Highlights
- Apple unveiled the MacBook Neo in India starting at ₹69,900.
- It comes with a 13‑inch Liquid Retina display, 8GB unified memory, 256GB/512GB SSD options, 1080p FaceTime HD camera, Dolby Atmos speakers, Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, and up to 16 hours of video playback.
- It will go on sale starting March 11 via Apple’s official website and authorised retail partners.
Apple has officially unveiled the new MacBook Neo, expanding its laptop lineup with a more affordable offering. The MacBook Neo was revealed during a special “experience” event in New York City. It is notably Apple’s first laptop powered by a chip that originally debuted in an iPhone, the A18 Pro processor. It was first seen on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
“We’re incredibly excited to introduce MacBook Neo, which delivers the magic of the Mac at a breakthrough price,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. “Built from the ground up to be more affordable for even more people, MacBook Neo is a laptop only Apple could create. It features a durable aluminum design in four beautiful colors; a brilliant Liquid Retina display; Apple silicon-powered performance; all-day battery life; a high-quality camera, mics, and speakers; a Magic Keyboard and Multi-Touch trackpad; and the intuitive and powerful features of macOS. There is simply no other laptop like it.”
MacBook Neo – Price and Availability in India
Globally, the MacBook Neo starts at $599, while education customers in the US can purchase it for $499. The $599 variant includes 256GB of storage and does not support Touch ID. A $699 model doubles the storage to 512GB and adds Touch ID functionality.
In India, the MacBook Neo is priced at Rs 69,900 for the base model with 8GB unified memory and 256GB SSD storage. The 512GB storage variant is priced at Rs 79,900. Students in India can avail of a Rs 10,000 education discount.
Pre-orders have officially opened and the device will go on sale starting March 11 via Apple’s official website and authorised retail partners.
The laptop is available in Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and Silver colour options.
MacBook Neo – Key Features
The MacBook Neo is powered by Apple’s A18 Pro chip, which the company claims delivers up to 50 percent faster performance in everyday tasks compared to a Windows PC equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor. For certain AI workloads, Apple says performance can be up to three times faster.
The laptop comes with 8GB of unified memory and offers either 256GB or 512GB SSD storage. Unlike the MacBook Air lineup, users cannot configure the MacBook Neo with additional RAM.
It sports a 13-inch Liquid Retina IPS display with a resolution of 2,408×1,506 pixels and a pixel density of 219ppi. The device includes Apple’s Magic Keyboard and the 512GB model supports Touch ID. Similar to the latest MacBook Air models, it runs on macOS Tahoe.
For video calls, the laptop features a 1080p FaceTime HD camera along with a dual-microphone array supporting Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum modes. Audio output is handled by dual speakers with Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio support.
Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6. The MacBook Neo offers two USB Type-C ports, one USB 3.0 port with support for DisplayPort 1.4 and one external 4K display, and one USB 2.0 port. Both ports support charging. A 3.5mm headphone jack is also present on the left edge.
The device is backed by a 36.5Wh battery and ships with a 20W USB Type-C adapter and a 1.5m USB Type-C charging cable. Apple claims up to 11 hours of web browsing or up to 16 hours of video streaming on a single charge. The MacBook Neo measures 297.5×206.4×12.7mm and weighs 1.23kg.
MacBook Neo – Gallery
Most Recycled Content in Any Apple Product
Apple says the MacBook Neo sets a new benchmark for sustainability within its product lineup. The company aims to achieve full carbon neutrality by 2030, and this device is part of that effort.
Apple’s press release states, “It features 60 percent recycled content — the highest percentage of any Apple product. This includes 90 percent recycled aluminum overall and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. The enclosure is manufactured with a material-efficient forming process that uses 50 percent less aluminum compared to traditional machining methods.”
The product webpage further adds, “MacBook Neo is made with a durable recycled aluminum enclosure that helps it reach 60 percent recycled content by weight, the most ever in any Apple product.”
MacBook Neo Limitations – RAM, Ports and Charging Trade-Offs
To achieve its aggressive starting price, the MacBook Neo includes certain compromises.
While users can upgrade storage and gain Touch ID by opting for the higher-priced model, RAM remains fixed at 8GB across both configurations. Previously, Apple had increased the base RAM on most Macs to 16GB, but the MacBook Neo returns to 8GB at this lower price point. Users requiring more memory will need to consider the MacBook Air instead.
The laptop also features two USB-C ports with different speeds. One supports USB 2.0 speeds up to 480Mb/s, while the other offers USB 3 speeds up to 10Gb/s along with DisplayPort support. The ports are not labeled, though the rear port provides faster performance.
Additionally, the MacBook Neo does not support MagSafe charging and can connect to only one external display.
With a starting price of $599 globally and Rs 69,900 in India, the MacBook Neo brings Apple silicon performance and a Liquid Retina display to a more accessible price bracket.
FAQS
Q1. What is the starting price of the MacBook Neo in India?
Answer. The base model with 8GB unified memory and 256GB SSD storage is priced at ₹69,900. The 512GB variant costs ₹79,900, with students eligible for a ₹10,000 discount.
Q2. Which processor powers the MacBook Neo?
Answer. It is Apple’s first laptop powered by the A18 Pro chip, originally introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Q3. What are the key features of the MacBook Neo?
Answer. A 13‑inch Liquid Retina display, 1080p FaceTime HD camera, Dolby Atmos speakers, Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, up to 16 hours of video playback, and macOS Tahoe.
Q4. When will the MacBook Neo be available in India?
Answer. Pre‑orders are open now, and the device will officially go on sale starting March 11 via Apple’s website and authorised retail partners.
Q5. What compromises come with the lower price point of MacBook Neo?
Answer. The MacBook Neo has fixed 8GB RAM (no upgrade option), lacks MagSafe charging, supports only one external display and includes two USB‑C ports with different speeds.