The first deal we’ve seen on the MacBook Neo chops $10 off the price of Apple’s entry-level laptop.
That makes the computer — already an outrageous deal — even more attractive than ever. With its combination of power, performance and sleek Apple design, it’s an unbeatable laptop for everyday tasks.
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MacBook Neo deal: Apple tax? What Apple tax?!?
While Cupertino historically faced a fair bit of ribbing over the “Apple tax” — supposedly for charging premium prices for its products just because it can — the new MacBook Neo changed that.
Powered by Apple’s A18 chip and with a gorgeous aluminum chassis, the Neo wowed the tech world and put PC makers on notice. Even at its list price of $599 for the base model, it’s a steal. And the typical longevity of Apple devices makes it even more of a budget power play over time.
Since its launch in March, the Neo has proven incredibly effective at luring first-time buyers into the Apple ecosystem. In fact, its only problem is that it might be too popular!
Incredibly fast, incredibly affordable
Just how good is the MacBook Neo on sale in this deal? As we wrote in our review, Apple’s budget laptop “exceeds all expectations and defies all logic. It’s a $599 computer that’s not slow. The cheap laptop sports a light aluminum unibody with exceptional fit and finish, along with a gorgeous, bright Retina display. It runs on an iPhone chip, yet it’s incredibly fast with unbelievable battery life.”
- Read Cult of Mac’s review: The MacBook Neo is the fantastic new Mac for the masses
As the entry-level laptop in Apple’s lineup, the MacBook Neo is a straight-up deal for anyone who needs a laptop for normal activities like writing, going online, watching videos or listening to music. Like all Macs, it comes with Apple’s free suite of productivity software (Pages, Numbers and Keynote).
If you want to do serious video editing or other processor-intensive tasks you should consider bumping up to the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. But if you’re all about casual usage in a gorgeous and highly portable form factor, this MacBook Neo deal is for you.
Two models of MacBook Neo: 256GB and 512GB
Apple also kept the product line simple. It comes in only two models:
- One with 256GB of storage, which lists for $599.
- A second with 512GB of storage and a built-in Touch ID sensor, which goes for $699.
Both tiers come in the same four colors: citrus, blush, indigo and silver.
With this MacBook Neo deal, you can currently get the 256GB model in several of those colors for just $589.
Buy from: Amazon
The MacBook Neo is Apple’s entry-level laptop. It boasts Apple’s signature all-day battery life and ease of use. It can swim through web browsing, document editing and other basic tasks. But if you want higher specs than its 8GB memory or the maximum 512GB storage, the MacBook Air is a better choice.
- 16-hour battery life
- Comes in four bright, fun colors
- Thin and light design
- No MagSafe charging
- USB 3 and USB 2 ports
- No support for high-resolution displays
Upgrade to the 512GB model with this MacBook Neo deal
If you want more storage room and that built-in Touch ID sensor, you can upgrade to the pricier model. It’s currently available in all four colors for just $689.
Buy from: Amazon
The MacBook Neo is Apple’s entry-level laptop, and this upgrade model comes with a 512GB SSD. It boasts Apple’s signature all-day battery life and ease of use. It can swim through web browsing, document editing and other basic tasks. But if you want higher specs than its 8GB memory, the MacBook Air is a better choice.
- 16-hour battery life
- Comes in four bright, fun colors
- Thin and light design
- No MagSafe charging
- USB 3 and USB 2 ports
- No support for high-resolution displays
Are you eligible for Apple’s educational discount?
The only way you can land a better deal on the MacBook Neo is if you qualify for Apple’s educational discount. That cuts $100 off the retail pricing on either model. Not sure if you qualify? Read Cult of Mac’s guide: How to save big bucks with Apple’s educational discount.
Lewis Wallace is the managing editor of Cult of Mac and author of our weekly newsletter, The Weekender.
He’s a San Francisco-based writer and editor specializing in technology and culture. He loves his iPhone, hates Siri, and appreciates any hardware that combines form and function.
Prior to Cult of Mac, he juggled words and ideas as culture editor at Wired.com, homepage editor at TechTV, news product manager at NBCi, copy editor at PC World, reporter at The (Hayward) Daily Review and editor in chief of EveryBody’s News in Cincinnati.
He earned a bachelor of general studies degree with a journalism certificate from the University of Cincinnati. While in school, he worked as the entertainment editor of The News Record and as editor in chief of Clifton Magazine.
He’s also a bass player, who’s recorded and performed around the United States with Those Darn Accordions, The Electric Boogie Dawgz and The Mad Maggies. When not writing, editing or laying down bass lines, he plays darts and serves on the board of the San Francisco Darts League.
