Apple on Thursday unveiled MacBook Neo, a new 13-inch laptop with Apple silicon, a Liquid Retina display, and all-day battery life, starting at $599. Apple positions the device as its most affordable Mac yet, designed to compete with Chromebooks and other education-focused laptops.
The MacBook Neo is available in blush, indigo, silver, and citrus and weighs 2.7 pounds, making it portable for students and classrooms. The 13-inch display offers 2408-by-1506 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and support for 1 billion colors.
Powered by the A18 Pro chip, Apple says the laptop is up to 50% faster than Intel Core Ultra 5 PCs for everyday tasks and up to three times faster for AI workloads. It also features a 16-core Neural Engine, fanless design, and integrated GPU for graphics-intensive tasks.
The laptop delivers up to 16 hours of battery life, and includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, dual mics, Spatial Audio speakers, a Magic Keyboard, and a Multi-Touch trackpad. Touch ID is included on select models.
Apple highlighted MacBook Neo’s environmental credentials, with 60% recycled content, including 90% recycled aluminum, and manufacturing using 45% renewable electricity.
Pre-orders start immediately, with in-store availability beginning March 11. Education pricing is $499, giving Apple a stronger foothold in classrooms traditionally dominated by Chromebooks.
John Ternus, Apple’s senior VP of Hardware Engineering, said the MacBook Neo “delivers the magic of the Mac at a breakthrough price,” emphasizing performance, design, and value tailored for students and educators.