Apple has introduced the MacBook Neo with a much lower starting price, giving students and new Mac users an affordable way to enter the Mac ecosystem while still getting modern hardware and Apple silicon performance. The laptop starts at $599 in the United States, but students and educational staff can buy it for just $499 through Apple’s education store, making it the most affordable MacBook Apple has ever released.
The new model also reshapes Apple’s Mac lineup because it sits far below the MacBook Air in price. The latest MacBook Air models now start at $1,099, so the MacBook Neo undercuts Apple’s mainstream laptop by as much as $500 while still delivering a full macOS experience with a modern design and strong battery life.
MacBook Neo price and upgrade options
Apple keeps the pricing structure simple, and the base model already includes the core features most users need for everyday work and school tasks.
U.S. starting prices:
- 13-inch MacBook Neo: $599
- Education pricing: $499
- Optional upgrade with Touch ID and 512GB storage: +$100
That upgrade pushes the price to $699 for regular buyers and $599 for students, which still keeps the MacBook Neo far below the cost of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lineup.
What you get with MacBook Neo
The laptop features Apple’s familiar aluminum design and focuses on everyday performance, long battery life, and portability.
- 13-inch Liquid Retina display with 2408 × 1506 resolution
- A18 Pro chip with a 16-core Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence tasks
- Up to 16 hours of battery life
- 1080p FaceTime HD camera with dual microphones
- Dual speakers with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos
- Magic Keyboard and large Multi-Touch trackpad
- Two USB-C ports and a headphone jack
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6
Apple says the A18 Pro chip allows the MacBook Neo to handle everyday work such as browsing, streaming, editing photos, and running creative apps while maintaining silent fanless operation.
MacBook Neo is available to pre-order now, and Apple will begin shipping the new laptop on Wednesday, March 11.
