Apple unveiled a new budget-friendly laptop, the MacBook Neo, priced at $599 in the United States, expanding its Mac product range to a more affordable level. The 13-inch laptop can be pre-ordered starting Wednesday, with official sales commencing on March 11 at Apple stores and authorized retailers across 30 countries, including the US, where an educational discount will be available starting at $499.
Presented at Apple’s Cupertino headquarters in California, the MacBook Neo features an aluminum design and comes in four color options: blush, indigo, silver, and citrus, weighing 2.7lb. The laptop boasts a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2408-by-1506, 500 nits brightness, anti-reflective coating, and support for 1 billion colors.
Powered by the A18 Pro chip, the MacBook Neo is tailored for daily tasks like web browsing, document editing, photo manipulation, and streaming. Apple claims it is up to 50% faster for web browsing compared to a leading PC with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor and up to three times faster for on-device AI operations, based on internal testing conducted in January and February using prototype MacBook Neo units and production PC systems.
John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, emphasized that the MacBook Neo was meticulously crafted to be more accessible to a wider audience, blending Apple silicon performance with extended battery life. The laptop offers up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge, operates without a fan for silent performance, and includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones with directional beamforming, and side-firing speakers supporting Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos.
In terms of connectivity, the MacBook Neo features two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 6, with external display support accessible through the left USB-C port. The laptop will come with macOS Tahoe, tightly integrated with Apple’s ecosystem, offering Continuity features linking Macs and iPhones, along with Apple Intelligence functions for tasks like writing assistance and live translation tailored to language and region.
Apple highlighted the MacBook Neo as its most eco-friendly MacBook yet, incorporating 60% recycled materials, including 90% recycled aluminum overall and 100% recycled cobalt in the battery. The packaging will be made from recyclable fiber materials, aligning with Apple’s sustainability goals.
