Apple today unveiled the MacBook Neo, a new entry-level laptop priced at $599, marking the company’s most affordable MacBook to date. The announcement, made during a broader product reveal, introduces a significant shift for Apple, utilizing an A18 Pro chip – typically found in iPhones – to power the new machine.
Pre-orders for the MacBook Neo began today, March 4th, with availability in stores slated for March 11th. The laptop will be sold through Apple’s website and retail locations, as well as through third-party retailers, a strategy previously employed with the M1 MacBook Air sold through Walmart.
The MacBook Neo will be available in four colors: silver, indigo, blush, and citrus. While offering a lower price point, the new laptop incorporates some compromises in specifications. It features an A18 Pro processor with a six-core CPU (two performance cores and four efficiency cores) and a five-core GPU. This contrasts with the M-series chips found in higher-end MacBooks, which typically have four P-cores and six E-cores, and 10 GPU cores.
The display is a 13-inch LCD with a resolution of 2408×1506 and a maximum brightness of 500 nits, a step down from the 13.6-inch 2560×1664 screen found on the MacBook Air. The base model includes 8GB of memory. A $699 configuration will include 512GB of storage and Touch ID.
Apple emphasized the ease of transitioning to a Mac, particularly for iPhone users. The Setup Assistant allows for seamless transfer of Wi-Fi network details, Apple Account information, files, photos, messages, and passwords from iCloud. For users without an iPhone, Migration Assistant facilitates data transfer from PCs or existing Macs.
The MacBook Neo is positioned to compete with Chromebooks and lower-cost Windows laptops, offering an alternative entry point into the Apple ecosystem. Apple is also offering Personal Setup, providing free one-on-one online sessions with specialists to assist new users.
