Meridiano

Add Article

No Image Available

Article Details

Title

Article: Apple launches $599 MacBook Neo powered by an iPhone chip

Impact Score

4 / 10

AI Summary (Processed Content)

Apple has launched a new budget laptop, the MacBook Neo, starting at $599. It is powered by the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 and features a 13-inch display, 8GB of non-upgradable RAM, and storage options of 256GB or 512GB.

Key compromises for the low price include the lack of Thunderbolt ports, MagSafe, and fast-charging support. Additionally, the Touch ID sensor is only included on the higher-storage 512GB model.

The Neo fills a lower price point in Apple's lineup, creating a wider gap with the more expensive M5 MacBook Air and positioning it to compete with budget Windows and ChromeOS laptops.

The main topics covered are the product announcement and specifications, the trade-offs for the lower price, and the product's positioning within the market and Apple's lineup.

Original URL

https://www.theverge.com/tech/886496/apple-march-2026-event-macbook-neo-announcement

Source Feed

The Verge

Published Date

2026-03-04 14:19

Fetched Date

2026-03-04 14:26

Processed Date

2026-03-04 15:39

Embedding Status

Present

Cluster ID

Not Clustered

Raw Extracted Content

Apple just announced a new entry-level MacBook that runs on the same A18 Pro chip that launched two years ago in its iPhone 16 lineup and starts at $599. The MacBook Neo features a 13-inch (2408 x 1506) display, 8GB of RAM, 256GB or 512GB of storage, a Magic Keyboard, multi-touch trackpad, 1080p camera, two USB-C ports (one USB 3 and one USB 2), a headphone jack, and new side-firing speakers with support for spatial audio and Dolby Atmos.
Apple launches $599 MacBook Neo powered by an iPhone chip
Apple’s cheapest laptop has Touch ID as an option, and 8GB of RAM inside.
Apple’s cheapest laptop has Touch ID as an option, and 8GB of RAM inside.
It’s available in four colors: silver, indigo, blush, and citrus, each with a color-matched keyboard.
There are some tradeoffs for the lower price, like the 8GB of RAM that doesn’t include an option to upgrade. Additionally, while the 512GB model includes a Touch ID sensor, the 256GB model does not. Neither model includes Thunderbolt ports or MagSafe. The Neo also ships with a 20W charger and does not appear to support fast-charging like the more expensive MacBook Air.
The $599 starting price on the Neo fills a price slot held by older M-series MacBooks in recent years, competing with Windows and ChromeOS models. Earlier this week, Apple announced that the cheapest M5 MacBook Air will start at $1,099 with 512GB of storage. With the new Air’s $100 bump over the previous model’s starting price, there’s a widening gap between the Neo and other laptops in Apple’s lineup.