MacBook · Apple Silicon · 2026
MacBook Neo
Apple’s surprise budget laptop. The colorful MacBook Neo puts a 13-inch Liquid Retina screen and the iPhone’s A18 Pro chip into a thin aluminum body in Silver, Blush, Citrus and Indigo. Apple calls it “the magic of Mac at a surprising price,” bringing Apple Intelligence to the entry level. The first Mac to run an A-series chip instead of Apple Silicon’s M-series.
First Mac powered by an A-series (iPhone) chip rather than an M-series.
In the Apple Store
Apple’s surprise budget laptop in person: the Indigo MacBook Neo on a store table, running this very site.
MacBook Neo: key facts
When was the MacBook Neo released?
The MacBook Neo arrived on March 11, 2026.
How much did the MacBook Neo cost?
The MacBook Neo launched at $699 in 2026, about $706 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple A18 Pro at 4.05 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, 13.0" Liquid Retina, 2408×1506 (219 ppi), 500 nits display.
Why does the MacBook Neo matter?
First Mac powered by an A-series (iPhone) chip rather than an M-series.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple A18 Pro · 4.05 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 6 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Display | 13.0" Liquid Retina, 2408×1506 (219 ppi), 500 nits |
| GPU | 5-core GPU |
| Ports | 2× USB-C (USB 3 10Gb/s + USB 2), 3.5 mm headphone |
| Weight | 1.23 kg (2.7 lb) |
| Dimensions | 0.50 × 11.71 × 8.12 in |
| Operating system | macOS |
| Released | March 11, 2026 |
| Discontinued | — |
| Launch price | $699 |
How the MacBook Neo compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 2.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 4.05 GHz, the clock is roughly 0.8× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 65,500 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $699 in 2026, about $706 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple MacBook Neo technical specifications, Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Open the MacBook Neo in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-14