Regardless of whether it’s a Mac, iPhone, iPad or other Apple hardware: Over the years, the prices of products have actually only ever gone in one direction, namely upwards. This trend could be explained by general inflation and Apple must also be given credit for often trying to keep the prices of new models at or at least not far above the level of their predecessors. But that doesn’t change the fact that the entry threshold for most Apple hardware is now quite high. 
The Mac mini is currently the cheapest Mac with a starting price of 699 euros (excluding monitor and peripherals).If you look at the demographic development, which in very simplified terms corresponds to the ever-widening income gap – more wealth, but also much more poverty – more mass-market products from Apple would be advisable – for digital participation for everyone. More and more power in the Mac, iPhone and iPad, which ultimately only a few actually need and use, combined with prices that tend to continue to rise, can become a problem in the long term, even if Apple can currently claim otherwise with its sales figures and profits. Apple is also traditionally in the “upper class” when it comes to pricing. Either way, it could be a significant step for Apple to pay more attention to the mass market in the lower price ranges.
The upcoming entry-level MacBook circulating in the rumor mill would certainly have more than enough power for most daily application needs with the A18 Pro processor. Even the iPhone has had completely sufficient performance for this for several generations of processors. Therefore, a cheap entry-level MacBook seems a sensible and logical step. But the possible needs of the masses do not end there.
It’s about time for a price cap on the iPhone too, or for a really affordable mass model that’s priced on par with mainstream smartphones from the Android world. This would allow Apple to further expand and consolidate its already strong market position for smartphones worldwide by convincing more users of the Apple ecosystem, which, despite the current criticism of the quality of software details, nevertheless has unique and useful advantages.
Even with the stationary Mac there would be room for a bold step. A really cheap headless Mac, let’s say around 300 euros, could not only become the “people’s PC” in every household, but also integrate/replace the Apple TV and serve as a home hub for the masses. However, the fear is that Apple would instead prefer to rely on an independent home hub apart from Mac capabilities in order to establish another individual platform.
Cheaper and more colorful Macs for the masses?However, a prerequisite for the mass breakthrough of a universal Apple Home Hub would, among other things, be a revision of the AirPlay standard or an adequate replacement that works faster and more reliably (and without forced resampling), as well as more openness on the part of Apple for media integration in third-party hardware. Such as the fact that Apple Music is practically unusable on other platforms without complex workarounds (only via AirPlay) and is therefore unnecessarily limiting itself.
Opportunities upon opportunities
Unlike many other Big Tech companies, especially those in the AI sector, Apple actually generates real value and thus earns its high stock market price. The company is successful like no other. To keep it that way, Apple should also serve the lower price ranges better so as not to lose touch with the real masses. Sufficiently fast hardware is hardly a price factor these days. Therefore, popular systems such as Macs, iDevices and home hubs should actually be possible for less than 500 euros. It is still questionable whether we will be able to fall below this price limit with the MacBook A18 Pro, which is expected shortly, but this could definitely be an important start in order to continue Apple’s success in the long term.
