Apple Launches $599 Budget MacBook Neo
Apple has launched a new colorful, entry-level MacBook Neo priced at $599. The 13-inch laptop is powered by the same A18 Pro chip found in iPhones and comes with a non-upgradable 8GB of RAM, targeting the budget-conscious market.
This launch marks Apple's most direct assault on the budget laptop market, a segment dominated by Google's Chromebooks which held a 60.1% share of the global education device market in 2025. The MacBook Neo is priced to compete with devices like Microsoft's $249 Surface Laptop SE, which is aimed squarely at the education sector and runs Windows 11 SE. The choice of the A18 Pro chip, first introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro, is a significant strategic move. This 6-core mobile CPU delivers a Geekbench single-core score of around 3,400 and a multi-core score near 8,500, making its multi-core performance comparable to the original M1 chip while offering superior single-core speed. This isn't Apple's first entry into this price-sensitive space. The original polycarbonate MacBook debuted in 2006 at $1,099, which is roughly $1,750 in today's dollars, making the $599 Neo the company's most aggressively priced laptop in its history. To achieve this price point, several trade-offs were made. The base $599 model lacks Touch ID, a backlit keyboard, MagSafe charging, and Thunderbolt ports, instead featuring standard USB-C. Wi-Fi 6E is supported, but more advanced connectivity options are absent. The product lineup is structured to encourage upgrades. A $100 premium not only adds Touch ID functionality but also doubles the internal storage from 256GB to 512GB, bundling a key security feature with a capacity increase. The Neo's colorful chassis options—Citrus, Blush, and Indigo, alongside a standard Silver—are a deliberate nod to the consumer-friendly aesthetics of the original iBook and later iMacs, signaling a clear focus on the student and entry-level consumer markets.
