Apple MacBook Neo Launches With A18 Pro Chip, Starts at $599

Apple has introduced the MacBook Neo, a new entry-level laptop that significantly lowers the price of entry into the Mac ecosystem. Starting at $599 in the United States and ₹69,900 in India, the device becomes the most affordable MacBook Apple has released in years and marks a direct push into the segment traditionally dominated by Chromebooks and budget Windows laptops.

The launch represents a notable shift in Apple’s laptop strategy. Apple has also continued updating its professional laptops, including the recently refreshed MacBook Pro with the M5 chip designed for more demanding creative and development workloads.

For years, the company’s most affordable MacBook models typically started around $999, leaving lower-priced computing devices largely to Windows PCs and ChromeOS systems. With the MacBook Neo, Apple is now attempting to reach a broader audience, including students, first-time laptop buyers, and users who primarily need a lightweight device for everyday computing tasks.

Unlike Apple’s existing Mac lineup, which runs on M-series processors designed specifically for Macs, the MacBook Neo uses the A18 Pro chip, the same processor family used in the iPhone 16 Pro series. By using a smartphone-class processor, Apple can significantly reduce manufacturing costs while still delivering enough performance for everyday workloads such as web browsing, streaming media, document editing, and video calls.

The A18 Pro includes a 6-core CPU with two performance cores and four efficiency cores, along with a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine designed to accelerate machine learning workloads and on-device AI processing. Apple says the system can handle common tasks smoothly while maintaining energy efficiency and completely silent operation thanks to its fanless design.

The MacBook Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2408 × 1506 and brightness reaching up to 500 nits. The panel supports a wide color range and sharp text rendering, making it suitable for productivity work, streaming content, and everyday multimedia use.

Battery life is rated at up to 16 hours of video streaming or around 11 hours of wireless web browsing, powered by a 36.5-watt-hour battery paired with a 20W USB-C power adapter. This places the Neo slightly below the 18-hour video playback rating of Apple’s MacBook Air models but still within the range expected for thin-and-light laptops.

The MacBook Neo weighs about 2.7 pounds (1.22 kg) and maintains Apple’s familiar aluminum unibody design. The laptop is available in several color options including Silver, Blush, Citrus, and Indigo, giving it a more playful appearance than the company’s traditional MacBook finishes.

The base configuration includes 8GB of unified memory and 256GB of SSD storage. A higher-priced $699 variant increases storage to 512GB and adds Touch ID, allowing users to unlock the laptop, authenticate purchases, and sign in to apps using fingerprint recognition.

Other hardware features include a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones with directional beamforming, and side-firing speakers with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. These components are designed to improve video calls, media playback, and online meetings.

Connectivity options include two USB-C ports — one USB 3 port supporting speeds up to 10Gbps and another USB 2 port — along with a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Wireless connectivity is provided through Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6.

The MacBook Neo runs the full macOS operating system, enabling compatibility with standard Mac applications as well as many iPhone and iPad apps through Apple’s broader ecosystem integration. Recent macOS updates have also added battery management tools, including an 80 percent charging limit feature in macOS 26.4 designed to help extend MacBook battery lifespan. The built-in Neural Engine also supports AI-accelerated tasks and Apple Intelligence features within supported applications.

Apple recently refreshed the MacBook Air lineup with the new M5 chip, with the base 13-inch model starting at $1,099. Apple is also preparing major changes for future laptops, with reports suggesting that future MacBook Pro models could feature OLED displays and touchscreen support. The introduction of the MacBook Neo therefore creates a significant price gap between Apple’s entry-level laptop and the rest of its Mac lineup, giving the company a stronger presence in the lower-cost laptop market.

The company is expected to continue expanding its Apple silicon roadmap, with reports already pointing to a future MacBook Pro powered by an M6 chip currently in development.

Preorders for the MacBook Neo are available immediately, with shipments and retail availability scheduled to begin on March 11.

Apple MacBook Neo Key Specifications

Source: Apple