Apple's Rumoured MacBook E Could Bring iMac Colours to Its Cheapest Laptop Yet

Apple sent out invitations last week for what it's calling an "Apple Experience" event on March 4, with simultaneous presentations in New York, London, and Shanghai. The multi-coloured Apple logo on the invite wasn't subtle, and industry analysts have since connected it to persistent rumours about a new budget MacBook that could arrive in a palette borrowed from the M4 iMac lineup.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who has been tracking the device for months, reports that Apple has tested the laptop in yellow, green, light blue, pink, silver, and dark grey. The final lineup hasn't been confirmed, but three of those colours, green, blue, and yellow, matched the invite's palette exactly. Gurman pointed out the overlap on social media, adding weight to what was already a fairly strong signal.

The device, tentatively called the "MacBook E," represents Apple's attempt to create a genuinely affordable entry point to the Mac ecosystem. The key technical decision is the processor: rather than using an M-series chip, the laptop reportedly runs on the A18 Pro, the same silicon inside the iPhone 16 Pro. Benchmark data suggests it outperforms the M1 chip by roughly 46% in single-core tasks, which would make it more than capable for everyday computing despite its mobile origins.

The manufacturing story is equally telling. Gurman describes a new production process for aluminium shells that is faster and cheaper than current methods, which would help Apple hit aggressive pricing while maintaining the build quality people expect from a MacBook. The display is expected to measure just under 13 inches, positioning it below the MacBook Air in both size and price.

If the rumours hold, this would be Apple's most direct play for the education and first-time buyer markets since the original MacBook Air. Colour options, a lower price, and solid performance could make it one of the more significant product launches of 2026. We'll know for sure on March 4.