Apple launched the MacBook Neo earlier this month, shaking up the budget laptop market. The $599 13-inch device — or $499 for students — has raised questions about its potential impact on Google Chromebooks and Windows PCs. It’s especially appealing to students eager to join the Apple ecosystem but previously deterred by higher prices.
Ananya Gairola for Benzinga:
Olivier Blanchard, research director at the Futurum Group, told Benzinga in an emailed statement, “Apple’s new MacBook Neo laptop is designed to make the Mac experience more accessible to Windows PC users who are envious of the MacBook ecosystem.”
He said that “the most critical aspect” of MacBook Neo isn’t specifications but its aggressive pricing, which is likely to create “ripple” across the market.
The Futurum analyst also highlighted the timing, saying that given the current rise in supply chain and memory costs, Apple’s pricing feels “more like a gut punch to one of the PC market’s most valuable price tiers.”
He concluded by saying that with MacBook Neo’s entry, Microsoft may feel some pressure, but Google and its premium Chromebooks could face the bigger risk.
MacDailyNews Take: When a product makes you want to buy it — even though you don’t need it and you know it’s not meant for you — you know it’s going to be a hit. MacBook Neo is already remaking the market segment in which it competes.
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The only mistake I think Apple made was not releasing an orange Neo following up on the success of the orange iPhone 17 Pro/Max in China. They’ll fix it next year.
There are Chromebooks that are still much less expensive than the Neo. Schools have to meet a budget so they just want something that’s as cheap as possible. They don’t care about build quality or colors. Only the cost. Junk is good enough. I’m talking about the early grades. Maybe high-school or college is different. Apple may have better luck with the older grades in schools.
The Neo seems very capable in many ways and considering it uses an iPhone processor, that is very impressive.
I hear the Neo is selling very well, so it will be interesting to see who is buying it. Schools or individuals.