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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
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Updated: 7 hours 38 min ago

A $599 MacBook could land in 2025, report says

Mon, 08/11/2025 - 18:00

Earlier this summer, a prominent Apple analyst claimed Apple was developing a "more affordable MacBook" powered by an iPhone chip. Now, we have a better idea of how much it might cost. (Spoiler: Almost half has much as a current-generation MacBook Air.)

According to the Taiwanese tech site DigiTimes, the budget MacBook that Apple is reportedly working on could cost somewhere between $599 and $699. To be clear, it's still a hypothetical at this point, but the lower end of that price range would make it 40% cheaper than the latest M4 MacBook Air. That would also put it in the ballpark of the M1 MacBook Air from late 2020, which Walmart has been selling for the Chromebook-level price of $599 this summer.

DigiTimes' report also includes the tidbit that the affordable MacBook will have a 12.9-inch display, making it slightly smaller than the M4 MacBook Air, which comes in a 13-inch size.

SEE ALSO: The next affordable MacBook might be powered by an iPhone chip

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously claimed in June that a new cheap MacBook would feature a 13-inch display and the Apple A18 Pro, the same chip used in last year's iPhone 16 Pro and Max. That would make it the first-ever MacBook to be powered by an iPhone chip. It could also come in colors like silver, blue, pink, and yellow, Kuo shared on X.

Kuo said he expected the affordable MacBook to enter mass production in late Q4 of 2025 or early Q1 of 2026, putting it slightly ahead of the rumored M5 and M6 MacBooks in terms of potential availability. If any of these leaks pan out, next year will be a major one for fans of Apple's laptops.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Should you skip the M5 MacBook and hold out for the OLED version?

Mon, 08/11/2025 - 17:56

The good news is that the MacBook Pro might soon get a proper redesign with an OLED display. The bad news is that OLED laptops from Apple aren't coming anytime soon.

This is according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who reports that Apple's OLED update to the MacBook Pro is still at least a year away.

"It's arriving between the end of 2026 and early 2027 and should boast the M6 chip," Gurman wrote in the Aug. 10 edition of his Power On newsletter.

So, even if a MacBook with an M5 chip launches in 2025 or 2026, you may want to hold off for the OLED version.

The delay of a potential M6 MacBook Pro with an OLED display isn't entirely unexpected, considering the next-in-line M5 MacBook Pro is also rumored to be delayed until 2026. (The best MacBooks available today feature M4 chips.) In July, Gurman reported that "the M5 MacBook Pro line will be the last with the current design."

SEE ALSO: Apple's M5 MacBook Pro could be delayed until 2026, report says

The new timeline will certainly test the patience of aspirant upgraders who want a new MacBook Pro with more than just fresh silicon. The OLED MacBook Pro will mark the machine's first major overhaul since 2021, when Apple scrapped the Touch Bar, revived MagSafe charging, and bumped the smaller model from 13 inches to 14.

The one shred of hope is that historically, Apple hasn't been opposed to releasing two generations of M-something chips in the same calendar year. It kicked off 2023 with the release of the M2 Pro and Max MacBook Pros in January, then replaced them with M3 models in October.

If OLED is all that you're after, there's always the M4 iPad Pro with a tandem OLED screen. Otherwise, bear with Apple.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Apple deals to shop this week feature plenty of impressive back to school savings

Mon, 08/11/2025 - 17:50

Back to school season is in full swing, and you don't have to rely on the Apple Store's deals to get the best bang for your buck on a new iPad, AirPods, or MacBook.

In fact, you're much more likely to get better savings from retailers like Amazon. The below list is our case in point, featuring deals like the 11-inch iPad Air marked down $150 to $649, the AirPods Pro down $80 at $169, and the M4 MacBook Air down $200 to $799 — its lowest price ever.

Check them out, along with the other top TK Apple deals live this week.

Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169 at Amazon
$249 Save $80 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 2.

The AirPods Pro 2 are our favorite earbuds for Apple users, providing excellent ANC, sound quality, and connection with Apple devices. Though Apple's price point is at the steeper end, this deal puts these earbuds at a much more accessible $169 — not quite the lowest price we've ever seen them, but still one of the best at $80 off. The only reason we wouldn't get them? If you want the latest and the greatest earbuds. The USB-C version of these earbuds released back in 2023, and though we think they hold up, there was a possible leak of the AirPods Pro 3 earlier this year.

More AirPods dealsBest MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799 at Amazon
$999 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is going on its third week of sitting at its record-low price. That's right: You can get the MacBook Air M4 (in any color) for just $799. That's a 20% discount and a $200 savings. The 15-inch version is our favorite MacBook for most people, so if you don't mind a slightly smaller display, this price is pretty unbeatable for an everyday laptop.

Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,599 at Best Buy
Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M4 MacBook Pro.

If you'd rather have a Pro, the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is still sitting at $1,299.00. This is the lowest price we've tracked for this model and a full $300 off its list price. Though significantly more expensive than the Air, the Pro is better suited for folks who regularly do more intensive tasks like video editing — the larger built-in storage is also a big bonus for use cases like that.

More MacBook dealsBest iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) $449 at Walmart
$599 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M3 iPad Air.

The iPad Air is the best Apple tablet for most people, and for good reason: it has a long battery life, works for streaming and creative projects, has the option between 11-inch and 13-inch displays, and has a powerful M3 processor that basically makes it a touch screen laptop, especially with the addition of a Magic Keyboard. It's a great note-taking and file organizing machine for students, and at $150 off, it's back down to its lowest price ever.

More iPad dealsBest Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $299 at Walmart
$399 Save $100 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Apple Watch Series 10.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is the best smartwatch fitness tracker on the market, for a few reasons. For folks already in the Apple ecosystem (most people), this watch integrates easily, giving you access to health data that tracks your heart rate, steps, and sleep. While it's not too different from past generations, anyone with an older Apple Watch will appreciate what the Series 10 has to offer, especially with the larger (and thinner) display, that's still readable in bright sunlight. At $299, this Apple Watch isn't quite at its $279 all-time low, but $100 off is still nothing to sneeze at.

More Apple Watch dealsDeals on Apple accessories and more
Categories: IT General, Technology

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