Apple May Launch Low-Cost MacBook, iPhone 17e, And New iPad In Q1 2026: Report

Apple might be gearing up for an early-2026 launch that focuses less on premium upgrades and more on value. According to a new report from analyst Jeff Pu, the company is preparing three products for a mid-Q1 2026 release: a low-cost MacBook, the iPhone 17e, and an updated entry-level iPad.

While Apple usually keeps its budget hardware refresh quiet, this upcoming trio seems to be directed at students, first-time buyers, and anyone wanting to enter the Apple ecosystem without spending too much, the report suggested. 

A Low-Cost MacBook May Finally Arrive

The most interesting part of this leak is the low-cost MacBook – a product that has been rumoured for years. As per Pu, the upcoming model will be powered by Apple’s A18 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 16 Pro, instead of the usual M-series chips. The laptop may feature a display smaller than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air and could come in colours like silver, blue, pink, and yellow.

Reports also suggest that Apple is using older design elements and less-advanced components to keep the cost down. Bloomberg earlier mentioned a price that could fall “well under $1,000,” which may help Apple compete in markets where MacBooks remain too expensive for most entry-level users.

A refreshed Base iPad In 2026

The updated base iPad expected in early 2026 is likely to stick to the same design but get a speed upgrade. Pu notes that Apple could move to the A18 chip, bringing features like improved on-device processing and Apple Intelligence support to the most affordable iPad for the first time. Other changes are expected to be minimal.

iPhone 17e: What We Know

The iPhone 17e is expected to replace the current iPhone 16e, which itself replaced the older SE line! The new model will reportedly come with the A19 chip, an upgraded 18MP selfie camera, and Apple’s in-house C2 modem for better connectivity. The report suggests that the focus this time seems to be on efficiency and small camera improvements rather than big hardware shifts.

Not only that, Pu also suggested that Apple is moving to a two-phase iPhone rollout starting 2026 – with Pro models in September, and the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 arriving in early 2027.