Apple MacBook Neo with A18 Pro chip for €699 is here
After months of leaks and rumors, Apple has finally unveiled its first “budget MacBook” in over a decade in Cupertino. And the rumors were true: The Apple MacBook Neo comes with an iPhone chip, attractive colors and a starting price of €699/$599.
For the price, you get quite a lot of performance, including a 13-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD display with a resolution of 2408 x 1506 pixels, a refresh rate of 60 Hz, and a 3:2 aspect ratio. The panel offers a peak brightness of 500 nits, and a 1080p FaceTime HD camera is also integrated.
Apple MacBook Neo with Magic Keyboard
Apple’s Magic Keyboard is also included, but without backlighting. Touch ID is exclusive to the 512GB version. All versions feature the same multi-touch trackpad, but it lacks Force Touch feedback. The chassis is made from 90% recycled aluminum, and the entire notebook weighs 1.23 kg.
The speakers are mounted on the sides and support spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. The Apple notebook is also equipped with a dual-microphone array with beamforming.
A18 Pro chipset
Apple has opted for the A18 Pro chipset, which already completed its laps as early as 2024 in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. It is complemented by 8 GB of RAM and 256 or 512 GB of internal storage. This is intended to make the Apple MacBook Neo 50% faster when browsing the web and up to three times faster than Windows laptops with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor when running AI applications on the device.
The Apple MacBook Neo offers two USB-C ports. One supports USB 3.0 and DisplayPort, the other is a slower USB 2.0 port. There’s also a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Wireless connectivity is provided via Wi-Fi 6e (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 6. On the software side, the MacBook Neo runs macOS 26 Tahoe and supports Apple Intelligence.
Apple has also included a 36.5 Wh lithium-ion battery, designed for up to 16 hours of video streaming or 11 hours of web browsing.
Prices
The MacBook Neo is available in silver, blush (pink), citrus (yellow), and indigo (blue). Prices start at €699/$599/£599/₹69,900 for the 8GB RAM/256GB storage version and go up to €799/$699/£699/₹79,900 for the 512GB storage model.
The prices for educational packages are even more affordable, with the base model starting at €599/$499/£499/₹59,900. The Apple MacBook Neo is available for pre-order now and will ship from March 11th.
