Overview
- Cook said announcements begin Monday, March 2, confirming a staggered schedule that replaces a single keynote with several days of reveals.
- Reporting points to an entry‑level MacBook expected in March with an A18 Pro chip, a roughly 12.9‑inch display, and colorful finishes, likely targeting students and budget buyers.
- Supply‑chain sources cite rising DRAM, NAND and battery costs, shifting price expectations from early $599 talk to about $699–$799, with volume shipments projected to start in March.
- DigiTimes‑sourced reporting says mass production slipped from late 2025 to Q1 2026, with Quanta as the primary assembler and Foxconn joining later, and forecasts of 15–16 million units over two years.
- An unverified leaker claims the budget model could forgo features such as True Tone, a backlit keyboard and higher‑tier storage, and may have lower display brightness and slower base SSD speeds; these details remain unconfirmed.