Apple's software restrictions are quite unfortunate. So many people with an iPhone will not switch away from Windows due to the higher cost of Macbooks (among other reasons), when in reality, the device in their pocket is capable of running macOS. The untapped potential is why I cannot justify buying a personal iPhone.
I would never own an ARM Mac as my main (or even lead secondary) machine, but the whole higher-cost thing is such a joke at this point.
At the same performance/quality tier, Macs can at times/trims be cheaper. Plus, buying an old M2 MacBook Air as Apple refurbished (new battery) is $800, and third-party can be sub-$600. With M1s cheaper still.
Sure, they aren't new, but an Apple refurb is generally better quality than a bargain-bin (not to be confused with something nicer in the Acer lineup like the Swift X) Acer. Plus, the Minis are just great desktops.
Again, these are not for me, but price? Unless you are ultra price conscious (sub 300), nawh brah.
Prices on MacBooks have gone down significantly, but compared to a Windows laptop with comparable storage, you've payed more for Apple up until recently. Things have tilted in Apple's favor after RAM price increases have led to all consumer PC RAM reaching Apple-like prices.
I made my comment as I someone with two MacBooks and the point still stands that most of an iPhone's potential is forever locked away by Apple.
"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could [run macOS on a phone], they didn't stop to think if they should." - Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
