Apple has introduced MacBook Neo, a new laptop designed to bring the Mac experience to more people at a lower price. The device combines Apple’s aluminum design, a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, Apple silicon performance, and long battery life. Apple positions the model as its most affordable MacBook so far, with a starting price of $599.
The new MacBook Neo focuses on everyday computing such as web browsing, streaming, editing photos, and running productivity apps. Apple says the laptop handles these tasks quickly while maintaining quiet and efficient performance. The system also supports Apple Intelligence features and common third-party apps, which makes it suitable for students, families, small business owners, and first-time Mac users.
Apple announced the new MacBook Neo in a press release published on its Apple Newsroom website.
“We’re incredibly excited to introduce MacBook Neo, which delivers the magic of the Mac at a breakthrough price,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.
Ternus added that Apple designed the laptop from the ground up to make the Mac experience more accessible while keeping the core features people expect from a MacBook.
Aluminum design with four color options
MacBook Neo uses a durable aluminum enclosure that keeps the device lightweight while maintaining a premium build. The laptop weighs about 2.7 pounds, which makes it easy to carry in a backpack or handbag for school, work, or travel.
Apple offers the laptop in four colors: blush, indigo, silver, and citrus. The company also matched the keyboard color and wallpapers to each finish, which gives the device a consistent design across hardware and software.
The rounded edges and slim body follow Apple’s modern MacBook design language while keeping the system comfortable to hold and use throughout the day.
13-inch Liquid Retina display
The MacBook Neo includes a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2408 by 1506. The panel reaches up to 500 nits of brightness and supports one billion colors, which helps photos, videos, and websites appear sharp and vibrant.
Apple also added an anti-reflective coating that improves visibility in different lighting conditions. This helps when users work outdoors, watch movies, edit photos, or join video calls in bright environments.
A18 Pro powers everyday performance
At the center of MacBook Neo sits Apple’s A18 Pro chip. Apple says the processor handles everyday tasks smoothly, including browsing, streaming, creating documents, and multitasking between apps.
The company claims the laptop runs everyday tasks up to 50 percent faster than a bestselling PC with Intel Core Ultra 5. For heavier workloads such as photo editing or AI tasks, the system runs up to three times faster for on-device AI workloads.
The chip includes a 5-core GPU for graphics and a 16-core Neural Engine that supports Apple Intelligence features such as writing tools and photo cleanup. The fanless design keeps the system completely silent during use.
Battery life and built-in hardware
MacBook Neo delivers up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge thanks to the power efficiency of Apple silicon. This allows users to work or study throughout the day without searching for a power outlet.
Apple also equipped the laptop with several core hardware features:
- 1080p FaceTime HD camera for video calls
- Dual microphones with beamforming to reduce background noise
- Dual side-firing speakers with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos
- Magic Keyboard with comfortable key travel
- Large Multi-Touch trackpad with gesture support
The MacBook Neo model with Touch ID also allows quick sign-in and secure purchases with Apple Pay.
Connectivity and macOS features
For connectivity, MacBook Neo includes two USB-C ports that support charging, accessories, and external displays. The laptop also provides a headphone jack for wired audio. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6 deliver fast wireless connections for networks and accessories.
The laptop runs macOS Tahoe, which includes built-in apps such as Safari, Messages, Photos, and FaceTime. Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and Live Translation integrate directly into the operating system.
MacBook Neo also works closely with iPhone through Continuity features such as Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and iPhone Mirroring. These tools allow users to move tasks between devices and copy content from one device to another.
Price and availability
Apple opened pre-orders for MacBook Neo today through Apple’s website and the Apple Store app in several countries and regions. The laptop will start shipping and appear in Apple Store locations on March 11.
MacBook Neo starts at $599, while the education price begins at $499. Apple sells the laptop in blush, indigo, silver, and citrus colors, with additional configuration options available through Apple’s online store.
