Now here’s a big-time tech launch that we most definitely did not have on our bingo cards. Apple’s MacBook Neo, the first new MacBook model since the Air and their first sub-$900 laptop launch in a decade, is available for presale at Amazon for as low as $599. That will reserve you the 256GB model of this 13-inch laptop powered by Apple’s A18 Pro processor; an extra hundred bucks will get you double the storage — the 512GB model is ready for preorder for just $699. Both versions hit shelves on March 11.
Not since the 11-inch MacBook Air dropped off of Apple’s roster 10 years ago has there been a sub-$900 MacBook launch, much less one that can be had for as little as $599. Obviously it’s not going to go toe-to-toe with the MacBook Pro, but the A18 Pro chip that serves as the Neo’s brain and the 2408 x 1506 resolution Liquid Retina display place the Neo firmly in the MacBook family in terms of quality and performance.
Bang for Buck
What makes the launch of the Neo compelling isn’t just the price, though. Apple designed it to provide the core Mac experience: a clean macOS environment, tight hardware–software integration, and the kind of build quality MacBooks are known for. For students, casual creators, remote workers, and anyone upgrading from an older Intel-era MacBook, that formula can be more than enough, and now it’s at a price point that makes that upgrade more accessible than ever.
MacBooks have long been known for efficient processors and quiet operation, which means the Neo is expected to deliver responsive performance while staying cool and nearly silent during normal workloads. The Neo hits those marks, especially on the silent front because it has no fan. The A18 Pro chip shares the same architecture as the one that runs the iPhone 16 Pro — it’s the first A-series chip to run a MacBook.
Welcome to the Family
The MacBook Neo wouldn’t work unless it fit seamlessly into the broader Apple ecosystem. If you already use an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, the Neo performs the same integrative tasks as the rest of the MacBook family — AirDrop file transfers, universal clipboard sharing, and device handoff that make moving between Apple devices feel nearly effortless. The ticket might be a fraction of what the higher-end MacBook models command, but it gets you a full ride in the Apple universe all the same.
It’s quite possibly Apple’s most impactful new product launch since the iPad, and the preorder period for the new MacBook Neo is already here, with units beginning to arrive on March 11. Amazon’s price of $599 for the 13-inch Neo with 256GB of storage or $699 for 512GB of storage covers all four colors the laptop is offered in — Citrus, Blush, Indigo, and Silver.