Apple Launches Compact MacBook Neo Starting at $599

Key Takeaways

1. The MacBook Neo marks the return of a compact design, introduced at the ‘Special Apple Experience’ event in New York.
2. It runs on the A18 Pro chipset, featuring 6 CPU cores, 5 GPU cores, and a 16-core Neural Engine, differing from the M5 chipsets in other MacBook models.
3. The device has a 13-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2,408 x 1,506 pixels and a peak brightness of 500 nits, but has a smaller battery rated for about 11 hours of web browsing.
4. The MacBook Neo is priced starting at $599 for the 256 GB model and $699 for the 512 GB model, with options for Touch ID and four color choices.
5. Pre-orders for the MacBook Neo will begin shipping on March 11.

Almost eight years have gone by since Apple stopped making the 12-inch MacBook. Now, the compact design has made a comeback with the launch of the MacBook Neo. This new model was introduced today during the ‘Special Apple Experience’ event in New York, just a day after Apple updated the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro using the M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chipsets.

New Chipset Details

Unlike the other models, the MacBook Neo does not use the Apple M5 chipsets; instead, it runs on the A18 Pro. This chipset was first seen in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The A18 Pro in the MacBook Neo has 6 CPU cores and 5 GPU cores, along with a 16-core Neural Engine and a memory bandwidth of 60 GB/s. To sum it up, the MacBook Neo comes with fewer GPU cores than the last-generation Pro iPhones from Apple.

Display and Battery Life

Moving on, the MacBook Neo boasts a 13-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2,408 x 1,506 pixels, a 219 PPI, and a peak brightness of 500 nits, along with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. However, it only has a 36.5 Wh battery, which is why it’s rated for about 11 hours of web browsing. The entire setup is housed in a body that measures 297.5 x 206.4 x 12.7 mm and weighs 1.23 kg, making it comparable to the smaller MacBook Air (currently priced at $899 on Amazon), but it does come with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 Type-C ports.

Pricing and Availability

The starting price for the MacBook Neo is $599, which includes 256 GB of storage. Alternatively, there is a 512 GB version available for $699 that features Touch ID integrated into the power button. Both storage options include 8 GB of unified memory and come in four color choices: Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and Silver. Pre-orders are set to begin shipping on March 11.

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