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March 3 (Reuters) - Apple AAPL.O on Tuesday launched a series of MacBook laptops at a starting price of $1,099, as it looks to attract customers with new hardware in a shrinking PC market that is grappling with memory chip shortages.

The MacBook lineup, spanning the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, is a core part of its personal computing business and has been central to the company's push into custom silicon.

Since transitioning from Intel processors to its in-house M-series chips beginning in 2020, Apple has touted gains in performance and battery life, helping it differentiate from Windows-based PC makers.

The MacBook Air laptops start at $1,099 for the 13-inch screen variant, while the MacBook Pro series with the M5 Pro chip start at $2,199.

The Mac generates a smaller share of revenue than the iPhone but remains strategically important, particularly in education, creative industries and higher-end consumer segments.