The new MacBook Neo is now available for preorder at the Apple Store, Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.
Apple’s latest offering, the MacBook Neo, marks a significant shift in its product line as it is the company’s first dedicated budget laptop. Starting at $599, the MacBook Neo aims to compete directly with Chromebooks and affordable Windows laptops.
Scheduled to begin shipping on March 11, 2026, the MacBook Neo is designed with educational buyers in mind, offering a $100 discount for those who order directly through the Apple Store.
Equipped with the powerful A18 Pro chip, the MacBook Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display that boasts a brightness of 500 nits. Additionally, it comes with 8GB of RAM and is configurable with either 256GB or 512GB of storage.
In terms of connectivity, the MacBook Neo includes WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 6, along with two USB-C ports and a headphone jack. However, it is important to note that the keyboard does not have backlighting.
The MacBook Neo is available in four colors: silver, indigo, blush, and citrus, providing users with a range of aesthetic options.
This new model informally succeeds the M1 MacBook Air, which Apple previously sold through Walmart for around $699 from March 2024 to early this year. The introduction of the MacBook Neo reflects Apple’s strategy to appeal to a broader audience, particularly in the education sector.
As Apple continues to innovate, the MacBook Neo represents a significant step in making quality laptops more accessible to budget-conscious consumers.
With the launch date approaching, many are eager to see how the MacBook Neo performs in the competitive laptop market.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any additional features or specifications that may be revealed closer to the shipping date.
