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Apple's $599 MacBook Neo Brings iPhone A18 Pro to the Mac

Apple targets price-sensitive buyers by using an iPhone-class chip with fixed 8GB memory to reach a lower entry price.

Overview

  • Preorders opened March 4 with deliveries and in-store availability set for March 11 at $599, or $499 with the education discount.
  • The 13-inch notebook uses a binned A18 Pro (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU) and comes with 8GB unified memory that cannot be upgraded.
  • Storage is limited to 256GB or 512GB, with Touch ID available only on the $699 512GB configuration.
  • I/O and display constraints include two USB‑C ports (one USB 3, one USB 2), no MagSafe or Thunderbolt, support for a single 4K/60 external display, Wi‑Fi 6E, and an Apple-rated 16-hour battery.
  • Apple touts speed gains over Intel Core Ultra 5 PCs for everyday and on‑device AI tasks, while early benchmarks indicate CPU performance similar to the iPhone 16 Pro, reinforcing the Neo’s role for basic workflows.