Discover the MacBook Neo, Apple's new budget-friendly laptop with a 13-inch display, A18 Pro chip, 16-hour battery, and macOS Tahoe. Pre-order now for March 11 launch.
© Apple
Apple has unveiled the MacBook Neo, its most affordable laptop to date. The device features an aluminum chassis and will be available in four colors: blush, indigo, silver, and citrus. With a base price of $599, and an education discount bringing it down to $499, the MacBook Neo starts pre-orders today, with sales commencing on March 11.
At the heart of the MacBook Neo is a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, boasting a resolution of 2408×1506 pixels, a peak brightness of 500 nits, and support for a billion colors. Powering the laptop is the A18 Pro chip, which includes a six-core CPU, a five-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. According to Apple, this configuration makes the new model faster than mainstream Intel Core Ultra 5 laptops for everyday tasks and AI-related operations. Notably, the device operates without a fan, ensuring it remains completely silent.
Battery life is impressive, offering up to 16 hours on a single charge. The MacBook Neo comes equipped with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, two directional microphones for enhanced audio capture, and stereo speakers that support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. It also features a Magic Keyboard, a large Multi-Touch trackpad, and an optional Touch ID sensor for biometric authentication.
Connectivity options include two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6. The laptop runs on macOS Tahoe, which integrates Apple Intelligence and offers seamless interaction with iPhones through features like Handoff and iPhone Mirroring. In a nod to sustainability, the chassis incorporates recycled materials, and the packaging is entirely fiber-based.