Apple has introduced a new kind of entry-level laptop with the MacBook Neo, a 13-inch model powered by the same A18 Pro chip used in an iPhone. The result is a machine that aims to make the MacBook experience more affordable without feeling stripped back or compromised.
At a starting price of £599 (€699/$599/A$899), the MacBook Neo sits about £500 below the MacBook Air, or the local equivalent. That pricing makes it Apple’s most accessible brand new MacBook, and it immediately places pressure on the wider laptop market.
A cheaper MacBook that still feels like a MacBook
The big question with any lower-cost Apple laptop is whether the compromises show up in everyday use. In this case, the answer appears to be largely no. The MacBook Neo is described as delivering snappy performance, which is notable for a laptop built around an iPhone chip rather than a traditional Mac processor.
That choice of chip is the defining feature of the device. By moving the MacBook line into A-series territory at the entry level, Apple has created a new kind of product in its laptop range. It is the first MacBook of its kind from the company, and it signals a different approach to balancing price and performance.
Screen, keyboard and trackpad stand out
Apple has also kept the parts of the laptop experience that matter most to many users. The MacBook Neo includes a high-quality screen, along with a keyboard and trackpad that are described as best-in-class. Those are the elements that often shape whether a budget laptop feels inexpensive in use, and they are central to the appeal of this model.
That combination matters because it suggests the MacBook Neo is not simply an entry-level device in name. It is intended to be a genuinely attractive option for people who want the Mac experience at a lower price, rather than a heavily cut-down version of it.
Apple’s new entry point
With the MacBook Neo, Apple is expanding the reach of its laptop range while setting a new price floor for a brand new MacBook. The starting price of £599 makes it far more approachable than the MacBook Air, while still keeping it within the Apple ecosystem and offering the familiar design language associated with the brand.
The move also sends a message to the wider PC industry. A laptop with this kind of pricing, paired with strong performance and premium-feeling core components, raises the bar for what buyers can expect from a budget machine. Apple is clearly positioning the Neo as more than a basic starter laptop.
For users who want a small, affordable Mac without giving up the essential qualities that define the brand, the MacBook Neo looks like a significant addition to Apple’s lineup. It is a compact 13-inch laptop with an unusual processor choice, a lower starting price, and enough of the right ingredients to make “budget” feel less like a compromise.
