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iPhone Chip Powers New Budget MacBook Neo
3 Jul
Summary
- MacBook Neo starts at $699, a new budget entry point for Apple.
- Neo uses the A18 Pro chip, previously in the iPhone 16 Pro.
- MacBook Air now starts at $1,299, moving out of budget territory.
Apple's lowest-cost MacBook, the Neo, now starts at $699, a price point that signifies a new definition of 'entry-level' for the company. This budget-friendly option leverages the A18 Pro chip, a processor previously exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro, demonstrating Apple's strategy to repurpose its mobile silicon for laptops. This allows the Neo to compete effectively with budget Windows laptops and Chromebooks, targeting students and casual users.
In contrast, the MacBook Air has significantly increased in price, with its M5-powered model now starting at $1,299. This positions the Air as a more premium option, clearly separate from the Neo's budget focus. The Neo offers 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage as standard, while the Air boasts 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD. Despite the Neo's use of an older chip and fewer premium features like Thunderbolt ports and MagSafe charging, its battery life and display quality remain competitive with the Air.
