Apple’s new entry-level MacBook Neo is apparently a hit with first-time laptop users or Windows-switchers, as the company’s CEO, Tim Cook, today said the Mac just had its “best launch week ever for first-time Mac customers.”
Apple unveiled its new MacBook Neo on March 4, and the new budget Apple laptop hit store shelves last Wednesday, March 11.
The new MacBook Neo is the first Mac to be powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro debuted in the 2024 iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models. The chips boasts an integrated 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine to support on-device Apple Intelligence features .
The MacBook Neo features a notchless Liquid Retina display with iPad-style bezels, boasting a 2408-by-1506 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and support for 1 billion colors
The MacBook Neo also offers a 16-hour battery life and a 1080p front-facing camera.
The MacBook Neo uses Apple’s Magic Keyboard, while a large Multi-Touch trackpad allows users to click, scroll, swipe, and pinch anywhere on its surface. While the MacBook Neo model with Touch ID enables quick and secure login authentication, and the ability to authorize purchases using Apple Pay.
The MacBook Neo is now the entry-level MacBook. starting at $599. ($99 for education customers.) A model with 256GB of storage and the Magic Keyboard can be had for $599, or 512GB of storage with the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID for $699. It is available in four colors: Silver, Indigo, Blush, and Citrus.
Apple also released new M5-powered MacBook Air models, as well as MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips last week, so it was a big week overall for new Macs. That said, it looks like it was a heckuva debut for Apple’s new low-end MacBook.