How to preorder the $599 MacBook Neo, Apples new budget MacBook
Source: Mashable Tech
Preorder the Apple MacBook Neo
Apple finally announced its long‑rumored budget MacBook today, and it’s called the MacBook Neo. It starts at just $599, $500 less than the latest 13‑inch MacBook Air, and pre‑orders are now open. Education buyers save $100 by ordering directly through the Apple Store.
The MacBook Neo will begin shipping on March 11 alongside a slew of other new devices, including the new iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, M5 MacBook Air, M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, and Studio Displays. Apple announced them earlier this week, and their pre‑orders also start today.
We’re still waiting to get our hands on a MacBook Neo for testing, but in the meantime, let’s take a closer look at its specs. They were heavily leaked ahead of time, so if you’ve kept up with the rumors, most of what you’re about to read will sound very familiar.
Meet the MacBook Neo
The MacBook Neo comes in (left to right) blush, indigo, citrus, and silver finishes.
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
The MacBook Neo is technically Apple’s first dedicated budget laptop. It informally succeeds the M1 MacBook Air, which Apple sold through Walmart for around $699 from March 2024 to early this year. Instead of an M‑series chip, the MacBook Neo runs on the A18 Pro chip—the same processor inside the iPhone 16 Pro. This is the first time Apple has put an iPhone chip inside a laptop.
Key specifications
- Display: 13‑inch Liquid Retina, 60 Hz refresh rate, 500 nits brightness
- Processor: A18 Pro (iPhone 16 Pro chip)
- Memory: 8 GB RAM (standard)
- Storage: 256 GB or 512 GB SSD (configurable)
- Security: Touch ID
- Connectivity: Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, two USB‑C ports, MagSafe charging port, headphone jack
- Colors: Silver, Indigo, Blush, Citrus
The aluminum chassis is available in the four colors listed above, giving buyers a range of style options while keeping the device lightweight and durable.