Apple has finally released their long-rumored budget MacBook and it’s called the MacBook Neo.
This new MacBook launch introduces a Mac laptop with a starting price for $599, which is unheard of for Apple. The latest Mac mini also costs $599, but that is just for the computer without a screen, keyboard and trackpad.
These new laptops are meant to offer an alternative to Chromebooks and cheaper Windows laptops, which have long been noticeable cheaper than MacBooks.
So, this is a pretty big deal.
The next cheapest Mac laptop is the base model MacBook Air which starts at $1099. So that is a $500 price difference with is certainly not insignificant for a lot of people.
So, what do you get for that price?
Well, you get a laptop that is almost identical in size and weight to the 13inch MacBook Air, but does have to make some important compromises.
– Probably the most important difference is the processor, as the MacBook Neo is powered by the an A18 Pro chip, which is virtually the same chip that powers the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.
All the other laptops from Apple now have the Apple Silicon M-series chips, which are noticeably more powerful chips in a variety of ways.
– Then there is the RAM (Unified Memory), which is 8GB, with no options to upgrade any higher.
– The base model MacBook Neo comes with 256GB of hard drive storage. Then there is a $699 model that comes with 512GB of RAM and also has Touch ID, but those are the only two options for internal storage. Other MacBooks allow you to upgrade to much larger internal storage options.
There are 2 USB-C ports on this MacBook Neo, one that is USB3 and one that’s USB2. The USB3 port supports 1 external display and 10Gb/s transfer speeds, but the USB 2 port is limited to 480Mb/s. There is no MagSafe charging on this computer.
So, all in all, it seems pretty clear that these entry-level Macs are targeted for students and casual users who need a Mac capable of handling light tasks such as email, web browsing and working with Microsoft Office type of apps. It will also handle programs such as Photos and iMovie no problem. But this is not a laptop you’ll be able to use for intermediate level video editing, Photoshop, 3D design or more intensive AI work. Students can purchase this Mac for $499 by the way.
It’s going to be a a great companion device for someone who’s already using and familiar with an iPhone and that just needs a basic computer with a nice bigger screen than what you get with the iPhone and iPad. And I think there’s a big market for that. A lot of people I work with have powerful expensive laptops and there’s not using anywhere near full capacity, so it’s great that Apple is finally providing a pretty basic option that will be more than enough for many users.
