Just yesterday Apple unveiled MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with M5 series chips, and today it has already announced an entirely new MacBook Neo. This is a unique device in the American company’s laptop lineup. It differs from the familiar MacBooks in literally everything: positioning, specifications, and price. Here’s what the MacBook Neo laptop turned out to be.
The cheapest MacBook of 2026 is here. Image: Apple
Apple MacBook Neo Specifications
Technically, the Apple MacBook Neo is a typical budget laptop. It falls short of the more expensive models in almost every parameter — they are both more powerful and offer better battery life.
| Specifications | MacBook Neo |
|---|---|
| Display | 13 inches, IPS (2408×1506), 60 Hz, 500 nits |
| Camera | HD |
| Processor | Apple A18 Pro |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 256 or 512 GB |
| Ports | 1xCharging, 1×3.5mm mini-jack, 2xUSB-C |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6 |
| Battery | 36.5 Wh |
| Charging | 20 W |
The main feature of the MacBook Neo laptop is that it runs on the Apple A18 Pro — the processor from the iPhone 16 Pro, last year’s iPhone. Therefore, its performance corresponds to that of a not-so-new smartphone and significantly lags behind other Apple laptops.
How MacBook Neo Differs from Air and Pro
To put it as briefly as possible, the MacBook Neo differs from the Air and Pro in the following ways:
- smaller display;
- worse camera;
- weaker processor;
- less memory;
- worse battery life (up to 16 hours).
We will cover the nuances of the MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air M5 comparison in more detail in a separate article.
Apple MacBook Neo Price
The laptop is available in several colors. Image: Apple
Since the Apple MacBook Neo is positioned as the cheapest MacBook, its price is much lower than that of its bigger siblings — specifically, half the price. The MacBook Neo price depending on storage is:
- 8/256 GB — $599 (~47,000 ₽);
- 8/512 GB — $699 (~54,500 ₽).
The MacBook Neo price in Russia will be higher than Apple’s official pricing due to parallel imports. It is expected to start at approximately 60,000 ₽ in Russia.
MacBook Neo Release Date
MacBook Neo pre-orders open on March 4, 2026 — the day the new laptop was announced. However, you can’t buy it in stores just yet. The MacBook Neo sales launch will take place on March 11, 2026.
There is no information yet about the MacBook Neo’s availability in Russia. Major retailers have not yet announced shipments of the new Apple laptop, but it should appear on domestic shelves in the coming days and weeks.
Who Should Buy the MacBook Neo
MacBook Neo is ideal for studying. Image: Apple
Apple positions the MacBook Neo as a youth-oriented work laptop that is perfect for high school and college students. This is reflected, among other things, in its color palette, available in the following options:
- silver;
- pink;
- yellow;
- dark blue.
The MacBook Neo is a stylish laptop with an aluminum alloy body. Its primary use cases include browsing the web, watching videos, and working with documents.
Additionally, the MacBook Neo is a compact Apple laptop. Its dimensions are 127×2975×2064 mm, and it weighs 1.23 kg. That makes it just as light as the MacBook Air M5 announced yesterday in the 13-inch version. Looking for a laptop for school? This is it!
