In summary:
- Macworld reports that Apple launched the MacBook Neo, a new entry-level laptop priced at $599, making it Apple’s most affordable MacBook option.
- The device features an A18 Pro chip from iPhone 16 Pro, 13-inch Liquid Retina display, 16-hour battery life, and weighs 2.7 pounds with limited USB-C connectivity.
- This budget-friendly MacBook offers an accessible entry point into Apple’s ecosystem, though Touch ID requires upgrading to the $699 model.
Apple on Wednesday introduced the MacBook Neo, a new addition to the MacBook line. Priced at $599/£599, the MacBook Neo is the lowest-priced laptop that the company offers–it’s $500/£500 lower than the MacBook Air, following that device’s sort-of price rise yesterday. That’s a considerable difference.
To get to such a low price point, the MacBook Neo features a number of compromises compared to its pricier brethren. This starts with its chip, an A18 Pro, which was previously used in the iPhone 16 Pro and has since been replaced by the A19 Pro in the iPhone 17 Pro. The Neo’s A18 Pro has a 6-core CPU (2 performance and 4 efficiency cores), a 5-core GPU, and 8GB of unified memory–no memory upgrade options are available. This essentially feels like Apple took the A18 Pro straight from the iPhone and made no obvious adjustments for the MacBook Neo.
The MacBook Neo comes standard with a 256GB SSD; for $699/£699, customers can get a 512GB SSD. No other storage options are available.
The laptop has a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2408-by-1506 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and support for 1 billion colors. The display has an anti-reflective coating, but it does not have a notch like the MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro. The larger black bezel at the top of the display houses a 1080p FaceTime HD camera.
The Magic Keyboard has pale keys, reminiscent of Apple’s iBook from the early 2000s, but their precise shade is designed to match the chassis. However, Touch ID is not included with the $599/£599 model. To get Touch ID, you’ll need to upgrade to the $699/£699 model that also has the 512GB SSD.
The MacBook Neo has one USB-C 3 port and one USB-C 2 port; MagSafe is not included. The laptop supports one external display with a native resolution of up to 4K at 60Hz; it simultaneously supports the built-in display at full native resolution. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack, but it does not support high-impedance headphones. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 6.
For battery life, Apple estimates “up to 16 hours video streaming” and “up to 11 hours wireless web” for the 36.5‑watt‑hour battery. Apple includes a 20W USB-C Power Adapter and a 1.5-meter USB-C cable.
The MacBook Neo measures 0.50 by 11.71 by 8.12 inches (1.27 by 29.75 by 20.64 cm) and weighs 2.7 pounds (1.23 kg). The colors available are blush, citrus, indigo, and silver.
The MacBook Neo is available for pre-order now, and it appears that customers are limited to buying two Neos. It’s not clear if this limit will be lifted eventually. Orders will start to arrive with customers on March 11, when the laptop will also be available in Apple Stores.
Author: Roman Loyola, Senior Editor, Macworld
Roman is a Macworld Senior Editor with over 30 years of experience covering the tech industry, focusing on the Mac and other products in the Apple ecosystem. He is also the host of the Macworld Podcast. His career started at MacUser, where he received Apple certification as a repair technician (when Apple did that kind of thing). He's also worked for MacAddict, MacLife, and TechTV.