People are feeling the squeeze from inflation and tariffs, and even the technology industry is beginning to respond. Apple’s latest round of product announcements reflects that reality, with the company introducing a new entry-level laptop called the MacBook Neo. At one end of the spectrum are the more expensive MacBook Pro and Apple Studio Display. In the middle sit the new MacBook Air and iPad Air. At the other end are the more affordable iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo.

Neo could turn out to be this year’s biggest hit, sitting as the new entry point into Apple’s laptop line-up. It is considerably more affordable than the MacBook Air and, of course, the top-of-the-line MacBook Pro. Apple has priced the MacBook Neo at ₹69,900 in India, with an education price of ₹59,900. Pre-orders have opened and the laptop will be available from March 11.

Over the past several years, Apple has shown its products can prove cheaper to use over time, particularly when one considers the cost of apps and, more importantly, longevity. What the company has done this week is introduce two products that are more accessible from the outset.

The iPhone 17e works with MagSafe accessories, something many users had requested when the iPhone 16e appeared last year. Despite having only one rear camera, it can outperform many Android rivals thanks to its clarity and colour reproduction.

Similarly, the MacBook Neo, despite lacking a few MacBook Air features, remains a compelling option for many people. It is a Mac powered by an iPhone chip, the A18 Pro, a previous-generation processor that powered the iPhone 16 Pro. It is also Apple’s first laptop powered by a smartphone processor. Despite being limited to 8GB of RAM, it can comfortably handle the tasks most casual users and students rely on every day.

A Mac powered by an iPhone chip

The laptop is designed for everyday computing such as web browsing, streaming, document work and photo editing. The processor includes a five-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine used for machine learning and artificial intelligence features that run directly on the device. The chip also supports on-device artificial intelligence functions built into macOS and compatible applications.

Apple says the laptop can be up to 50 per cent faster for everyday tasks such as browsing compared with a best-selling PC laptop using Intel’s Core Ultra 5 processor. Certain on-device AI workloads can run up to three times faster, while tasks such as photo editing can be up to twice as fast.

The most noticeable visual change is the vibrant colour line-up. Apple will offer the laptop in silver, indigo, blush and a playful citrus yellow. The aluminium body has rounded edges and a thin profile similar to other recent MacBook models. At around 2.7 pounds (1.23kg), it weighs the same as the 13-inch MacBook Air, making it easy to slip into a bag.

It is also the first Mac with colour-matched keys, a subtle but fun design touch. It could be a small detail for a 50-year-old, but it may land differently for a 15-year-old. Even for someone in his forties writing this piece, it is something that stands out.

The MacBook Neo has a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2408 by 1506 pixels and brightness of up to 500 nits. The panel supports one billion colours and includes an anti-reflective coating designed to reduce glare in different lighting conditions. The screen is slightly smaller than the MacBook Air’s 13.6-inch display but remains sharp and bright for everyday work.

Connectivity is straightforward. There are two USB-C ports on the left-hand side — one USB 3.0 (supports DisplayPort) and the other USB 2.0. These ports do not support Thunderbolt. There is also a headphone jack alongside dual side-firing speakers that support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6.

For video calls, the laptop includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera set within the bezel and two microphones designed to reduce background noise.

The device runs macOS Tahoe, Apple’s latest operating system for Mac computers. It includes built-in apps such as Safari, Photos, Messages and FaceTime, along with Apple Intelligence tools.

The laptop also supports Apple’s Continuity features, allowing users to move tasks between a Mac and an iPhone. These include Handoff, Universal Clipboard and iPhone Mirroring, which allows an iPhone screen to be viewed and controlled directly from the Mac.

Built for students and everyday users

The real question, however, is how well the A18 Pro chip performs inside a computer. Most people simply do not need enormous computing power from a laptop. Web browsing, emailing, shopping and spreadsheets are easily within its reach. It is not designed for complex video editing, but it should manage light photo editing and simple video work without difficulty.

The MacBook Neo does not include a cooling fan. Apple says the laptop can provide up to 16 hours of battery life (video streaming) on a single charge thanks to a 36.5Wh battery.

Despite the lower price, the laptop does not feel cheaply built. The aluminium chassis, solid hinge and clean design give it the same visual quality associated with more expensive Macs. When placed next to a cheap Windows laptop or Chromebook in a shop, the difference is likely to be obvious.

If you look closely at the specifications, however, there are a few compromises. The base model with 256GB of storage does not include Touch ID, so users must spend a little more to unlock the laptop with their fingerprint. There is also no keyboard backlighting. The trackpad is not the haptic version found on higher-end MacBooks but a traditional moving, clicking design, although it remains large and supports Apple’s familiar Multi-Touch gestures.

Students are likely to be among the most interested buyers, from high school to university. Chromebooks have dominated the education sector for years, but many of those machines feel visibly compromised. With its education pricing and durable build, the Neo appears designed to challenge that market.

Turn the clock back about a decade and there was once a 12-inch MacBook. That machine arrived before Apple Silicon and struggled with efficiency and performance despite its higher price. With Apple’s modern chip design, laptops can now be smaller, quieter and far more efficient. The long-standing idea of a compact, capable Mac that does not cost a fortune has finally become realistic.

MacBook Neo could have an important impact on the laptop market. Paying a lower price no longer means accepting a device that feels cheap, underpowered or visually dull. Affordable laptops no longer need to be limited to uninspiring black or grey plastic machines.

If you belong to the iMac G3 generation, you may even experience a familiar feeling — the same sense of curiosity that came from seeing an Apple computer that looked playful and different.

The steady improvement in iPhone processors has allowed Apple to bring laptop pricing down without dramatically sacrificing performance. Apple’s senior vice-president of hardware engineering John Ternus said the MacBook Neo was “built from the ground up to be more affordable for even more people”.

The laptop is still more expensive than the cheapest Chromebooks or entry-level Windows PCs. Yet Apple’s offering delivers a more premium design, stronger materials and integrated software features. Apple says the MacBook Neo can run certain AI tasks up to three times faster than rival PC laptops.

MacBook Neo is available in blush, indigo, silver and citrus.

Why the MacBook Neo could be a compelling buy

Affordable entry into the Mac ecosystem: Starting at ₹69,900 — or ₹59,900 for students — the Neo becomes the most accessible way to buy a new Mac laptop.

Apple design at a lower price: Unlike many budget laptops, the Neo keeps Apple’s aluminium body, clean design and solid build quality.

A surprisingly capable processor: The A18 Pro chip, originally built for the iPhone 16 Pro, delivers strong performance for everyday computing and on-device AI tasks.

Long battery life: Apple says the laptop can deliver up to 16 hours of use on a single charge, helped by the efficiency of the smartphone-class processor.

Bright and sharp display: The 13-inch Liquid Retina screen offers 500 nits of brightness, one billion colours and a resolution of 2408 × 1506.

Light and portable: At about 2.7 pounds, the Neo weighs roughly the same as the 13-inch MacBook Air and is easy to carry.

Strong ecosystem advantages: Features such as Handoff, Universal Clipboard and iPhone Mirroring make it easy to move tasks between a Mac and an iPhone.

Better build than many budget laptops: Compared with many low-cost Windows PCs or Chromebooks, the Neo offers stronger materials and a more refined design.