A new supply chain report states that Apple intends to develop a series of lower-priced MacBook products, so as to compete with Chromebook for the education market, according to Digitimes.

The news has been confirmed by various sources within the supply chain. Details of the new MacBooks will likely surface in the second half of 2024 at the earliest."

Taiwanese media said that Apple's low-cost MacBook may create a new product line to differentiate it from the existing MacBook Air and Pro. The appearance is still made of metal, but the material is different. The unit cost of components is lower and the price is more affordable.

While the rumor may be interesting, the fact is that the scale of Chromebooks is small. In Q2 2023, Apple, the leader in tablets, shipped 12.3 million units. In contrast, HP, the leader in Chromebooks, only shipped 1.5 million units, according to Canalys. In that light, it would seem like an odd move by Apple to introduce lower end MacBooks in order to compete with Chromebooks.

Then again, the context of the rumor is focused on the "education market." On that note, Apple may see a trend that needs to be addressed.