Apple has introduced the MacBook Neo, a new 13-inch laptop positioned as its most affordable MacBook to date. In the United Arab Emirates, pricing starts at AED 2,599 for the base model, while the 512GB configuration is priced from AED 2,999. Pre-orders are now open, with retail availability beginning March 11 in 30 countries and regions.
The MacBook Neo centers on a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2408 by 1506, up to 500 nits of brightness, and support for one billion colors. An anti-reflective coating is included to improve visibility in varied lighting conditions. On paper, these specifications place the display comfortably within the upper tier of laptops in this price range, particularly in terms of brightness and color support.
Powering the MacBook Neo is the A18 Pro chip, part of Apple’s in-house silicon lineup. The base configuration includes a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 8GB of unified memory, and a 256GB SSD, while the higher-tier option increases storage to 512GB. Apple’s internal benchmarks indicate performance improvements over select Intel Core Ultra 5 systems in everyday tasks such as web browsing and document editing, along with faster processing for certain on-device AI workloads. As with all vendor-supplied benchmarks, real-world results will depend on workload and software optimization. The system is fanless, which allows for silent operation during typical use.
Battery life is rated at up to 16 hours for wireless web browsing or video playback, based on testing at moderate brightness levels. Actual performance will vary depending on usage patterns, connectivity, and background applications.
The device features an aluminum enclosure and weighs 2.7 pounds, maintaining the slim, portable profile associated with the MacBook line. Color options include blush, indigo, silver, and citrus. According to Apple, the MacBook Neo incorporates 60 percent recycled content by mass, including 90 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery.
Hardware features include a 1080p camera, dual microphones with beamforming, and dual side-firing speakers that support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. The Magic Keyboard and a large Multi-Touch trackpad are standard, with Touch ID integrated for secure login and purchase authorization. Connectivity includes two USB-C ports—one supporting USB 3 and external display output, the other USB 2—along with a headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 6.
The MacBook Neo runs macOS Tahoe, which includes built-in apps such as Safari, Messages, Photos, and FaceTime. Apple Intelligence features are integrated into the operating system, offering writing tools, live translation, and other AI-supported functions. These features are currently in beta and may vary by region and language.
With a starting price of AED 2,599 in the UAE, and AED 2,999 for the 512GB model, the MacBook Neo enters the midrange laptop segment with a focus on portability, battery life, and ecosystem integration. For buyers seeking a macOS laptop under AED 3,000, it represents a lower-cost entry point compared to previous MacBook models, though storage and memory configurations remain limited at the base level.
