The MacBook Neo Is Ready to Revolutionize the Personal Computer Market.
On Wednesday, Apple unveiled its long-awaited “budget” MacBook Neo laptop. To achieve its attractive price, the company made some compromises: it runs on an iPhone chip, not a Mac one; it only has 8GB of RAM; the keyboard isn’t backlit; and the base model doesn’t have Touch ID. But none of that matters when Apple is offering you a brand-new MacBook for just $599—or $499 if you buy it through the Education Store. (Considering the company doesn’t require proof of student or teacher status to purchase from the Education Store, the Neo is essentially a $500 MacBook. Incredible!)
If I were any other computer company, I’d be nervous right now. Apple is already a giant in the computing market, sure, but it’s not the largest . In fact, it ranks fourth, behind Dell (third), then HP and Lenovo, at least in terms of worldwide computer shipments. It currently outsells other major manufacturers, including Asus and Acer, despite its lineup starting at $999 (the price jumped to $1,099 with the release of the MacBook Air M5 ). MacBooks often have sales, especially on older models like the MacBook Air M1 and M2, but those machines remain undeniably expensive—and yet Apple still sells them in large quantities without a problem. How will that change now that buyers don’t have to wait for sales or hunt for deals on the used MacBook market? How will sales change when buyers can walk into an Apple Store and walk out with a basic MacBook for half the price?
The MacBook Neo could sell very well.
Anything is possible, and no one can predict the future with absolute accuracy, but I think Apple has just lit the fuse that will radically change the computing market, especially in three key areas: personal computers, education, and the enterprise.
Let’s start with the first point: if you’re in the market for a new laptop, you certainly have no shortage of options. You can opt for a PC, which can often be found much cheaper than comparable Macs, but Microsoft’s current strategy is odd: the company has attempted to unify the entire PC market under the umbrella of its AI capabilities, branding many computers as ” Copilot+ PC ,” including a dedicated Copilot key . The problem is, few users are truly interested in these AI features , and while many of these machines are well-designed , they’re overloaded with Microsoft’s AI overkill. Frankly, it’s a rather confusing situation. You might be willing to live with this if you’re a Windows fan or can’t afford a Mac.
It’s also worth considering the current state of Chromebooks : Google’s Chrome OS-based devices are often very affordable, providing users with essential tools for work and play. However, the overall user experience leaves much to be desired, especially if you’re accustomed to a traditional Mac or PC, or need programs that only run on one of these devices.
Macs remain, often relegated to the background due to their high cost. If you just need a device for browsing the web and answering emails, why spend $999 or more on a Mac when you can spend much less on a PC or Chromebook? But with MacBooks now much cheaper than before, that literally changes the game. As for AI, while Apple offers AI features, they are 100% optional and, in my opinion, more of a secondary feature than the core component Microsoft seems to want them to be. I can imagine many new customers choosing this option—especially students looking for an affordable way to complete schoolwork.
How the MacBook Neo Could Impact Education and Business
Then there’s the larger education market, once dominated by Apple. Now, this space is largely dominated by Chromebooks, and for good reason: these devices are inexpensive and designed to run Google services. If your school already uses Google, Chromebooks are an obvious choice: 93% of US school districts planned to purchase Chromebooks last year , and roughly 60% of Chromebooks are used in educational settings. I don’t think the MacBook Neo will change that—Chromebooks are too entrenched in the market—but it could undermine Google’s dominance. Any school looking for something more powerful than a Chromebook might find the $500 price tag more palatable than $999.
The situation is similar for the corporate sector: if your company is looking to purchase laptops for its employees and isn’t tied to a specific operating system, the MacBook Neo suddenly becomes an excellent option. If your employees can run macOS—or access productivity suites like Google or Microsoft through macOS—these affordable MacBooks represent excellent value. Companies are already buying MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros, which cost two or three times more than the Neo. For those looking to upgrade their hardware, this price point may be attractive.
Perhaps the MacBook Neo will be a moderate success for Apple, or maybe people will buy Macs regardless of the price—$499 or $1,099. But I think Apple has hit on something truly important here. Time will tell, but I think we’ll see a lot of these flashy machines in cafes, schools, and workplaces—and perhaps fewer Chromebooks and budget PCs as a result.