Today, Apple revealed a whole new addition to the MacBook lineup, the MacBook Neo. This thin, lightweight laptop is designed to deliver the same great MacBook experience you know and love at a more accessible price. Read on to find out what the MacBook Neo has to offer and why it might (or might not) be right for you.
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Pricing & Availability
Image Credit: Apple
Available
- Pre-order March 4
- Available March 11
Size & Pricing
- 13-inch, 256 GB, Magic Keyboard starts at $599
- 13-inch, 512 GB, Magic Keyboard with Touch ID starts at $699
The MacBook Neo is available in blush, indigo, silver, and citrus colors.
What’s Up with the MacBook Neo?
Image Credit: Apple
The MacBook Neo is designed as an entry-level laptop, making the brand more accessible than ever before. It’s powered by Apple’s A18 Pro chip, the same chip you’ll find in the iPhone 16 Pro. Apple compares its performance to PCs equipped with Intel’s Core Ultra 5 chip, claiming that the Neo is three times faster.
The MacBook Neo sports a thin, lightweight design, weighing in at 2.7 pounds. The screen is 13 inches, matching the smaller size of the MacBook Air, which makes the Neo a great laptop for portability. Plus, Apple claims it can last up to 16 hours on a single charge, meaning you can take it with you on the go and rest assured that you won’t need to plug it in until the day is over.
There are two variants of the MacBook Neo: one with Touch ID built into the Magic Keyboard and one without. The Touch ID version of the MacBook Neo will run you an extra $100.
Who Is the MacBook Neo For?
Image Credit: Apple
If you don’t need the bells and whistles of the MacBook Pro and are looking for an affordable MacBook, Apple wants you to know the MacBook Neo is for you. With the MacBook Neo, Apple is giving users the opportunity to experience all that the MacBook has to offer at an affordable price. You likely won’t want to use it for intensive tasks like coding, extensive photo or video editing, hardcore gaming, or AI processing. Rather, it’s designed for basic tasks, like browsing the web, organizing your digital files, or streaming your favorite TV shows.
Apple’s marketing suggests the MacBook Neo as a great option for students who might need a laptop but for whom the MacBook Air or Pro is not an option, due to the high price of admission. It’s also great for those on a budget and who don’t need a laptop for any high-end tasks that might demand a high-end computer.
If you’re in the market for a laptop and the price of the MacBook has been a barrier to entry, the MacBook Neo might just be the right choice for you. On the other hand, an older MacBook with an M-series chip might give you the same or better performance for the same cost.
Even MacBooks as old as the M1 or M2 still perform well against newer computers. The M2 chip in particular has an 8-core CPU and GPU, while the Neo’s A18 Pro has a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, meaning you’ll likely get better speeds and processing power with an older MacBook. Plus, older MacBooks already have Touch ID built into the keyboard, while the MacBook Neo adds another $100 to the cost for Touch ID. As far as price goes, you can usually find M1 and M2 MacBooks used or refurbished at a similar price to the Neo. And if you already have a MacBook, you can hold onto it a bit longer, or consider upgrading to one of the new M5 MacBooks.
