Speculation is mounting that Apple plans to enter the £500 laptop fray with a MacBook sporting a 13in screen.

Gene Munster, an analyst at investment bank Piper Jaffray, told Apple Insider that the move is part of an overall strategy to cut gross margin to 31.5 per cent for the current quarter and down to 30 per cent for 2009.

"We believe there is an 80 per cent chance Apple will introduce redesigned MacBooks and possibly new MacBook Pros at lower price points," he said.

"Specifically, Apple may re-enter the $999 price point (currently $1,099) with the MacBook, or test the $1,799 price point with the MacBook Pro (currently $1,999)."

The arrival of a £500 MacBook would bring further big name competition to the burgeoning netbook market.

The analyst also predicted "lower-cost touch-based iPods" in time for the holiday buying season, but believes that Apple will continue to price most products at a premium.

"We believe Apple is getting slightly more aggressive with its pricing, but overall the company is not diverting from its strategy of premium pricing," he said.