Apple announces $599 MacBook Neo running A18 Pro chip…

Apple finally took the wraps off its long-rumored budget laptop. In simultaneous events in New York, London, and Shanghai, the company showed off the MacBook Neo, which runs on the Apple A18 Pro processor (2 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine), previously used to run the iPhone 16 Pro.

With this cheaper machine, Apple is taking aim at Chromebook and low-end Windows users, as well as those who may have wanted a MacBook but felt the price was out of reach. This new system, while still made of aluminum, comes in a variety of colors. They’re the most vibrant colors on an Apple laptop since the iBook G3 in 1999.

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The MacBook Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2408 x 1506 resolution (500 nits maximum brightness), side-firing speakers with Dolby Atmos support, a multi-touch trackpad, a 1080p webcam, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There are two USB-C ports: one supports USB 2.0 (480 Mbps), while the other is USB 3.0 (up to 10 Gbps with DisplayPort support). Only one external monitor is supported.

It's a relatively light device, weighing just 2.7 pounds and measuring 0.5 inches thick. Apple says the MacBook Neo can last up to 16 hours on a single charge thanks to its 36.5 WHr battery.

Apple says that the MacBook Neo will start at $599 for the 256GB version and will be available in silver, indigo, blush, and citrus. The 512GB version will come with Touch ID and be priced at $699. Both versions ship with just 8GB of RAM and support Apple Intelligence, and there are no build-to-order options for additional RAM. So what you see is what you get.

Preorders go live today, and systems will ship on March 11.

We've already had some hands-on time with the MacBook Neo, and we must say, the aluminum chassis feels really nice — especially at this price point. The trackpad is Apple-typical smooth, but there is no haptic feedback like in more expensive MacBook models. In addition, the keyboard is not backlit, which we take for granted on today's laptops (although some features had to be left on the cutting-room floor to reach a starting price $500 below the new M5 MacBook Air).

The MacBook Neo is a surprise during the ongoing RAM shortage, with other laptop makers struggling to keep laptop prices under control. While many Chromebooks start lower than the Neo's $599 starting price point, there have been reports that disappearing margins could drive the cheap Windows laptop market into extinction by 2028.

This laptop could also serve as a gateway into Apple's greater ecosystem, including the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and, most importantly, subscription services like iCloud+ and Apple Creator Studio.

John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, said at the New York City experience that "life is better with a Mac," and that this computer would put it in the hands of more people. They may also become lifelong customers.

Updated March 4, 10:03 AM with context on the greater PC market and quote from John Ternus.

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4 Comments Comment from the forums

lazymangaka

Between Microsoft shooting themselves in the foot with Windows 11 and outrageous RAM prices driving up hardware costs, Apple seems to be really well positioned to capitalize on the moment. It'll be interesting to see if this actually drives an uptick in MacOS adoption across the board, or if these laptops just end up with people already in the Apple sphere.
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abufrejoval

Just ordered a OnePlus Pad 3 with 16GB RAM, 512GB of SSD 13" touch screen, pen, keyboard cover for the same price. They threw in a watch I don't need, but you can also get it "in the nude" for €530. Won't include a charger, but that's how they all deal with EU law, got aplenty some even charging at 80 Watts.

Its Snapdragon Elite has a similar core split (2+6) and performance may be on similar levels. Not that either one would be about breaking speed records, but both actually deliver quite a lot of punch without any moving parts or noise. Weight with cover/keyboard is bound to be similar, batteries will last a full extended working day for both.

For me the Fruity Cult ecosystem would be a liability, but that's a mindset, hard or fruitless:LOL: to argue.

"Desktop mode" with extra screens on OnePlus isn't great yet, the port supports video out, Ethernet etc. Direct or via a dock, future Android is rumored to merge hopefully only the better parts of ChromeOS for those who need that, touch/non-touch dual screen might take getting used to, virtual multi-screen and multi-tasking capabilities on the primary screen via OnePlus Android enhancements are almost too much, if it's only one of many devices you use: you may get to like them so much, that not having them anywhere else becomes a bother...

Just to say, there are alternatives, some with unique advantages for the more artisticly minded users (my daughter loves drawing digitally as well).

For casual surfing, especially while eating (I find it hard to avoid splatter completely), touch without an exposed keyboard is a bonus, you'd otherwise need a convertible for; same wipes also work for my glasses so we keep a box on every table.

Nothing beats a keyboard, if like me you find it difficult to shut up and I keep mice on my tables, often even with touch screens and touch pads they can be just easier to target.
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LordVile

This is very strange and is it them trying to kill the iPad as a replacement?

It's 600 for the base version but the 700 model is significantly more compelling with touchID and double the storage. They also don'y have TB on it just USB2 and 3 which aren't marked though I'm assuming the 2 port is the rearmost. I wonder if this was originally slated to be 100 cheaper before RAM took off to hit the 499 price point.

It would be useful as a laptop for school perhaps or university though as it will have decent support, the A18 Pro Chip though a phone processor is very powerful with it beating out the M3 in lightly threaded workloads. I would have also liked to see a larger battery and P3 display but then it would cannibalise the Air and increased cost.

I expect this to be the best bang for the buck laptop one the market when factoring in build quality, display and processing power.

Abufrejoval said:
Just ordered a OnePlus Pad 3 with 16GB RAM, 512GB of SSD 13" touch screen, pen, keyboard cover for the same price. They threw in a watch I don't need, but you can also get it "in the nude" for €530. Won't include a charger, but that's how they all deal with EU law, got aplenty some even charging at 80 Watts.

Its Snapdragon Elite has a similar core split (2+6) and performance may be on similar levels. Not that either one would be about breaking speed records, but both actually deliver quite a lot of punch without any moving parts or noise. Weight with cover/keyboard is bound to be similar, batteries will last a full extended working day for both.

For me the Fruity Cult ecosystem would be a liability, but that's a mindset, hard or fruitless:LOL: to argue.

"Desktop mode" with extra screens on OnePlus isn't great yet, the port supports video out, Ethernet etc. Direct or via a dock, future Android is rumored to merge hopefully only the better parts of ChromeOS for those who need that, touch/non-touch dual screen might take getting used to, virtual multi-screen and multi-tasking capabilities on OnePlus Android are almost too much, if it's only one of many devices you use.

Just to say, there are alternatives, some with unique advantages for the more artisticly minded users (my daughter loves drawing digitally as well).

For casual surfing, especially while eating (I find it hard to avoid splatter completely), touch without an exposed keyboard is a bonus, you'd otherwise need a convertible for; same wipes also work for my glasses so we keep a box on every table.
Issue is it's an android tablet vs a full desktop OS which significantly reduces usability. Tablet keyboards also have last been lacking IMO with poor keys and abysmal trackpads until you get to the point of spending nearly the same amount of money as you paid for there tablet at which point its the same price region as a MacBook Air or windows alternative. You get very much into the land of jack of all trades master of none which is why every time I've bought an iPad it's ended up being sold within a couple of years as I'd never reach for it over my phone, MacBook or PC.

If you're into digital art in any serious manner though there's only really the iPad which is a serious contender due to software support and the Apple Pencil. Other than that you're buying standalone pads connecting to an external PC.
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Notton

I like the size and screen specs.
I wish they had a version with a larger battery. 16Hrs on a 36.5Whr battery seems improbable at 500nits.
8GB of RAM seems limiting, though the A18 Pro has always been configured that way, so I guess it can't be bumped to 16GB?.
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