Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) lowers the price of the new MacBook Air in the U.S. market by $100.

On Wednesday, Apple Inc. officially released the new MacBook Air, which is equipped with a new M4 chip and upgraded video conferencing camera, bringing stronger performance and a better user experience. Despite President Trump's implementation of new tariffs on Tuesday, which may increase the prices of electronic products, Apple Inc. has still lowered the price of the MacBook Air by $100 in the U.S. market. The starting price for the new 13-inch MacBook Air is $999, while the 15-inch version starts at $1,099, with users able to pay extra for memory and storage upgrades. The new models have a similar appearance to last year's MacBook Air, but they have added a sky blue color option and support for multiple external displays. This new product will be officially available for purchase on March 12. The MacBook Air has always been one of Apple Inc.'s most important products. In the December 2023 quarter, Mac business revenue grew by 15% to nearly $9 billion. Despite overall Mac sales (including desktops) declining compared to the 2022 fiscal year, Apple Inc. stated that the growth in laptop sales was a major factor driving revenue growth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a peak in Mac sales due to increased demand for remote work and online learning, and the current growth indicates continued demand for Apple Inc.'s laptops. The release of the MacBook Air marks the completion of a series of new product releases by Apple Inc. over the past few weeks. Alongside the new MacBook Air, Apple Inc. also launched the high-end Mac Studio desktop, which features a chip that supports advanced artificial intelligence applications. Additionally, on Tuesday, Apple Inc. upgraded the iPad Air with the M4 chip, and last month Apple Inc. released the budget iPhone 16e. The Mac Studio is mainly targeted towards professionals in computer graphics, audio, video production, and artificial intelligence, with greater processing power. The starting price for this device is $1,999, and the high-end version is priced close to $9,000, targeting the professional market. The price decrease of the MacBook Air has sparked market attention, especially in the context of the Trump administration imposing tariffs on Chinese imports. Many analysts predict that these tariffs may increase the prices of electronic products, and Apple Inc.'s pricing strategy is closely watched by consumers and investors. Currently, Apple Inc. has maintained the original prices of some products, such as the new iPad Air starting at $599, but the iPhone 16e is priced at $599, significantly higher than the low-priced iPhone released in 2022 (starting at $429). Last month, analysts at Bank of America Corp Securities predicted that PC manufacturers, including Apple Inc., may pass on the tariff costs to consumers. Competitor Acer has already raised laptop prices due to tariffs. Most of Apple Inc.'s products are still manufactured in China, thus being affected by two rounds of 10% tariffs imposed by Trump. This not only affects its supply chain, but may also impact sales in China, the world's third-largest market for Apple Inc. Faced with tariff risks, Apple Inc. is accelerating diversification of its supply chain. In recent years, Apple Inc. has shifted some Mac production to Malaysia and Vietnam. However, Apple Inc. has not disclosed the specific production location of the new MacBook Air. Furthermore, Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook met with Trump at the White House last month. After the meeting, Trump stated that Apple Inc. "does not want to be involved in tariff policies," while Cook emphasized in the January earnings call that Apple Inc. is closely monitoring the situation's development.