On Wednesday Apple introduced a new laptop called the MacBook Neo, a device designed to bring the Mac experience at a much lower price point. Starting at $599 in the United States, or $499 for students and teachers, the laptop undercuts every previous modern MacBook release by a wide margin. Pre-orders are open now, and the device is expected to start shipping on March 11.
At $599, the MacBook Neo lands far below the current MacBook Air lineup, which starts around $1,099. That puts the Neo roughly $400 cheaper than Apple’s previous entry point for a new-generation Mac laptop.
John Ternus, Apple's head of hardware engineering, put it plainly: "Built from the ground up to be more affordable for even more people, MacBook Neo is a laptop only Apple could create."
Despite the lower price, the MacBook Neo keeps many of the familiar elements people associate with a Mac.
Image credit: Apple
Key Features
The laptop features a 13-inch display designed to deliver bright colours and sharp visuals for everyday work, streaming, and browsing. Apple has also included a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, along with speakers designed for clearer audio during calls.
Inside, the laptop runs on the A18 Pro chip, the same processor used in recent iPhones.
The company says the chip delivers enough performance for common tasks like web browsing, document editing, video calls, and light creative work. For many people, especially students or households buying a shared computer, that level of performance may be enough.
Battery life is another area where Apple claims strong performance. Apple says that the MacBook Neo can last for 16 hours on a single charge, which could comfortably cover a full day of work or classes without needing to plug in.
In terms of ports and connectivity, the device keeps things simple: two USB-C ports and a headphone jack. The keyboard and trackpad follow Apple’s familiar design language, focusing on comfort and reliability rather than experimentation.
Even with its lower price, the MacBook Neo does not abandon Apple’s design priorities.
The laptop comes in an aluminum enclosure; a material Apple has long used across its Mac lineup. It will also be available in four colours: silver, indigo, blush, and citrus, giving buyers a bit more personality than the typical grey-or-silver laptop market.
That design decision matters more than it might seem. For many buyers, especially younger users, the feel and appearance of a device still influence purchasing decisions. A lower-cost Mac that still looks and feels like a Mac could make the transition easier for first-time buyers.
Apple has also tied the device to its environmental goals. The MacBook Neo includes a high percentage of recycled materials, and Apple says the production process relies on renewable energy where possible. The company continues to push toward its broader goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
Ejiro Onose
