Super Affordable Mac

Apple just announced the MacBook Neo — their most affordable laptop ever, starting at $599 (or $499 for students).

The big idea here is simple: pack as much of the Mac experience as possible into a price point that was previously impossible for Apple. And they’ve done a pretty solid job of it. You get a proper aluminum build in four colors (blush, indigo, silver, and a fun new citrus), a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with 500 nits of brightness and 1 billion colors, and the A18 Pro chip — the same silicon powering iPhones — which Apple claims is up to 50% faster for everyday tasks than comparable Intel-based Windows laptops.

Battery life sits at up to 16 hours, the thing weighs only 2.7 pounds, and it runs completely silent thanks to a fanless design. You also get a 1080p webcam, Spatial Audio speakers, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, and Apple Intelligence baked in via macOS Tahoe.

The tradeoffs are real but minor: just two USB-C ports (only one supports external displays), and the right-side port is USB 2 rather than USB 3. Not a dealbreaker for the target audience, but worth knowing.

Sustainability-wise, Apple is calling the Neo their lowest-carbon MacBook ever — 60% recycled content, 90% recycled aluminum, and 100% recycled cobalt in the battery.

Pre-orders are open today, with units shipping March 11. For anyone who’s been priced out of the Mac ecosystem, this is probably the most compelling entry point Apple has ever offered.