Apple Launches Budget MacBook Neo
In a rare move into the budget market, Apple has released the MacBook Neo, its cheapest new laptop ever. The device is aimed at students and price-sensitive consumers, a strategic play to widen its user base against fierce competition from Chromebooks and lower-end Windows PCs.
The MacBook Neo starts at $599, making it the most affordable laptop Apple has ever released. For the education market, the price drops to $499, signaling a direct challenge to the dominance of Chromebooks in schools. At its core, the Neo runs on an Apple A18 Pro chip, marking the first time a Mac has been powered by an A-series processor from the iPhone lineup instead of the M-series chips found in other Macs. The standard configuration includes 8GB of unified memory and a 256GB solid-state drive. Several trade-offs were made to reach this price point. The base model does not include a backlit keyboard or Touch ID; the fingerprint sensor is only available on the 512GB model. The device also features two USB-C ports with differing speeds and lacks the dedicated MagSafe charging port of the pricier MacBook Air. The laptop features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display and an aluminum body, weighing in at 2.7 pounds. It is available in four colors: Silver, Indigo, Blush, and Citrus. This launch is a significant strategic move against competitors in the education sector, where Chromebooks held a global market share of 60.1% in 2025. Apple is now directly targeting the roughly 25 million students in the U.S. who have predominantly used Chromebooks. Industry analysts reacted swiftly, with some calling the Neo a "nightmare scenario for Windows OEM's" and "the smartest thing Apple has done in years". Asymco analyst Horace Dediu described it as a "watershed event" because it's the first Mac to utilize a mobile processor. While Apple has previously sold consumer-oriented laptops simply named "MacBook," the Neo's entry price is a historic low for the company. Before this release, the cheapest new Apple laptop was the MacBook Air, which had a starting price of $999. Pre-orders for
