What’s the Catch with Apple’s Cheapest New MacBook Ever?

And how does the MacBook Neo compare to the MacBook Air?

Student typing on a yellow Apple laptop at a classroom desk with notebooks and a pen nearby.

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By Tucker Bowe

Published March 4, 2026

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Updated March 9, 2026

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Up until today, Apple’s big week of new hardware reveals has felt a little too familiar. That’s because everything — the new MacBook Airs, MacBook Pros, the iPhone 17e and both Studio Displays — has been a modest upgrade. Same look and feel as their predecessors, but with new internals and specs. Nothing felt genuinely new.

That has now changed with MacBook Neo.

It’s the company’s first entry-level laptop not named an “Air” in well over a decade. And, make no qualms about it, its headline feature is its price. Starting at $599, it’s almost half as expensive as the new M5 MacBook Airs (which now start at $1,099).

So, what’s the catch?

Welcome to Moonshots: A series exploring the big ideas that could reshape the future of products. Discover more here.

Meet Apple’s low-cost MacBook

Yellow laptop with a colorful abstract wallpaper held on a hand with matching yellow-green nail polish. — The MacBook Neo starts at $599. It’s a 13-inch laptop similar to the Air, but almost half as expensive.

The MacBook Neo is a 13-inch laptop that’s built in a similar vein as the current 13-inch M5 MacBook Air. And, naturally, the two will be compared endlessly because they are Apple’s most affordable laptop options. But there are some key differences.

Four colorful Apple MacBook laptops in silver, pink, yellow, and blue, partially open and arranged in a fan shape. — The MacBook Neo comes in four finish options: blush, indigo, silver and citrus.

Powered by an iPhone chip

The most notable difference is that the MacBook Neo isn’t powered by one of Apple’s M-series processors, but instead packs an A18 Pro chip. This is the same Apple silicon that used to power last year’s iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

That’s right, this laptop is powered by an iPhone chip.

Person wearing white over-ear headphones and a layered pink and yellow top, using a laptop on a pink fuzzy blanket. — Fun fact: the MacBook Neo and the AirPods Max both cost $599. If the girl in the photo is a student, it means that the laptop is actually $100 cheaper than the headphones.

Apple claims that this A18 Pro chip helps the MacBook Neo “fly through everyday tasks, from browsing the web and streaming content, to editing photos, exploring creative hobbies, or using AI capabilities across apps.”

But make no bones about it: the Neo won’t match Air’s performance. Also, every Neo ships with just 8GB of RAM (and can’t be configured with more), so don’t expect it to be anything close to a multitasking powerhouse. It’s essentially Apple’s answer to the Chromebook.

Two close-up side views of a closed blue laptop showing a headphone jack and speaker grille on one side and two USB-C ports on the other. — The MacBook Neo has a 3.5mm jack and two USB-C ports. It lacks MagSafe charging.

How does it compare to an Air?

On the hardware side, Apple naturally made some sacrifices with the MacBook Neo to keep costs low.

It’s similar in size and design to the newest MacBook Air, but the Neo is not as stylish a laptop. It’s slightly thicker and bulkier when shut in a clamshell. And its 13-inch Liquid Retina display is slightly smaller (with larger bezels) than the Air’s 13.6-inch one.

Both laptops weigh the same: 2.7 pounds.

Person in a red sweater with a yellow measuring tape around their neck using a silver laptop in a sewing workshop. — The MacBook Neo is optimized for everyday tasks, such as web browsing and streaming movies.

The MacBook Neo lacks several other key features. Its keyboard isn’t backlit, meaning it’ll be harder for students to make out the keys at night. The 1080p webcam lacks Center Stage. And there’s no MagSafe charging — it’s USB-C all the way.

Also worth pointing out: the keyboard does have Touch ID, but this feature is only included on the more expensive models. If you get a base configuration of the MacBook Neo, its keyboard won’t have Touch ID.

Silver Apple MacBook laptop closed, shown from top and side views. — The MacBook Neo is slightly bulkier than the MacBook Air, but not by much.

While a lot can be made about what the MacBook Neo lacks, let’s point out what it can do: provide students and budget-conscious shoppers with a low-cost Mac experience. It’s a MacBook, but way more affordable than you’re used to.

Going forward, it’s going to be interesting to see how well the MacBook Neo actually sells.

On one hand, it could be the low-cost MacBook people have been hoping for. On the other hand, we’ve seen Apple introduce budget options for its premium devices, and they haven’t sold well. There’s a reason the iPhone Pro has been by far the most popular model for years.

Person wearing a white headband and black jacket using a yellow Apple laptop in a gym with basketball and backpack nearby. — The MacBook Neo is available for preorder now.

Availability and pricing

The MacBook Neo is available for preorder today and starts shipping next week, on March 11th.

The laptop starts at $599 (or $499 for students) and comes in four finish options: blush, indigo, silver, and citrus.

Five partially open laptops in silver, pink, yellow, blue, and space gray arranged in a semi-circle on a white background.

Apple MacBook Neo

Starts at $599

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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