American giant Apple presented the MacBook Neo, its cheapest portable computer ever, during its March conference. Priced at $599, the device is set to be direct competition for Chromebooks and budget Windows laptops. Equipped with a modified chip from the iPhone and a colorful casing, the computer sheds new light on the company's strategy, which until now had positioned the Mac brand exclusively in the premium segment.

Record-low price

The price of $599 is the lowest entry point into Apple's laptop segment in the company's entire history.

Processor from iPhone

The use of modified mobile chipsets allowed for a lower price while maintaining macOS performance.

Attack on the education sector

The version for schools and students at $499 is set to take market share from cheap hardware with Windows and ChromeOS.

Apple has officially unveiled the MacBook Neo, marking a significant shift in the Cupertino-based conglomerate's product philosophy. The device, with a starting price of $599 (approximately €699 in Europe), is positioned as an entry-level product aimed primarily at the education sector and users with more limited budgets. Technologically, the MacBook Neo utilizes an architecture known from the manufacturer's smartphones, which allows for lower production costs while maintaining high energy efficiency. MacBook Neo offers 256 GB of storage and a screen with simplified parameters compared to more expensive models. The device's design harks back to the old, colorful iBook models, aiming to attract a younger target audience. Experts note that the introduction of such an affordable laptop could threaten the position of tablets, particularly the iPad Air line, by offering a full-fledged macOS operating system instead of the limited iPadOS. The educational version has been priced at just $499, directly attacking the market dominated by cheap computers with the ChromeOS system. Analysts predict the MacBook Neo will become the most popular choice for people buying their first Apple-branded computer. Apple's financial situation and smartphone market saturation have forced the company to seek growth in segments it previously ignored, similar to what happened with the iPhone SE model in the mobile industry. Despite the enthusiasm, initial tests indicate some compromises. The device has fewer ports and slower charging than the Air M5 series. Nevertheless, the build quality remains at a level typical for the Cupertino giant, distinguishing it from often plastic Windows rivals. „This will be the first Mac for many” — Tim Cook This launch coincided with the debut of the iPhone 17e, suggesting a broad offensive by Apple in the budget segment. Pre-order availability was announced immediately after the event concluded. MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air M5: Starting price: $1099 → $599; Processor architecture: Apple M5 → A18X (modified); Casing: Aluminum (standard) → Aluminum (multicolor) 599 USD — price of the cheapest MacBook Neo version

Mentioned People

  • Tim Cook — Apple's CEO, who presented the new product line during the March conference.