I was sitting on Friday after work, minding my own business, and suddenly realized that the best time to buy Apple products is right now. Just look at how much the cheapest MacBook Neo in history costs in Russia right now. It’s practically a gift. And I just happened to need a second iPhone, my son had been asking for a tablet for a long time, and my wife wanted proper Apple Watch with AOD that would work with iPhone without glitches. I calculated out of curiosity how much all of this would cost me, and I was stunned. Take a look at how much you need to prepare to fully stock up on Apple in Russia.
Figuring out how much money you need to stock up on Apple tech
The Cheapest Apple Tech Bundle in 2026
Let me say right away that I’m not chasing the most premium and expensive Apple models. Base devices more than cover my needs, so when choosing Apple devices I focused on their capabilities. That’s exactly why I decided to go with the most basic gadgets from the Cupertino company. I calculated the minimum cost of a complete set of Apple devices at current prices in Russia and was shocked. It will cost you almost half as much as a single MacBook Pro 16″ with M5 Pro. As a reminder, the latter starts at 250 thousand rubles. Here’s what I came up with:
- iPhone 17e — approximately from 55,000 ₽
- iPad 11th generation — approximately from 28,000 ₽
- Magic Keyboard Folio analog with Russian letters — approximately 3,500 ₽
- Apple Pencil (USB-C) — approximately from 5,500 ₽
- Apple Watch SE 3 — approximately from 22,000 ₽
- AirPods 4 — approximately from 9,000 ₽
- HomePod mini — approximately from 8,800 ₽
- AirTag — approximately from 3,000 ₽
Total: approximately 135,000 ₽. That’s almost half the price of a single MacBook Pro 16″ with M5 Pro chip. And if you add a MacBook Neo to the cart instead of the iPad with keyboard and stylus, the total amount increases by only 18,000 ₽ — to 153,000 ₽. The cheapest headphones in the lineup are AirPods 4 at approximately 9,000 ₽. This is the base version without active noise cancellation, but with the current design and USB-C charging.
MacBook Neo: Price, Specs, and Who It’s For
The main reason the full Apple bundle has become so affordable is the arrival of the MacBook Neo. It launched on March 4, 2026 at a price starting from approximately 55,000 ₽. Just two years ago, the cheapest Apple laptop cost around 100,000 ₽.
The cheapest entry into the MacBook world in history
MacBook Neo is the first Mac that uses an iPhone processor platform instead of a proprietary M-series chip — specifically the A18 Pro from iPhone 16 Pro. This is an unconventional move: previously Apple strictly separated chips for phones and computers.
According to the Geekbench benchmark, the MacBook Neo scores 3,461 points in the single-core test — only 6% less than the MacBook Air on M5. For everyday tasks — browser, documents, video calls, light photo editing — the difference is virtually unnoticeable.
Tim Cook stated after sales began that the MacBook Neo had the best launch week in Mac history among new buyers. The fact that the iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo cost the same — 55,000 ₽ each — would have seemed like fantasy just a couple of years ago.
How Cheap Apple Devices Differ from Pro Models
An important point: the 2026 budget lineup is not reworked leftovers from previous generations. Apple uses current components but saves on specific things.
iPhone 17e is perfect for those who don’t need the world’s best camera and the biggest screen
iPhone 17e received the same 48-megapixel main camera and the same A19 chip as the regular iPhone 17. Limitations: the screen runs at 60 Hz (instead of 120 Hz on higher-end models), there’s no second rear camera, and instead of Dynamic Island it still uses the “notch.”
Apple Watch SE 3 are almost indistinguishable from the higher-end models
Apple Watch SE 3 received the S10 chip from the senior Series 11, always-on display, sleep apnea detection, and fast charging. In terms of functionality, the gap with the senior model has significantly narrowed.
The only noticeable compromise is the 11th-generation iPad. It’s currently the only device in the budget lineup that doesn’t support Apple Intelligence (Apple’s AI feature system). For those planning to actively use the new Siri capabilities and generative tools, this could be a significant limitation.
Which Apple Devices Are Better Not to Buy in 2026
Three devices from this bundle are on the verge of being updated, and this is worth considering when purchasing.
According to sources, the 12th-generation iPad with A18 chip and Apple Intelligence support is already ready for release and may appear this year. This will close the only serious gap in the budget lineup.
Also in the near-term plans are updated HomePod mini and Apple TV with more powerful processors and the N1 chip. According to sources, these devices were supposed to launch last year, but Apple delayed the release, waiting for the updated Siri to be ready.
I would definitely hold off on buying the HomePod mini right now
