Apple’s most anticipated product of the year – MacBook Neo

The first iPhone-chip Mac brings Apple silicon to entry-level pricing

Apple’s new MacBook Neo is a budget-focused Mac laptop that’s been rumored since mid last year. It brings Apple silicon performance to a much lower price point than any previous MacBook. Announced this week as part of Apple’s March product launches, it is clearly aimed at students, schools, and price-sensitive buyers who might otherwise choose a Chromebook or a low-cost Windows PC.

At the heart of the MacBook Neo is Apple’s A18 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 16 Pro lineup, making this the first Mac to run on an iPhone-class SoC rather than an M-series chip. Apple claims this delivers significantly faster performance for everyday tasks than comparably priced Intel-based Windows laptops, while also enabling strong on-device AI features via the 16-core Neural Engine and dedicated media engines for video encoding and decoding. The base configuration pairs the A18 Pro with 8GB of unified memory, which cannot be upgraded, reflecting the Neo’s simplified, low-cost positioning.

The display is a 13-inch Liquid Retina panel with a 2408×1506 resolution and up to 500 nits of brightness. However, unlike its more expensive siblings, the MacBook Neo lacks True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts the display’s color temperature based on ambient lighting. Around the display, Apple includes a 1080p front camera and support for features like Center Stage, enhancing video calls for remote learning or work. The chassis comes in four colors—silver, blush, citrus, and indigo—bringing some of the playful aesthetic options seen on iPhones and iMacs to the MacBook line.

Connectivity and I/O are deliberately minimal but practical: MacBook Neo offers two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and speakers that support Dolby Atmos spatial audio. To hit the aggressive price, Apple makes a few trade-offs compared to its higher-end laptops, including no MagSafe charging port, a non-backlit keyboard, and a mechanical (rather than haptic) trackpad. The keyboard also uses a different layout compared to the standard MacBook keyboard, with a more compact key arrangement to reduce manufacturing costs. Touch ID is not standard on the base model; instead, Apple sells a configuration that adds Touch ID and doubles storage for an additional charge.

Pricing is where the MacBook Neo stands out most: it starts at $599 USD for 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, with education pricing beginning at $499 USD in eligible markets. Preorders are already open in over 30 countries via Apple’s website and Apple Store app, with general availability and in-store sales scheduled to begin on March 11. Analysts see this move as a strategic push by Apple to expand the macOS installed base and compete more directly with Chromebooks in education and other entry-level segments.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

MacBook Comparison

Final Thoughts

The MacBook Neo represents a bold experiment for Apple—using an iPhone chip to bring macOS to unprecedented price points. For students, schools, and budget-conscious buyers who primarily need web browsing, document editing, and video calls, the Neo offers genuine value. However, the fixed 8GB RAM, slower A18 Pro chip, and numerous feature omissions mean this is truly an entry-level device with limited longevity. Power users and those planning to keep their laptop for 4+ years should seriously consider saving for the MacBook Air M5, which offers significantly better performance, expandable memory, and fewer compromises for just $600 more at full price.

Did we order one? Yes, we did. Stay tuned for a full review next week!