{"id":3099163,"date":"2026-03-04T06:57:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/?p=3099163"},"modified":"2026-03-04T09:08:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:08:00","slug":"meet-the-macbook-neo-apples-colorful-answer-to-the-chromebook-starting-at-599","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2026\/03\/04\/meet-the-macbook-neo-apples-colorful-answer-to-the-chromebook-starting-at-599\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the MacBook Neo, Apple&#8217;s colorful answer to the Chromebook, starting at $599"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p id=\"speakable-summary\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apple on Wednesday unveiled a low-cost, entry-level laptop dubbed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/newsroom\/2026\/03\/say-hello-to-macbook-neo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">MacBook Neo<\/a>, marking the first time the company has targeted a similar audience as Google did with its Chromebook.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting at $599, the MacBook Neo is aimed at students or users whose work doesn&#8217;t involve intensive workflows like video editing or 3D rendering. The 13-inch MacBook Neo comes in four colors: silver, blush, citrus, and indigo. The base model comes with 256GB of storage, and an upgrade to the $699 model gets you 512GB of storage, plus Touch ID. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apple is seemingly able to offer the Neo at this price point because the laptop runs on the A18 Pro chip, which powers the iPhone 16 Pro models, rather than the more powerful, pricey <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2026\/03\/03\/apple-unveils-m5-pro-and-m5-max-chips-with-new-fusion-architecture\/\">M5 chip<\/a> that the latest MacBook Air uses.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"383\" width=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?w=680\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3099165\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg 1384w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=150,85 150w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=768,433 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=680,383 680w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=1200,676 1200w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=1280,721 1280w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=430,242 430w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=720,406 720w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=900,507 900w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=800,451 800w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=668,376 668w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=665,375 665w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=1095,617 1095w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=708,399 708w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Apple-MacBook-Neo-lifestyle-01-260304_big.jpg.medium_2x.jpg?resize=50,28 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-block-image__credits\"><strong>Image Credits:<\/strong>Apple<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Powered by A18 Pro, MacBook Neo can fly through everyday tasks, from browsing the web and streaming content, to editing photos, exploring creative hobbies, or using AI capabilities across apps,&#8221; Apple wrote in a press release. &#8220;In fact, it\u2019s up to 50 percent faster for everyday tasks like web browsing, and up to 3x faster when running on-device AI workloads like applying advanced effects to photos, compared to the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The laptop comes with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera and dual microphones, plus speakers that fire from each side of the laptop to support Spatial Audio. Apple says the laptop&#8217;s battery can last up to 16 hours on a single charge, which is delivered via one of two USB-C ports. The Neo also has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The MacBook Neo uses a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, which can support similar levels of gameplay and on-device AI tasks as a recent iPhone. It&#8217;s fan-less, like the MacBook Air, and can operate silently.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the ongoing RAM shortage makes Apple&#8217;s more advanced models like the MacBook Pro up to $400 more expensive than their predecessors, the MacBook Neo has the potential to appeal to users who don&#8217;t need so many technical perks&#8230; or, for those of us who simply cannot resist a pink MacBook.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-techcrunch-inline-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"inline-cta__wrapper\">\n\t\t<div class=\"inline-cta__logo\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"41\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 41 20\"><path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M0 0v6.452h7.097V20h7.097V6.452h6.451V0zM27.742 13.548V6.452h-7.097V20h20v-6.452zM40.645 0H27.742v6.452h12.903z\"\/><\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"inline-cta__flag\">Techcrunch event<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"inline-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-cta__header-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-cta__header-container-desktop\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"inline-cta__header has-h-5-font-size\">Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"inline-cta__subheader\"><br>Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $410.<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-cta__header-container-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"inline-cta__header has-h-5-font-size\">Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"inline-cta__subheader\"><br>Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $410.<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-cta__event-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__location\">San Francisco, CA<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__separator\">|<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"inline-cta__date\">October 13-15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-cta__register-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a data-ctaText=\"REGISTER NOW\" data-destinationLink=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/events\/tc-disrupt-2026\/?utm_source=tc&amp;utm_medium=ad&amp;utm_campaign=disrupt2026&amp;utm_content=tc_inline_eb&amp;promo=tc_inline_eb&amp;display=\" data-event=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/events\/tc-disrupt-2026\/?utm_source=tc&amp;utm_medium=ad&amp;utm_campaign=disrupt2026&amp;utm_content=tc_inline_eb&amp;promo=tc_inline_eb&amp;display=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">REGISTER NOW<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Apple is offering the MacBook Neo at a more affordable price point by using an A18 Pro chip, which is used in the iPhone 16 Pro.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133574468,"featured_media":3099164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tc-featured-article":false,"tc-header-option":"","tc-breaking-news":false,"tc-article-brief":false,"carmot_uuid":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2026-03-04T14:57:22Z","apple_news_api_id":"5eb9bc50-35f2-4fa9-98d6-94f74a72f58e","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2026-03-04T17:02:59Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AXrm8UDXyT6mY1pT3SnL1jg","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"tc_subtitle":"","tc_featured_image_disabled":false,"tc_exclude_from_rss_feed":false,"tc_exclude_from_content_rivers":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[577052803,449223024],"tags":[291,577370630],"tc_region":[],"tc_event":[],"tc_storyline_tax":[],"coauthors":[576885459],"class_list":["post-3099163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gadgets","category-hardware","tag-apple","tag-macbook-neo"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.1 (Yoast SEO v25.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Meet the MacBook Neo, Apple&#039;s colorful answer to the Chromebook, starting at $599 | TechCrunch<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Apple is offering the MacBook Neo at a more affordable price point by using an A18 Pro chip, which is used in the iPhone 16 Pro.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2026\/03\/04\/meet-the-macbook-neo-apples-colorful-answer-to-the-chromebook-starting-at-599\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Meet the MacBook Neo, Apple&#039;s colorful answer to the Chromebook, starting at $599 | TechCrunch\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Apple is 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