Apple Unveils $599 MacBook Neo With A18 Pro Chip and Aluminum Design

Apple has officially introduced the MacBook Neo, expanding its Mac lineup with a highly affordable laptop powered by an iPhone-class processor. Priced at $599, the device features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, an aluminum enclosure, and the A18 Pro chip. It will be available to customers starting Wednesday, March 11.


The official reveal follows an accidental regulatory leak earlier this week. Apple designed the MacBook Neo to reach a lower price point without reverting to plastic materials. The 2.7-pound machine uses a new material-efficient forming process that requires about half the aluminum used in traditional machining while maintaining a solid unibody feel. Buyers can choose from four distinct colors, including blush, indigo, silver, and a new citrus option. These finishes carry over to the Magic Keyboard, which features lighter color-matched keys and includes Touch ID for secure login and Apple Pay authentication. The aesthetic is further unified by custom software wallpapers designed specifically for the new hardware.



The 13-inch Liquid Retina display offers a resolution of 2408 by 1506 and hits a peak brightness of 500 nits. It supports one billion colors for vibrant images. Apple included an anti-reflective coating to make the screen more comfortable to use in bright environments. A 1080p FaceTime HD camera sits above the screen, using updated image processing to improve video quality. Sound comes from dual side-firing speakers with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, while dual microphones with directional beamforming help reduce background noise.



Apple is taking a different approach with the processor. Rather than using a standard M-series processor, the MacBook Neo runs on the A18 Pro chip. The silicon features a 6-core CPU, a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Apple says the fanless design delivers up to 50 percent faster performance for everyday tasks and up to three times faster AI performance compared to best-selling PC laptops with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor. The company highlighted its capability to seamlessly handle demanding applications like Canva and Excel alongside AI-driven tasks such as summarizing text in Bear or utilizing the Clean Up tool in Photos. Battery life is rated for up to 16 hours on a single charge.



Connectivity options are kept simple to match the entry-level positioning. The left side of the machine houses a USB 3 Type-C port capable of driving an external display, while the right side features a USB 2 Type-C port. Both connections can be used to charge the device. The laptop includes a large Multi-Touch trackpad and a standard headphone jack. Wireless communication is supported by Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6.



The MacBook Neo ships with macOS Tahoe, ensuring full compatibility with Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and Live Translation. It also supports native Continuity functions such as iPhone Mirroring, Universal Clipboard, and Handoff.



Environmental considerations are a major part of the manufacturing process. The MacBook Neo incorporates 60 percent recycled content, which is the highest percentage of any Apple product to date. This includes 90 percent recycled aluminum overall and 100 percent recycled cobalt within the battery. The packaging is entirely fiber-based and fully recyclable.


Pre-orders for the MacBook Neo are open today in 30 countries and regions. The standard configuration starts at $599, while education customers can purchase the device for $499. The launch is part of Apple's multi-day hardware rollout that began earlier this week.