Apple’s blitz of announcements this week wrapped up yesterday with what might be the most interesting launch of the lot. After unveiling the iPhone 17e on Monday and refreshing the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro on Tuesday, the tech giant has just introduced its first-ever low-cost laptop, giving people a cheaper way into the MacBook ecosystem for the first time.
Called the MacBook Neo, Apple’s all-new budget laptop starts at just £599, making it the cheapest MacBook the company has ever released. It features a 13in Liquid Retina display and, most interestingly, runs on Apple’s A18 Pro chip – the same processor found in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, rather than one of Apple’s usual M-series chips.
Positioned as an entry-level MacBook for people who don’t need the power of a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, the MacBook Neo immediately peaked my interest. Evidently built for people who just want a simple macOS experience without the £1,000+ price tag, it reminds me a lot of Apple’s basic iPad, which is the one I’ve always opted for over the iPad Air or iPad Pro. For most people, that extra muscle really isn’t necessary.
A MacBook with an M5 chip is all well and good, but frankly, I’m not editing films or developing apps. I just want a reliable MacBook to write articles, browse the web, stream shows or tap out a few emails, all within the Apple ecosystem so my devices work seamlessly together. If the MacBook Neo delivers that experience at a lower price without sacrificing the reliability of an Apple machine, it could be the exact laptop I’ve been waiting for.
Available to pre-order now, the MacBook Neo will begin shipping on Wednesday 11 March, and if you’re a student, you can pick it up for even less. Here’s everything you need to know about the MacBook Neo.
Apple MacBook Neo UK price and release date
The Apple MacBook Neo starts at £599 in the UK, making it the most affordable MacBook Apple has ever released. Students can pick it up for even less, with education prices starting at just £499.
Like many budget Apple devices, Apple’s given the MacBook Neo a pop of colour. The MacBook Neo comes in four colours – blush, indigo, silver and citrus, and starts with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You can pre-order the laptop now, and it’ll go on sale on 11 March.
How does the MacBook Neo differ to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro?
The MacBook Neo offers students and budget-conscious users a more accessible way into macOS. It features an aluminium construction, a 13in Liquid Retina display and weighs just over 1.2kg, making it easy to carry around.
The biggest difference is the processor. Instead of using an M-series chip, the MacBook Neo runs on the A18 Pro processor. While it’s still powerful enough for general use, including browsing, streaming, writing or a spot of photo editing, it won’t be quite as capable when it comes to heavy-duty creative work that the Air and Pro can handle. That said, the A18 Pro boasts a 16-core neural engine, so it will work with Apple Intelligence features and on-device AI.
You get two USB-C ports and a headphone jack, although only one of the USB-C ports supports connecting an external display. The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro offer faster Thunderbolt ports and support for multiple external monitors.
Still, you pretty much get the core Mac experience. The MacBook Neo lasts for up to 16 hours on a single charge and features a fan-less design like the MacBook Air. Apple says it also comes with a 1080p FaceTime camera, magic keyboard and a large multi-touch trackpad. There’s also support for wifi 6e and Bluetooth 6.
The MacBook Neo comes in two configurations. The cheapest model comes with 256GB of internal storage. The second configuration comes with 512GB of internal storage and adds Touch ID, so you can unlock your laptop with your fingerprint. The higher-storage configuration costs £699.