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Apple Launches $599 MacBook Neo With A18 Pro as Preorders Open for March 11 Delivery

Apple uses its A18 Pro phone chip to lower costs, targeting students and first-time Mac buyers.

Overview

  • The 13-inch aluminum laptop weighs 2.7 pounds and comes in silver, indigo, blush, and citrus with a 2,408 × 1,506 Liquid Retina display rated at 500 nits.
  • The base model includes 8GB RAM and 256GB storage for $599 with no Touch ID, while a $699 configuration doubles storage to 512GB and adds Touch ID; education pricing is $499 and $599.
  • Apple cites up to 50% faster everyday performance and up to 3x faster on‑device AI tasks versus bestselling PCs with Intel Core Ultra 5, and the Neo ships with macOS Tahoe and Apple Intelligence features.
  • Connectivity includes two USB‑C ports (one USB 3 with 4K/60Hz external display support and one USB 2) plus a headphone jack, with no MagSafe, fanless operation, and up to 16 hours of battery life.
  • Cost-conscious choices include fixed 8GB unified memory and a mechanical trackpad in place of Force Touch, while sustainability claims highlight 60% recycled content, 90% recycled aluminum, and 100% recycled cobalt in the battery.