Featured Image Credit: Bloomberg / Contributor via Getty
Apple has shocked a lot of people in the last year due to the surprising number of consumer friendly decisions it has made, yet its best might have just been revealed in the form of a new budget version of the MacBook.
It was already a lot when several versions of the last Mac lineup launched with lower prices than their predecessors despite offering substantial performance increases, and that was partnered up with a new iPhone launch that many considered to be one of Apple's best-ever deals.
Apple has earned itself a bit of an unsavory reputation over the years for overpricing its products, and it's hard to argue against when something as simple as wheels for a Mac Pro can cost as much as a real-life car.
That has changed in recent years though as many of Apple's biggest launches are even considered by some to be undervalued for what they offer, and the latest reveal encapsulates that more than most.
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If you've been paying attention to Apple week you'll have noticed all of the new and exciting products that were revealed, yet one in particular was on the lips of many fans as it would represent a first for the company.
The last few MacBook Air launches have already been seen as incredible value pick ups in the laptop space, but the launch of a new budget-friendly 'MacBook Neo' could offer the best price-to-performance ratio of the lot according to some tech experts — proving to be the perfect choice for students especially. The laptop is also interestingly the cheapest laptop the tech giant has ever released.
"This new $599 MacBook Neo is STUPIDLY good value for money," writes YouTuber and tech lover Arun "Mrwhosetheboss" Maini, and it's hard not to agree when looking at the specs.
Not only is the MacBook Neo made of premium aluminium – which reportedly feels 'VERY solid' – but it features a 13" Liquid Retina display, an impressive 16-hour battery life, and it's all powered by the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro.
This new $599 MacBook Neo is STUPIDLY good value for money:
— Arun Maini (@Mrwhosetheboss) March 4, 2026
-Still made of aluminium (feels VERY solid)
-13 inch Display that still looks great
-Powered by A18 Pro chip (but still feels fast)
-16 hour battery life
-No TouchID on base model
-No keyboard backlighting (this one… pic.twitter.com/QDIuODpfhA
This, of course, isn't as impressive or powerful as the latest M-series MacBooks but it doesn't have to be for most people, and if you're someone who doesn't use performance-intensive apps or need the highest specs then this should be more than enough for you.
What's more, Apple's much-celebrated student discount allows high school and university students to take this down to a jaw-dropping $499, which frankly feels like a no-brainer compared to the other options on the market right now, leading some to believe that this could be the company's best-seller in a couple of years.
oh man. they’re gonna sell 5 billion of these things https://t.co/cVStGFGnB7
— frye (@___frye) March 4, 2026
"Oh man, they're gonna sell 5 billion of these things," wrote one user on X following the reveal, with another declaring that they "really need a new laptop but all the prices were putting me off, this is an insane deal at first glance I might actually order lmao."
