Apple Introduces the Macbook Braille (in my dreams).
Loading reactions…
Shaf
Don't think it'll happen, there's not enough demand unfortunately
Leo Lizard Man
Loading reactions…
Insanely_Great
It would have the exact same problem as the Mac Pro, which Apple recently discontinued, but on an even worse level. That being that Apple is an extremely high-scale company, they don’t make things that won’t sell. And a MacBook Braille would not sell, at least not enough to make any sort of a profit. And with the type of profit margins Apple has, it would likely sell for $8000-10,000 at minimum. Which leads you back to the main issue, it would literally be cheaper to buy a Braille display and a MacBook together, and you would probably have some money left over in comparison to what Apple would charge you for a combo device.
Loading reactions…
Weird James
Hello Leo Lizardman! OK, I stand corrected on Braille Access. Braille Access does need VoiceOver to be running.
Loading reactions…
Weird James
Yeah the thing about being rare or not common -- people say that so much I start thinking it's just something people repeat over and over again. I think blind people, and even those who could benefit from braille whoa re not totally blind, are more numerous than we think. Marketing is important in getting to these people, or what I like to do which is just plain old talking. :)
Loading reactions…
Insanely_Great
It’s not about being rare, it’s about being profitable. Apple’s lowest volume product at the moment is the Apple Vision Pro. It starts at $3500, actually $3700 after the recent price increases. And they still sell between 350,000 and 500,000 units annually. Even at its most minimum, Apple is still very likely making about $1 billion on that product annually. Meanwhile, the entire refreshable braille display market, not just from one company, not just one type, but the entire refreshable Braille display market altogether, was only worth about 45 to $50 million as of 2025. For Apple to enter the refreshable Braille display market, they would either have to completely bet against all of their shareholders and take a massive loss (given that it would likely cost them hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars to acquire the proper patents and do the proper research and development), or partner with one of the already existing braille display companies, like HumanWare. And that would require that company to completely abandon their current product line to go work under the Apple umbrella. And of course, because the product would be so low volume, think 5000, 10,000, maybe 15,000 units annually, Apple would absolutely not be able to make the same types of guarantees that they can make with the iPhone, iPad or Mac. They could not guarantee wide availability of parts, they could not guarantee the seven or so years of software support that all of their devices get, they would not be able to make
Loading reactions…
Insanely_Great
They would not be able to make the same types of guarantees they can with all of the current products that they sell due to its low volume nature. And there’s also the fact that if Apple were to ever even slightly struggle, meaning that they had a rough quarter or a rough series of quarters, that Braille device would be the very first thing on the chopping block to save any amount of money . Put more simply, it would be a ridiculous and completely irresponsible move from a business perspective, even if us visually impaired people would absolutely love it
Loading reactions…
Weird James
Loading reactions…
Loading reactions…