Apple Inc. is developing a budget Macintosh laptop intended to lure users away from Chromebooks and inexpensive Windows machines, people familiar with the matter said, marking a notable shift in the company’s historically premium pricing approach. The device is being positioned for people who primarily browse the web, work on documents and perform light media editing, according to those sources, and would target education customers, cost-conscious businesses and everyday consumers.

The plan reflects growing pressure on Apple to expand its addressable market after uneven results in recent quarters and a surprise sales decline in China that the company has publicly acknowledged. A lower-priced Mac could help Apple capture first-time buyers and students who have traditionally gravitated to the Chromebook ecosystem because of cost, manageability and tight integration with Google education services.

Chromebooks have become particularly entrenched in U.S. classrooms and are a notable presence in budget-conscious business deployments worldwide. Entry-level Windows laptops remain numerous due to a wide range of hardware options and aggressive pricing by PC makers. By introducing a device aimed squarely at those users, Apple would test whether its hardware and services premium can attract customers whose primary needs are basic productivity and internet access.

A budget Mac would carry implications across Apple’s product lineup and for rivals. Internally, Apple will have to balance design choices and component selection with the need to maintain margins that have supported its services ecosystem. Externally, established PC makers and Google may view an affordable Mac as a competitive threat that could prompt price adjustments or new features targeted at education and enterprise buyers.

For schools and families, the prospect of a lower-cost Mac could mean broader access to macOS-specific software and tighter integration with Apple’s security and privacy features. For businesses, a streamlined Mac offering might simplify device standardization if Apple can match the manageability and total cost of ownership that IT departments expect from budget Windows devices. However, Apple must avoid undercutting its own higher-end MacBook line and the iPad, which have diversified the company’s mobile computing portfolio.

The move also raises questions about supply chains and manufacturing. Producing a genuinely low-cost Mac typically requires rethinking materials, assembly and components, or leveraging scale to drive down prices. Apple’s long relationships with suppliers could facilitate such a transition, but executing it without compromising durability or user experience will be crucial to success.

Apple has a history of carefully guarding product plans, so exact specifications, pricing and a timeline for the new laptop remain unclear. If launched, the device would represent one of the company’s most conspicuous efforts yet to widen its market footprint and could reshape competition in education and entry-level computing—areas that have long rewarded low-cost hardware and ecosystem lock-in.