Apple Unveils Affordable MacBook Neo

New laptop delivers Apple design and performance at a breakthrough price.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Apple today announced the new MacBook Neo, an affordable laptop that brings the magic of the Mac to more people around the world. Starting at just $599, the MacBook Neo features a durable aluminum design in four beautiful colors, a stunning 13-inch Liquid Retina display, powerful A18 Pro chip, up to 16 hours of battery life, and the latest macOS Tahoe. With an unmatched combination of quality and value, the MacBook Neo is Apple's most affordable laptop ever.

Why it matters

The MacBook Neo aims to make Apple's renowned laptop experience more accessible to a wider range of customers, including students, families, small businesses, and new Mac users. By offering premium features and performance at a lower price point, Apple is hoping to attract more people to its ecosystem and ecosystem.

The details

The MacBook Neo boasts a sleek, colorful aluminum design weighing just 2.7 pounds. Its 13-inch Liquid Retina display delivers sharp, vibrant visuals with 500 nits of brightness and support for 1 billion colors. Powered by Apple's A18 Pro chip, the laptop is up to 50% faster for everyday tasks and up to 3x faster for on-device AI workloads compared to the best-selling PC with the latest Intel processor. The MacBook Neo also features Apple's Magic Keyboard, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, dual mics, and dual side-firing speakers with Spatial Audio.

  • The MacBook Neo is available to pre-order starting today, March 5, 2026.
  • The MacBook Neo will begin arriving to customers and be available in Apple Stores on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

The players

Apple

An American technology company that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services.

John Ternus

Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.

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What they’re saying

“We're incredibly excited to introduce MacBook Neo, which delivers the magic of the Mac at a breakthrough price.”

— John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Engineering (Mirage News)

What’s next

The MacBook Neo will be available to purchase starting March 11, 2026 at apple.com, in the Apple Store app, and at Apple Retail Stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The takeaway

The new MacBook Neo represents Apple's effort to make its premium laptop experience more accessible to a wider range of customers, providing an unmatched combination of quality, performance, and affordability in the personal computing market.