MacBook Neo Delivers 16-Hour Battery Life and Liquid Retina Display for $599

Apple introduced the MacBook Neo, a new entry-level MacBook focused on everyday performance, long battery life, and a colorful aluminum design. The company is positioning the device as a cost-effective way to enter the Mac ecosystem while still delivering key features like Apple silicon performance, Liquid Retina display, and the macOS experience that many users have come to rely on.

The new laptop features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, up to 16 hours of battery life, and an A18 Pro chip for fast daily tasks like browsing, streaming, photo editing, and using productivity apps. Apple also designed the device with portability in mind, as the MacBook Neo weighs 2.7 pounds and easily fits into a backpack or purse.

Apple described this device as its most affordable MacBook, with a starting price of $599 and an education price of $499.

“We’re incredibly excited to introduce MacBook Neo, which brings the magic of the Mac to the price of success,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.

He added that the laptop combines the performance of Apple silicon, a Liquid Retina display, and macOS features in a design designed to reach many users.

13-inch Liquid Retina display and aluminum design

The MacBook Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2408 by 1506, 500 nits of brightness, and support for a billion colors. Apple says the display delivers sharper text, brighter images, and improved visibility thanks to an anti-reflective coating that helps when working in different lighting conditions.

The laptop uses an aluminum enclosure with rounded corners and comes in four colors:

• Glush
• Indigo
• Silver
• Citrus

Apple has also color matched the Magic Keyboard and wallpapers to create a consistent design across devices.

A18 Pro chip and all-day battery life

Apple built the MacBook Neo around the A18 Pro chip, which allows the laptop to handle daily computing tasks quickly and efficiently. According to Apple, this device works 50 percent faster in common tasks such as web browsing compared to popular PCs using Intel Core Ultra 5 processors.

Apple also highlights strong AI performance.

• Up to 3x faster on-device AI loading
• Up to 2x faster photo editing functions
• 5-core integrated GPU for graphics and games
• 16-core Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence features

The laptop runs quietly because Apple designed it without a fan.

Battery life is still another big highlight. MacBook Neo delivers up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge, making it perfect for school, work, and all-day travel.

Camera, keyboard, and communication

MacBook Neo includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera and dual microphones that use beamforming to reduce background noise and improve voice clarity during calls. Apple has also added two side-firing speakers with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos to deliver rich sound when watching videos or listening to music.

The laptop includes Apple’s Magic Keyboard and a large Multi Touch trackpad that supports gestures such as swiping, scrolling, and pinching for easy navigation. Models with Touch ID allow users to quickly log in and authorize purchases with Apple Pay.

Connectivity, MacBook Neo features:

• Two USB C ports for accessories or displays
• Headphone jack for wired audio
• WiFi 6E
• Bluetooth 6

Price and availability

MacBook Neo starts at $599 in the United States and $499 for education customers, making it the lowest priced MacBook to date. The laptop is available in blue, indigo, silver, and citrus colors.

Customers can pre-order the device starting today, while Apple plans to start shipping and retail availability on March 11.