Apple launches the MacBook Neo: this is the cheapest Mac to date

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Apple has made a move in the field of affordable laptops With the launch of the new MacBook Neo, a model positioned as the most affordable entry point to the macOS ecosystem, the company breaks with its tradition of high laptop prices and enters the market directly to compete with mid-range Windows PCs and Chromebooks.

Far from being presented as a one-off experiment, the MacBook Neo aims to become a strategic pillar Within the brand's catalog: a device designed for students, home users, and professionals who need a simple, lightweight laptop with good battery life, but without making the financial leap to a MacBook Air or Pro.

A new entry point to the Mac world

The MacBook Neo arrives on the market as the Apple's most affordable laptop ever released In its Mac range, the official price in Spain is €699 for the base model and €599 for the education channel. Globally, the company's stated price is $599 for the initial configuration, with additional discounts of $100 for students in some countries.

This pricing positioning represents a significant shift in the company's strategy: the Neo is positioned below the MacBook Air M5 and, in some cases, even below the Mac mini itself In certain configurations, this opens the door to a user profile that until now has looked more towards inexpensive Windows laptops or Chromebooks.

In the European market, where the mid-range computers Having gained traction in recent years, Apple's strategy aligns with the growth of laptops priced between 600 and 800 euros, particularly in the education sector and among young professionals who need a laptop for studying, teleworking, or managing basic tasks.

The device is now available for pre-order through Apple's website and app, and barring any last-minute changes, It will begin shipping and will be available in stores. Apple Store and authorized resellers starting March 11 in Europe.

Design, colors and screen: a more casual Mac

In terms of aesthetics, the MacBook Neo maintains the aluminum chassis It's characteristic of the brand, but with a slightly more casual approach. The device weighs around 1,23 kilos, a figure in line with other lightweight laptops on the market, and is designed to fit easily into backpacks and everyday bags.

Apple has opted for a design with soft corners and a slightly greater thickness than a MacBook Air, but without compromising portability. The result is a laptop that still conveys a sense of robustness and meticulous craftsmanship, despite its positioning... in a lower price segment to the company's usual customer.

One of the most striking features is the range of colors. The MacBook Neo is offered in four shades: cloud pink, indigo, silver and citrusThese tones extend to the Magic Keyboard and wallpapers, creating a uniform aesthetic reminiscent of the color strategy of other recent products from the manufacturer.

On the front, the device has a screen 13-inch Liquid Retina With a resolution of 2408 × 1506 pixels and a maximum brightness of 500 nits, this combination surpasses many mid-range Windows-based laptops, especially in pixel density and color reproduction, and is designed for both office work and multimedia consumption.

The screen incorporates an anti-reflective coating and support for the reproduction of up to one billion colors, making it suitable for prolonged use in varied environments, from brightly lit classrooms to more controlled workspaces.

A18 Pro chip: the heart of the new budget laptop

The most unique feature of the Neo is on the inside: instead of using an M-series chip, Apple has opted to integrate the A18 Pro processora piece of silicon derived directly from its high-end iPhones. This is the first time the company has used a chip originally designed for mobile phones in a Mac.

This processor features a six-core CPU, a five-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural EngineThis allows it to handle everyday tasks and the artificial intelligence features that Apple is incorporating into macOS with ease. According to figures from the company itself, the Neo can be up to 50% faster than the best-selling entry-level PC with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor in everyday use.

In specific AI workloads run on the device itself, the laptop delivers performance three times higher compared to some Windows laptops in the same price range. This translates into better performance in assistive writing tools, photo editing with intelligent automation, and content organization features.

From a practical standpoint, the A18 Pro places the MacBook Neo in a middle ground: it approaches the performance of an M1 chip in many tasks, though it doesn't aspire to replace a MacBook Pro for intensive professional use. For web browsing, office work, video calls, email management, light editing, and some content creation, its performance should be more than adequate.

One important detail is that the design is completely passiveIt has no internal fan, allowing for quiet operation even under load. This decision aligns with the model's objective: prioritizing ease of use and energy efficiency over sustained power peaks.

Memory, storage and autonomy

The MacBook Neo is sold with a unique 8GB unified memory configurationThis figure is already becoming the minimum reasonable amount for a general-purpose laptop in 2026. This memory is not expandable, so those anticipating heavier workloads may notice the limit sooner than with other models in the Mac range.

For storage, Apple offers two options: 256 GB and 512 GB SSDThe 256GB model sets the official starting price (€699), while the 512GB variant goes up to €799 in Spain. In many markets, the higher-capacity version also includes Touch ID integrated into the keyboard, while the base model uses a standard power button.

