The entry-level notebook segment is a market that Apple has left untouched for years now, but it is slowly getting there because it has managed to stabilize prices quite a bit. For instance, you can grab a base 13-inch M4 MacBook Air with 16GB unified RAM and 256GB of storage for $799 on Amazon, making it an exceptional machine in terms of value.
Now, Apple is said to be working on an even affordable MacBook, with mass production scheduled to kick off this quarter, but here is the interesting bit. One analyst claims that the technology giant is already planning a successor for 2027, and it could ship with one feature that has not existed on any Mac so far.
For the first time, Apple could bring touch support to its second-generation low-cost MacBook, blurring the lines between these machines and an iPad
On X, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has mentioned that the first MacBook to ship with touch support will be the OLED MacBook Pro which is expected to enter mass production in 2026. While Apple has always refrained from bringing touch input support to any Mac because there is a possibility that this add-on will eat into the sales of the iPad, Kuo has a different outlook.
The analyst states that this decision stems from Apple’s observation of iPad users and has concluded that, in some cases, adding a touchscreen to a notebook can improve productivity and, by extension, the overall experience. However, there is one thing to keep in mind. The company’s macOS platform has been designed specifically with keyboard, mouse, and trackpad in mind. With that being said, with the touch input, are we looking at an overhaul of the Mac’s entire software?
It is too early to comment at this time, and since Kuo has been incorrect in the past concerning Apple’s product launches, we have to treat these claims with a pinch of salt. With the first-generation low-cost MacBook slated to arrive later this year, if you have not yet learned about this portable Mac, you can check out our in-depth rumor roundup to learn more. After all, after checking out this elusive information, you might prep yourself for an upgrade by the end of the year.