MacBook Neo forces rethink of Windows PC strategy

Apple's new MacBook Neo wedges into the budget laptop market long dominated by Windows PCs and Chromebooks. Priced at $599 (or $499 with the education discount), it brings a trimmed-down version of Apple's premium build to a lower price point with trade-offs that are well managed.

The Neo runs an A18 iPhone chip rather than an M-series processor, making it less suited to high-end workflows but well equipped for everyday tasks, browsing, multitasking, and iPhone integrations like FaceTime, Messages and Phone Mirroring. The hardware is modest in practical ways: no key backlighting, a mechanical trackpad instead of haptic, and a less flashy display.

Still, those choices often outmatch budget Windows competitors. By pairing tightly with iPhones, the Neo targets kids, students, casual users and seniors, many of whom already own Apple phones, and serves as a clear entry point into Apple's ecosystem. Windows sits at a crossroads.

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