Apple introduces MacBook Neo, a colourful Chromebook rival priced from $599

Apple on Wednesday revealed a new budget-friendly entry-level laptop called the MacBook Neo, the first time the company has gone after the same market Google has long targeted with its Chromebook lineup.

With a starting price of $599, the MacBook Neo is designed for students and everyday users whose needs do not include demanding professional workloads such as video editing or 3D rendering. The 13-inch MacBook Neo will be available in four colours: silver, blush, citrus, and indigo. The standard version includes 256GB of storage, while a step-up model priced at $699 offers 512GB of storage along with Touch ID.

Apple can bring the Neo to this lower price point because the A18 Pro chip powers the laptop—the same processor used in the iPhone 16 Pro lineup—rather than the more advanced, more expensive M5 chip found in the newest MacBook Air.

“Powered by A18 Pro, MacBook Neo can fly through everyday tasks, from browsing the web and streaming content, to editing photos, exploring creative hobbies, or using AI capabilities across apps,” Apple said in a press release. “In fact, it’s up to 50 per cent faster for everyday tasks like web browsing, and up to 3x faster when running on-device AI workloads like applying advanced effects to photos, compared to the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5.”

The laptop includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones, and speakers positioned on both sides of the device to support Spatial Audio. Apple says the battery can last up to 16 hours on a single charge, with power delivered via one of the machine’s two USB-C ports. The Neo also keeps a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack.

The MacBook Neo features a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, enabling it to handle machine learning and on-device AI tasks on par with a recent iPhone. Like the MacBook Air, it is fanless, meaning it operates without noise.

As the ongoing RAM shortage pushes the prices of Apple’s more advanced systems, including the MacBook Pro, as much as $400 above their predecessors, the MacBook Neo could prove attractive to buyers who do not need those higher-end technical features — or to anyone who cannot say no to a pink MacBook.