Apple has introduced a new low-cost laptop, the MacBook Neo, priced at $599 — or $499 for students, marking one of the company’s most affordable MacBook releases in decades.
The device is designed to compete directly with Chromebooks and lower-end Windows laptops, offering a full macOS experience at a significantly lower price than the current entry-level MacBook Air, which starts at $1,099.
The MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 16 Pro, rather than Apple’s typical M-series chips. According to the company, the laptop delivers up to 16 hours of battery life and features a thin, fanless aluminium design.
The laptop includes a 13-inch 2408×1506 LED display, 8GB of RAM, and storage options of 256GB or 512GB. Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, two USB-C ports and a headphone jack.
Apple is also introducing several colour options — silver, blush, citrus and indigo — aimed particularly at students and younger buyers.
The launch was announced through smaller in-person «Apple Experience» events in cities including New York, London and Shanghai rather than a traditional keynote presentation, reflecting the device’s entry-level positioning within Apple’s product lineup.
Analysts say the lower price and education discounts could allow Apple to challenge the strong presence of Chromebooks in schools while bringing more first-time users into the Apple ecosystem.
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