Official autonomy is situated around 16 hours of video playback and approximately 11 hours of wireless web browsing, figures that place this model at the top of its price segment. This battery life is especially relevant for students and mobile workers, who often spend a good part of the day between classes, libraries, and commuting.

The device includes a battery of around 36,5 Wh and charges via a 20W USB-C adapter, similar to that of some recent iPhones. The company thus maintains its policy of reducing the number of accessories included in the box, a policy it justifies in part for environmental reasons, although in practice This forces many users to purchase additional chargers. if they don't already have a compatible one.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the Neo is compatible with Wi‑Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6This should guarantee a stable connection on modern networks and good performance with wireless peripherals such as headphones, mice, or external keyboards.

Ports, audio and camera: just enough for everyday use

In terms of physical connectivity, the MacBook Neo opts for simplicity: the laptop integrates two USB-C ports —one with USB 3 speed and another with USB 2 specification— and a 3,5 mm headphone jack. There's no sign of MagSafe or additional ports, so anyone needing to connect multiple peripherals at once will have to use adapters or hubs.

This configuration may fall a little short for users who work with external monitors, audio interfaces, hard drives and other accessories simultaneously, but for most common use — charging, some external storage and occasional monitoring — the combination is sufficient, at least initially.

In the multimedia section, the laptop includes a camera. 1080p FaceTime HDIt features two microphones with voice focus and a side-firing speaker system with support for spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. While it doesn't compete with the sound system of a MacBook Pro, the audio is a significant improvement over many budget Windows laptops, especially in voice clarity for video calls.

The keyboard is a full-size Magic KeyboardWith its short key travel and large Multi-Touch trackpad, it remains a differentiating factor compared to other systems. In the top configuration, the keyboard incorporates Touch ID, allowing users to unlock the device and authorize payments with their fingerprint.

All of this is combined with macOS Tahoe, the version of the operating system that enhances several features based on Apple Intelligence, such as assisted writing tools or small organizational automations, always with the premise that much of the processing is done on the device itself.

A model designed for students, households, and businesses

The target user profile for the MacBook Neo is quite clear: high school and university studentsFamilies looking for a shared laptop for home use and professionals who prioritize portability over raw power are ideal. The price, lower than the MacBook Air, is key for this type of buyer.

For the educational sector, the specific discounts —which in some markets lower the starting price to 599 euros— position it as a direct alternative to mid-range Windows laptops and the most equipped Chromebooks, especially in European schools and universities where the Apple ecosystem already has a certain presence.

In the corporate sphere, Neo presents itself as a fleet team This is an interesting option for companies that want to equip part of their staff with macOS computers without investing in high-end models. Its compatibility with the same applications that run on other Macs and its integration with iPhone and iPad make it a viable choice for roles focused on office applications, customer service, or administrative tasks.

The strategy aligns with the intention of increasing the Mac installed base: the more affordable the first laptop, the greater the company's chances of later selling services, accessories, and higher-end models. The MacBook Neo, in that sense, functions as a gateway to the ecosystem, rather than as the ultimate destination for the advanced user.

For those coming from a budget Windows PC, the upgrade offers advantages in iPhone integration, screen quality, and battery life, in exchange for some compromises in future upgrades, ports, and capacity for very demanding projects.

Who does the MacBook Neo make sense for?

For users looking for a computer for everyday tasks—browsing, studying, writing documents, video meetings, some light photo editing, or simple content creation—the MacBook Neo offers a reasonable balance It balances price, design, and performance. It doesn't aim to compete with workstations or gaming laptops, but rather to cover 70-80% of real-world, everyday uses.

Those who work with advanced video projects, large music libraries, development with multiple virtual machines, or very demanding creative workflows will probably still find more sense in a MacBook Air with an M5 chip or a MacBook Pro, where memory and graphics power make the difference.

In markets like Spain, where the average budget for a home or study laptop tends to be in a similar range, the Neo arrives at a time when the competition is intenseWindows laptops between 500 and 800 euros and mid-to-high-end Chromebooks. Apple's strategy is to offer slightly less flexibility in upgrades in exchange for a more cohesive ecosystem and a design that remains above average.

Time will tell if this new entry-level option becomes a permanent part of the catalog or if it remains a one-off experiment, but for now, the move expands the range of options for those who want to enter the Mac world without facing the cost of a traditional model.

With this launch, Apple completes a range that now starts from this entry-level MacBook Neo even the most powerful MacBook Pros, better covering the different price ranges and making it clear that it is also willing to fight at the lower end of the table, without giving up its usual focus on design and ecosystem control.