MacBook Neo is Officially Launched: Apple's Entry Level Laptop with A18 Pro chip.

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Apple has once again become attention in the global laptop market with the launch of the MacBook Neo, a device specifically designed to reach a wider user segment.

Officially announced on March 4, 2026, this laptop marks Apple's strategic move to offer a more affordable Mac option, particularly for students and users on a budget.

Pre-orders have been open since the announcement date, and general availability and shipping will begin on March 11, 2026.

The MacBook Neo is a major highlight because it is the first Mac to not use an M-series chip, but instead is powered by an A-series chip, the Apple A18 Pro.

As an entry-level Mac, the MacBook Neo is specifically targeted at low-end users and students, offering an easier entry into the Apple ecosystem.

Apple took this step to compete with Chromebooks and low-cost Windows laptops that have dominated the affordable device market.

This A-series chip allows Apple to keep production costs down while still delivering adequate performance for a wide range of daily activities, from web browsing and document creation to using creative apps and AI features.

John Ternus, Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, stated that the MacBook Neo was built from the ground up to be more affordable for more people, making it a laptop that only Apple could create.

Apple claims that the MacBook Neo offers significant performance.

This laptop is said to be 50 percent faster for web browsing and three times faster in on-device AI tasks compared to the best-selling PC laptop using the Intel Core Ultra 5.

This capability is supported by a 16-core Neural Engine that enables faster Apple Intelligence features, including summarizing notes or editing photos with the Clean Up feature.

It's built to be Apple's lowest-carbon MacBook, with 60 percent recycled content, including 90 percent recycled aluminum throughout and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery.

Features like Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and iPhone Mirroring allow users to work efficiently across their Apple devices.

Despite being positioned as an affordable laptop, the MacBook Neo comes with attractive specifications and signature Apple features.

Here are the full details:

• Processor: Powered by the Apple A18 Pro chip with a 6-core CPU (two performance cores, four efficiency cores), a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. This is the first Mac to use an A-series chip.
• Display: 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2408 x 1506 pixel resolution at 220 ppi, 500 nits brightness, and support for 1 billion colors. This display features a notch-less design.
• Memory and Storage: Equipped with 8GB of unified memory. Available in 256GB or 512GB SSD storage configurations. The base 256GB model does not have Touch ID, while the 512GB model does.
• Design and Colors: Features a durable aluminum body design with rounded corners, similar to the MacBook Air models. The keyboard matches the chassis color. Available in four color options: Silver, Blush, Citrus, and Indigo.
• Ports and Connectivity: Features two USB-C ports (one supports USB 3 speeds with DisplayPort 1.4, and one supports USB 2 speeds) and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6 are supported. Charging is done through one of the USB-C ports.
• Camera and Audio: Features a 1080p FaceTime HD camera. It features a dual speaker system that supports Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, as well as dual microphones with directional beamforming.
• Battery: Offers up to 16 hours of battery life.
• Weight: Weighs approximately 2.7 pounds (approximately 1.23 kg).

The MacBook Neo is Apple's cheapest laptop ever, starting at US$599.

For eligible education customers, the price of the MacBook Neo drops to US$499.

Pre-orders for the MacBook Neo have been open since March 4, 2026, and units will be generally available and begin shipping on March 11, 2026.