Apple launches its most affordable laptop ever budget MacBook Neo, starting at Rs 69,900
It’s official, Apple has launched the most affordable MacBook ever. It’s called the MacBook Neo and here’s everything you need to know about it.
Apple has officially launched the MacBook Neo, its first MacBook designed specifically for budget-conscious buyers. For over a decade, the entry-level MacBook experience started with the MacBook Air, but the MacBook Neo broke that threshold with a starting price of just Rs 69,900. For reference, the MacBook Air, which is also getting the update simultaneously, starts at Rs 1,19,900.
This low-cost MacBook has been floating around in rumors for some time now and, as luck would have it, Apple’s own document revealed – possibly by accident – the “Neo” branding just hours before the official announcement. The launch seemed imminent and now that it’s here, we can definitely say that the leaks were spot on, some more spot-on than others. But be that as it may, the idea is loud and clear: Apple wants to make its presence felt more than ever inside classrooms and homes around the world, spaces that have been largely dominated by low-cost Windows laptops and even Chromebooks from Asus, HP and others.
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MacBook Neo specs, features, and everything else you need to know
The MacBook Neo isn’t just cheap. It is also more colorful. Borrowing a page from the iMac and iPad Air playbook, Apple is launching the Neo in a vibrant palette of colors including classic silver as well as indigo, citrus and blush.
Despite the low price, Apple isn’t cutting corners on the premium experience. The Neo has a sleek, durable recycled aluminum casing and a fanless design, like the MacBook Air. It features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2408×1506 pixel resolution and 500 nits peak brightness, although to keep costs down, it lacks the premium high-refresh rate found on more expensive models.
Technically first, the MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip, instead of the standard M-series chips used in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the same chip found in the iPhone 16 Pro. It has a 6-core CPU with 2 performance cores and a 5-core GPU with 4 efficiency cores. The RAM is 8GB and the storage can go up to 512GB. The Neo has a 36.5 Wh battery and is capable of delivering up to 16 hours of video streaming on a single charge. Apple is shipping a 20W charger in the box.
To reach the low price, Apple deliberately made some cuts. The MacBook Neo has a non-backlit keyboard and two USB-C ports (USB 3 and USB 2 standard), eliminating the MagSafe charging port found on higher-end models. It comes with an HD camera and only two speakers, while the MacBook Air doubles things up to 12-megapixels and a quad speaker setup. Touch ID is an option, but it’s limited to high-end models with 512GB of storage. Base storage starts at 256GB.
MacBook Neo India price and availability
MacBook Neo price in India starts at Rs 69,900 for the version with 256GB storage, going up to Rs 79,900 for the version with 512GB storage. It is available for pre-order on Apple’s website starting today and will be available for purchase starting March 11, 2026.