Apple aims to regain its position in the educational sector and compete with Chromebook devices through the new MacBook, which targets the education sector, so that this device is less expensive than its current MacBook Air.
Chromebooks are making a huge impact in the education sector thanks to their low cost related to their cloud-based operating system, as they have become very popular in schools.
There are plenty of options for Chromebooks for less than you would need to spend on a Windows laptop or MacBook.
Apple previously criticized the Chromebook device, noting that its success in the education market was linked to the low price, while the Electronic Frontier Foundation indicated that this type of device spies on students.
But its low cost means it is superior to Apple devices in the field of education, and a new report indicates that the company is now dealing seriously with this type of device, and is planning to create a competitor to it.
The report draws its information from industry sources, but there are few details other than that this ChromeBook competitor is a low-cost MacBook, which is priced less than the MacBook Air, Apple's low-cost portable Mac made with inexpensive components.
The report expects Apple to promote this lineup of new laptops in a way that makes it different from the rest of its group. As a result, the company will likely launch these laptops as a separate lineup from the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
The company can maneuver on price by using the new range of laptops for metal casings made of different materials, while focusing other components on keeping costs to a minimum.
The report concluded that the second half of 2024 is the closest time to launching the competing lineup of Chromebook devices, given the company's typical time limits for introducing new products, as Apple follows a nine-month development cycle to move from development to production.
Apple has for years promoted the use of iPad and MacBook Air products in the education sector, and the company's renewed interest in the education market makes sense, as the education sector is profitable after the pandemic, and demand for online education has boomed.
Depending on the specs, high-end Chromebooks retail for between $700 and $1,200, while education-focused Chromebooks target the $150 to $300 price bracket.
Apple should think seriously about how to lower the prices of its devices to win the education sector, where introducing students to the operating system is a strong base for future product opportunities.