Usually I would tell you that “cheap” and “Apple” don’t belong in the same sentence (remember the iPhone 5c?) unless there’s a “not” in between. But a week or so ago, Cupertino decided to get weird, and by weird, I mean affordable. Enter the MacBook Neo: the laptop that introduces us to new Apple colors, runs like a pro, and starts at a “did I stutter?” price of $599.
The looks
First off, let’s talk aesthetics. As someone who loves a new shiny toy, the Neo is a massive vibe. It’s ditching a bit of that “corporate” silver (though that’s still an option) for a palette that feels more like a summer wardrobe: blush, indigo, and a very bold citrus. At just 2.7 pounds, it’s light enough to forget in your backpack, but because it’s made from 90% recycled aluminum, it doesn’t feel like a toy. It’s got that heft that we’ve come to expect.
A18 Pro Power
Apple didn’t just put a tablet chip in a shell and call it a day. They shoved the A18 Pro inside. For those of you who aren’t familiar: it’s fanless and apparently 50% faster for daily browsing than the bestselling Intel Core Ultra 5 PCs. But the real interesting bit? It supports on-device AI. Apple also claims it’s 3x faster at handling AI tasks—for example, that “Clean Up” tool in Photos or summarizing your notes. In a world where everything is “AI,” having a machine that handles it locally (and privately) for under $600 is pretty legit.
The Neo Breakdown: Form, Function, and $599
- Liquid Retina Display: A 13-inch panel with 500 nits of brightness and support for 1 billion colors.
- All-Day Battery: 16 hours on a single charge. That’s “I don’t have to bring my charger” territory, perfect for back-to-back lectures or a long flight.
- Pro Connectivity: Featuring two USB-C ports, Wi-Fi 6E, and the return of the 1080p FaceTime HD camera so we can finally stop looking like grainy 2005 webcam footage during the weekly stand-up.
Is it a MacBook Pro killer? No. But for students, writers, or designers who need a secondary “couch machine” that doesn’t sacrifice build quality, the Neo is a disruptor. It’s the first time in a long time that Apple has built something that feels premium but costs less than a designer handbag. It’s a win for accessibility without the usual “budget” compromises that make tech feel disposable.
Built from the ground up to be more affordable for even more people, MacBook Neo is a laptop only Apple could create.
The MacBook Neo is available for pre-order starting today, with units hitting the shelves on Wednesday, March 11. Whether you’re a student grabbing it for $499 or a pro looking for a lightweight travel companion for $599 [€565], the entry point to the Mac ecosystem just got a whole lot more colorful and cheaper. Now, I just have to decide if I’m brave enough to pull off that Citrus yellow without looking like I’m carrying a highlighter.
