What is MacBook Neo?
MacBook Neo is a completely new product in the Apple lineup — the first budget laptop in the company's history. It was announced on 4 March 2026 at the Apple Special Experience event (simultaneously in New York, London and Shanghai) and became available from 11 March 2026.
Unlike all previous MacBooks which use M-series chips (M1, M2, M3, M4), MacBook Neo uses the A18 Pro chip — the same chip from the iPhone 16 Pro. It's the first time Apple has put a smartphone chip in a laptop, a decision that keeps the price low but comes with some trade-offs.
The design is completely new: uniform iPad-style bezels (no notch), 4 vivid colours (Citrus, Indigo, Blush, Silver) and a body of 60% recycled aluminium. At 1.22 kg, it's one of the lightest laptops in the Apple range.
Full specs
| Component | MacBook Neo (3,499 RON) | MacBook Neo (3,999 RON) |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple A18 Pro | Apple A18 Pro |
| RAM | 8GB (non-upgradable) | 8GB (non-upgradable) |
| Storage | 256GB SSD | 512GB SSD |
| Screen | 13" Liquid Retina, 2408×1506, 500 nits, 1 billion colours | |
| Battery | up to 16 hours (wireless web) | |
| Ports | 2× USB-C (one USB 3, one USB 2) + 3.5mm jack | |
| Touch ID | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (not Wi-Fi 7) | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | |
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD | |
| Weight | 1.22 kg (2.7 lbs) | |
| External monitors | 1 external monitor supported | |
| In the box | 20W USB-C adapter + USB-C cable (no MagSafe) | |
The 4 MacBook Neo colours
Apple tested 6 colours but launched 4. All have the same recycled aluminium, with an elegant matte finish.
Romania 2026 prices
* RON prices are estimates (EUR/RON rate). Check the current price on Apple.com/ro or eMAG.
What it lacks vs MacBook Air M4
MacBook Neo costs ~1,700 RON less than the Air M4 (5,199 RON). Here's what you sacrifice:
MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air M4 — direct comparison
| Criterion | MacBook Neo | MacBook Air M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | 3,499 RON | 5,199 RON |
| Chip | A18 Pro (iPhone chip) | M4 (Mac chip) |
| RAM | 8GB | 16GB |
| Base storage | 256GB | 512GB |
| Screen | 13" Retina, no notch | 13.6" Retina, notch |
| Battery | 16 hours | ~16-18 hours |
| MagSafe | No | Yes |
| Touch ID base | No (only at 3,999 RON) | Yes |
| External monitors | 1 | 2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Weight | 1.22 kg | 1.24 kg |
Who is MacBook Neo for?
- → You're a student and need a laptop for college — browser, docs, presentations, Zoom
- → You're coming from Windows and want into the Apple ecosystem without spending 5,000+ RON
- → You need a second laptop or something lightweight for travel
- → Your tasks are light: email, browsing, streaming, social media, notes
- → You want one of these colours — Citrus or Indigo aren't on other MacBooks
- → You do heavy multitasking with 20+ tabs and many apps at once — 8GB RAM can be felt
- → You need a dual-monitor setup at the office — Neo only supports 1 external monitor
- → You store a lot locally (video, photo, projects) — 256GB fills up quickly; pick the 512GB model
- → You do video editing, graphic design or music — MacBook Air M4 or Pro are much more suitable
- → You program professionally with large builds — 8GB fixed RAM will become limiting
- → You need Thunderbolt or USB 3 on both ports — Neo has one at USB 2
- → You want to upgrade from MacBook Air M2 or M3 — the performance gap doesn't justify the cost
Verdict: Is MacBook Neo worth it?
Yes, for the right audience. At 3,499 RON, MacBook Neo offers the Apple-quality screen, the exceptional 16-hour battery, the beautiful design and the vivid colours — things no Windows laptop at the same price can match.
The trade-offs are real: fixed 8GB RAM, one USB 2 port, no MagSafe, no Touch ID on the base model. If you understand these limits and your tasks are light, Neo is an excellent choice.
If your budget allows 5,200 RON, MacBook Air M4 is clearly better: 16GB RAM, M4, MagSafe, Touch ID, 512GB storage standard. But if 3,499 RON is your max, MacBook Neo does the job.