Apple today expanded its laptop lineup by introducing the MacBook Neo, a new entry-level device priced at Rs 69,900 in India. This launch follows a week of multiple product announcements from the company. The MacBook Neo targets students and casual users who want the Mac experience without the high price tag of the Air or Pro models. It features a portable 13-inch design and uses a processor typically found in iPhones to keep costs low while maintaining performance.
Key Takeaways
- Price: Starts at Rs 69,900 in India ($599 in the US).
- Processor: Uses the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro.
- Design: 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a fanless aluminum body.
- Colors: Available in Indigo, Citrus, Blush, and Silver.
- Battery: Offers up to 16 hours of usage on a single charge.
- Availability: Pre-orders start today with sales beginning March 11.
A new direction for the Mac lineup
The MacBook Neo represents a shift in how Apple builds its laptops. Instead of using the M-series chips found in the MacBook Airs or Pros, this model runs on the A18 Pro chip. This is the same hardware that runs the iPhone 16 Pro. While it is a mobile chip, it provides enough speed for web browsing, document editing, and streaming high-definition video.
Apple made specific choices to reach this lower price. The laptop has a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with 500 nits of brightness. It does not include ProMotion or the higher brightness levels found on more expensive models. The keyboard is a standard Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, but it does not have backlighting. This omission helps distinguish it from the MacBook Air M5, which also launched this week at a higher price of Rs 1,19,900.
Design and Portability
The laptop weighs about 1.23 kg and has a slim profile. It uses a fanless design, which means it runs silently even during heavy tasks. Apple is offering this model in four colors: Indigo, Citrus, Blush, and Silver. The keyboard keys even match the color of the chassis for a unified look. For connectivity, the device includes two USB-C ports and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It lacks the MagSafe charging port seen on the Air and Pro lines, meaning users will charge through one of the USB-C ports.
Inside, the base model comes with 8GB of unified memory and 256GB of storage. This memory amount is the minimum needed to run Apple Intelligence features, which are fully supported on this device. The 1080p FaceTime HD camera sits at the top of the display for video calls.
Market impact in India
By pricing the MacBook Neo at Rs 69,900, Apple is directly competing with mid-range Windows laptops and high-end Chromebooks. This is the lowest price for a brand-new MacBook in years. It fills the gap left after the older MacBook Air models were discontinued. This pricing makes the Mac ecosystem more accessible to Indian students and households who previously found the Air models too expensive.
Key Specifications & Pricing
- Starts in India at Rs. 69,990 for 256GB SSD (No TouchID)
- Rs. 79,990 for 512GB SSD with TouchID
- A18 Pro Chip (6‑core CPU, 5‑core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)
- 8GB RAM
- Colors: Silver, Indigo, Blush, and Citrus
- 1080p HD Camera
- 13-inch Liquid Retina Display, 500-nits, 10-bit, 2408×1506 resolution
- Two side-firing speakers, dual mics
- Two USB‑C ports (One USB3 & one USB2), 3.5mm headphone jack
- Support for one external display 4K @ 60Hz max resolution
- Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 6
- Recycled Aluminium body, Weighs 1.23 kg
- 20W USB‑C Power Adapter
- 16 Hour Battery Life, built-in 36.5‑watt‑hour lithium‑ion battery
- Available from 11 March
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Does the MacBook Neo support Apple Intelligence?
A1. Yes, the A18 Pro chip and 8GB of memory allow the MacBook Neo to run all local and cloud-based Apple Intelligence features.
Q2. Is the keyboard on the MacBook Neo backlit?
A2. No, to keep the price low, Apple has not included a backlight for the keyboard on this specific model.
Q3. What is the battery life of the MacBook Neo?
A3. Apple says the device can last up to 16 hours on a single charge for standard tasks like web browsing or video playback.
Q4. Can I use a MagSafe charger with this laptop?
A4. No, the MacBook Neo does not have a MagSafe port. It uses USB-C for both charging and data transfer.
