The Colorful MacBook Neo Is Apple’s Cheapest Laptop Ever

Interestingly, this cheaper MacBook Neo comes a day after Apple announced an update to the MacBook Air that creates a bit more space in the lineup for this base MacBook. The MacBook Air now starts with 512 GB of storage and 16 GB of RAM and costs $1,099, meaning there’s less crossover with the entry-level MacBook.

The use of the iPhone chip means this MacBook likely only supports one external monitor, though Apple hasn’t confirmed this yet. There’s a 1080p camera, two USB-C ports, a Touch ID sensor, side-firing speakers with Dolby Atmos, and a headphone jack. Apple claims up to 16 hours of battery life.

This machine won’t be the best option for demanding tasks like gaming, or photo and video editing, but it will be perfectly suited to web browsing and standard-fare tasks like document creation. Think of it like a souped-up Chromebook that’s more versatile. In fact, Apple may very well be targeting the education market with this MacBook.

The last time Apple had a third MacBook in the lineup was the 12-inch model from 2015. Rather than an entry-level option, however, it was positioned as a more advanced, ultra-thin device, costing more than the MacBook Air at the time. That model was discontinued in 2019. This new MacBook, however, uses the same playbook as the current iPad lineup, which is broken into three segments with the same branding.

This is a developing story.