Apple unveiled a new low-cost, entry-level laptop called the MacBook Neo on Wednesday. This marks the first time the company has directly targeted the same audience as Google with its Chromebooks.
Priced starting at $599, the MacBook Neo is designed for students or users whose work doesn’t require intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering. The 13-inch laptop comes in four colors: silver, blush, citrus, and indigo. The base model includes 256GB of storage, while an upgrade to the $699 model provides 512GB of storage and adds Touch ID.
Apple achieves this lower price point by powering the Neo with the A18 Pro chip, which also runs the iPhone 16 Pro models, instead of the more powerful and expensive M5 chip found in the latest MacBook Air. Apple states that the A18 Pro allows the MacBook Neo to fly through everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming, photo editing, and using AI capabilities in apps. The company claims it is up to 50 percent faster for everyday tasks and up to three times faster for on-device AI workloads compared to the bestselling PC with a recent Intel Core Ultra 5 processor.
The laptop features a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones, and speakers positioned on each side to support Spatial Audio. Apple says the battery can last up to 16 hours on a single charge, which is delivered via one of its two USB-C ports. The Neo also retains a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
Internally, the MacBook Neo uses a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, supporting gameplay and on-device AI tasks similar to a recent iPhone. Like the MacBook Air, it is fan-less and operates silently.
With an ongoing RAM shortage making Apple’s more advanced models, like the MacBook Pro, significantly more expensive, the MacBook Neo has the potential to appeal to users who don’t need high-end technical features. It also offers an attractive option for anyone simply drawn to its color choices, like a pink MacBook.