Apple doesn't stop. Behind him iPhone 17ethe company has just introduced the MacBook Neo, its cheapest laptop to date, with a starting price of $599 —699 euros in Europe—. The objective is obvious: to bring into the Mac ecosystem everyone who has always wanted it but has never been willing to pay what a Macbook Air. To achieve this, Apple has made a curious decision to say the least: equip this laptop with the Apple A18 Pro, the same chip as the iPhone 16 Pro.
That Apple recycles a mobile SoC for a laptop is an interesting move, although it also raises some eyebrows. It's not a chip M-series designed from the ground up for Macbut one designed for a smartphone. The company's comparisons—up to 50% faster than the best-selling PC with Intel Core Ultra 5—sound good on paper, but without specifying the reference model, they must be taken with caution. The real question is whether macOS manages to take advantage of that potential in everyday use, something that will only be seen over time.
What it offers (and what it doesn't)
As for what it includes: 1 screen3 inches Liquid Retina (2,408 x 1,506 pixels) with 500 nits of brightness, 1080p FaceTime camera, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and up to 16 hours of battery life according to Apple. The chassis is aluminum and the weight remains at 1.22 kg. There are two configurations – 256 GB and 512 GB of storage – both with 8 GB of unified RAM; the model of 512 GB adds Touch ID sensor.
Connectivity is where compromises appear. Two USB-C ports – one USB 3.0 and the other, strikingly, USB 2.0 – and a headphone jack. No MagSafe, no SD card reader, no anything else. For a laptop that boasts of being accessible and practical, it is quite concise. The 8 GB of RAM without possibility of expansion They don't help either: any user who goes beyond browsing and consuming video may encounter limitations sooner than expected.
Apple MacBook Neo technical data sheet
- Screen: 13″ Liquid Retina, 2,408 x 1,506 px, 500 nits, anti-reflective coating
- Processor: Apple A18 Pro (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU)
- RAM memory: 8 GB (unified memory)
- Storage: 256GB/512GB SSD
- Battery: Up to 16 hours
- Camera: FaceTime HD 1080p
- Audio: Stereo speakers with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, dual microphone
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6
- Ports: 2x USB-C (USB 3.0 + USB 2.0), 3.5 mm jack
- Security: Touch ID (512 GB model only)
- Operating system: macOS Tahoe
- Weight: 1.22kg
- Colors: Blush, Indigo, Silver, Citrus
- Price: From 699 euros (available March 11)
An interesting price, but with nuances
The operating system is macOS Tahoe, compatible with Apple Intelligence. The Magic Keyboard matches the color of the body and the trackpad is wide and multi-touch—details that at 699 euros are noticeable and appreciated. It is available in four colors: Blush, Indigo, Silver and Citrus. The reservations are now open and will hit stores on March 11.
If what you are looking for is to enter the Mac ecosystem without a significant outlay, the Neo is so far the most reasonable option ever. But anyone who needs sustained power, port versatility or more RAM headroom will do better to look to the MacBook Air. The underlying question remains: whether a chip designed for a phone can perform well, and for how long, inside a computer.
