MacBook Neo: Apple’s $599 laptop that could shake up the budget market

Apple may have just changed the entry-level laptop market with the release of the MacBook Neo, its most affordable laptop ever, starting at $599. Early reviews from The Verge and Tom's Hardware suggest the device could become a serious competitor to budget and midrange Windows laptops.

According to reviewers, the new machine combines premium build quality, a strong display, and surprisingly capable performance, making it appealing even to users who normally prefer PCs.

A surprising chip choice

One of the most unusual aspects of the MacBook Neo is its processor.

Instead of using Apple’s traditional laptop chips from the M-series, the device runs on the A18 Pro, the same chip used in the iPhone 16 Pro.

This move allowed Apple to dramatically reduce the price while still keeping the laptop efficient and capable. The chip also supports Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI features.

The base configuration includes:

• 8 GB unified memory
• 256 GB SSD storage
• 13-inch Liquid Retina display
• aluminum unibody chassis
• Force Touch trackpad

Reviewers say the device feels more expensive than it actually is, thanks to Apple’s rigid aluminum construction and clean design.

Display, sound, and trackpad stand out

The Verge highlighted the display quality as one of the laptop’s strongest features.

The screen reaches up to 500 nits of brightness, offering vibrant colors and good readability even outdoors.

The stereo speakers also surprised reviewers, delivering louder and clearer audio than many competing laptops in the same price range.

Another standout is the Force Touch trackpad, which provides uniform clicking across the entire surface — unlike many laptops where only the lower portion physically presses.

This makes navigation and gestures feel closer to premium models like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

Performance and battery life

A key question was whether a smartphone-class chip could handle a full laptop workload.

According to testing from Tom's Hardware, the answer appears to be yes.

In everyday tasks such as:

• web browsing with many tabs
• office applications
• streaming 4K video
• light video editing

the laptop runs smoothly and quietly. The device is completely fanless, which means silent operation.

Gaming performance was also better than expected. In Cyberpunk 2077, running at 1637×1024 resolution with MetalFX scaling, reviewers recorded an average of about 32 FPS — playable for casual gaming.

Battery life is another strong point. In mixed usage tests (web, video, office work), the laptop lasted about 13.5 hours.

That is only slightly shorter than the MacBook Air M3, despite the much lower price.

What reviewers are saying

Both publications agree that the new device could significantly disrupt the lower end of the laptop market.

The Verge described it as “a Mac for the masses,” highlighting the premium feel and balanced hardware.

Meanwhile, Tom's Hardware called it a “game-changing budget laptop,” praising the aluminum design and overall value.

Experts believe the device could become an ideal choice for:

• students
• office workers
• users switching from Windows to macOS

In brief

The MacBook Neo, priced from $599, is Apple’s most affordable laptop and the first to use the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro. Reviews from The Verge and Tom's Hardware praise its bright display, powerful speakers, aluminum build, excellent trackpad, and ~13.5-hour battery life. Performance is strong enough for everyday work and even light gaming, with Cyberpunk 2077 running around 32 FPS. Many reviewers believe it could become a major competitor to budget Windows laptops and a breakthrough device for Apple’s entry-level lineup.