Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Macworld reports that Apple launched the MacBook Neo, their most affordable laptop at $599, featuring an A18 Pro chip from iPhone 16 Pro.
- The 13-inch device offers 16-hour battery life, Liquid Retina display, and comes in four colors with pre-orders available for March 11 delivery.
- Key compromises include Touch ID only on the $699 model and limited connectivity with just two USB-C ports.
Apple on Wednesday introduced the MacBook Neo, a new addition to the MacBook line. Priced at $599/£599, the MacBook Neo is the lowest-priced laptop that the company offers–it’s $500/£500 lower than the MacBook Air, following that device’s sort-of price rise yesterday. That’s a considerable difference.
To get to such a low price point, the MacBook Neo features a number of compromises compared to its pricier brethren. This starts with its chip, an A18 Pro, which was previously used in the iPhone 16 Pro and has since been replaced by the A19 Pro in the iPhone 17 Pro. The Neo’s A18 Pro has a 6-core CPU (2 performance and 4 efficiency cores), a 5-core GPU, and 8GB of unified memory–no memory upgrade options are available. This essentially feels like Apple took the A18 Pro straight from the iPhone and made no obvious adjustments for the MacBook Neo.
The MacBook Neo comes standard with a 256GB SSD; for $699/£699, customers can get a 512GB SSD. No other storage options are available.
The laptop has a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2408-by-1506 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and support for 1 billion colors. The display has an anti-reflective coating, but it does not have a notch like the MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro. The larger black bezel at the top of the display houses a 1080p FaceTime HD camera.
The Magic Keyboard has pale keys, reminiscent of Apple’s iBook from the early 2000s, but their precise shade is designed to match the chassis. However, Touch ID is not included with the $599/£599 model. To get Touch ID, you’ll need to upgrade to the $699/£699 model that also has the 512GB SSD.
The MacBook Neo has one USB-C 3 port and one USB-C 2 port; MagSafe is not included. The laptop supports one external display with a native resolution of up to 4K at 60Hz; it simultaneously supports the built-in display at full native resolution. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack, but it does not support high-impedance headphones. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 6.
For battery life, Apple estimates “up to 16 hours video streaming” and “up to 11 hours wireless web” for the 36.5‑watt‑hour battery. Apple includes a 20W USB-C Power Adapter and a 1.5-meter USB-C cable.
The MacBook Neo measures 0.50 by 11.71 by 8.12 inches (1.27 by 29.75 by 20.64 cm) and weighs 2.7 pounds (1.23 kg). The colors available are blush, citrus, indigo, and silver.
The MacBook Neo is available for pre-order now. Orders will start to arrive with customers on March 11, when the laptop will also be available in Apple Stores.
