected to have an impressively thin and light design, rumors indicate it will have some compromises compared to iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, a...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
Global Close Your Rings Day Pin

Apple Stores Giving Away a Limited-Edition Pin For Free Today

Thursday April 24, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Starting today, April 24, Apple Stores around the world are giving away a special pin for free to customers who request one, while supplies last. Photo Credit: Filip Chudzinski The enamel pin's design is inspired by the Global Close Your Rings Day award in the Activity app, which Apple Watch users can receive by closing all three Activity rings today. The limited-edition pin is the physical...
Apple Logo Spotlight Blue

White House Hits Back at Apple's Massive EU Fine

Thursday April 24, 2025 5:57 am PDT by
Apple's $570 million fine from the EU has triggered a sharp rebuke from the White House, which called the fine a form of economic extortion, Reuters reports. The fine was announced on Wednesday by the European Commission, following a formal investigation into Apple's compliance with the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA), a landmark piece of legislation aimed at curbing the market dominance of ...
ipad air magic keyboard feature

iPadOS 19 Rumored to Show Mac-Like Menu Bar When Connected to Magic Keyboard

Thursday April 24, 2025 12:09 pm PDT by
When an iPad running iPadOS 19 is connected to a Magic Keyboard, a macOS-like menu bar will appear on the screen, according to the leaker Majin Bu. This change would further blur the lines between the iPad and the Mac. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously claimed that iPadOS 19 will be "more like macOS," with unspecified improvements to productivity, multitasking, and app window management,...

Top Rated Comments

pdaholic Avatar
15 weeks ago
Looking forward to the low-cost Vision Pro SE at the low-low price of $2499.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Expos of 1969 Avatar
15 weeks ago
Hartley, have you moved to a mansion in Surrey? I would not consider the price of the upcoming SE 4 to be "low cost".
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HJM.NL Avatar
15 weeks ago
While it’s nice to see some movement from Apple. For the Mac it’s basically just a processor swap and the much needed RAM improvement.

Same for the applewatch SE with a cheaper plastic casing. The appleTV only a processor swap.

Apple’s new internal developed modem isn’t as capable as the Qualcomm modem and also cheaper for Apple.

iPad probably only a memory upgrade and processor swap.

It all sounds like a lot, but if you look closely what’s happening it’s minimal incremental updates. Hello 2025!
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Algr Avatar
15 weeks ago

headaches and eye strain
headaches and eye strain
Headaches and eye strain
Have you seen an opthamologist?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JSRinUK Avatar
15 weeks ago
“Low cost”, from Apple? Where, where … ? :D

This must be some new definition of the phrase “low cost” that I was previously unaware of.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Algr Avatar
15 weeks ago
It says "New devices" in the headline, but I'm not seeing them. Apple has been abandoning more products than they introduce. They could make:


Camcorder
Serious Video Games, (not schoolteacher fodder.)
Input device replacing keyboard/mouse remote controls.
Internet data network.
3D graphics program for beginners. w/AI integration
Vocals for garageband. w/AI integration.
Cryptocurrency backed by Apple stock. (Or better: stocks in several participating companies.)
Replacement for .swf files.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)