Apple Announces $599 'MacBook Neo' With A18 Pro Chip

Source: MacRumors

Overview

Apple announced the MacBook Neo, a low‑cost Mac powered by the A18 Pro chip, priced at $599. It is the first Mac to use an iPhone‑class processor, the same A18 Pro that debuted in the 2024 iPhone 16 Pro models.

Performance

• Up to 50 % faster for everyday tasks compared with the bestselling PC equipped with the latest Intel Core Ultra 5.
• Up to 3× faster for on‑device AI workloads.
• Up to 2× faster for tasks such as photo editing.

Design & Display

• 13‑inch Liquid Retina display, 2408 × 1506 resolution, 500 nits brightness, anti‑reflective coating.
• No notch; uniform iPad‑style bezels.
• Color options: Silver, Indigo, Blush, Citrus.
• Magic Keyboard matches the lighter shades of each finish and includes matching wallpapers.
• Weight: 2.7 lb.

Ports & Audio

• Two USB‑C ports:
  • USB‑C 2 (up to 480 Mb/s).
  • USB‑C 3 (up to 10 Gb/s).
• 3.5 mm headphone jack.
• Dual side‑firing speakers with Spatial Audio.
• Dual microphones with directional beamforming.

Battery, Memory & Connectivity

• Up to 16 hours of battery life.
• 8 GB unified memory.
• Wi‑Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6.
• 1080p front‑facing camera.
• Touch ID (available on the $699 configuration).

Environmental Impact

• Marketed as Apple’s lowest‑carbon Mac.
• Contains 60 % recycled materials, the highest proportion across Apple products:
  • 90 % recycled aluminum.
  • 100 % recycled cobalt in the battery.

Availability

• Pre‑orders start today.
• Shipping begins Wednesday, March 11.

This article first appeared on MacRumors.com.