Lat week, Apple had a busy week of announcements with updates across the iPhone, iPad and Mac lineup. The biggest talking point is something entirely new though. Apple has introduced the MacBook Neo, a lower priced MacBook that brings macOS to a much more accessible price.
Alongside that launch, Apple also revealed the iPhone 17e, a refreshed iPad Air, updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, plus improvements to the Studio Display.
MacBook Neo Brings macOS to a Lower Price
The MacBook Neo is now the most affordable laptop Apple has ever released. It starts at £599, and is designed for people who need a simple laptop for everyday use where other MacBooks might be a bit overkill.
Instead of the usual M series chip found in other Macs, the Neo runs on the A18 Pro processor first introduced in recent iPhones. That might sound unusual for a laptop, yet it is still powerful enough for the sort of tasks many people use their computers for each day.
Web browsing, streaming, document work and video calls should all run comfortably. Apple says the chip can even handle photo editing and basic AI tasks without difficulty.
The MacBook Neo has a 13 inch Liquid Retina display and an aluminium body. Battery life is rated for up to sixteen hours of video playback, which should easily cover a full day of work or study.
To reach the lower price, there are some limitations. The Neo comes with 8GB of memory and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. It also has fewer connectivity options than higher end Macs.
None of that is surprising though. The goal is clearly to offer a Mac that competes with entry level Windows laptops and Chromebooks while still running macOS. For students and casual users who mainly need a reliable laptop, the Neo could end up being a very popular option.
The iPhone 17e Adds Practical Upgrades
Apple also announced the iPhone 17e.
The design is similar to the previous model but several useful upgrades have been added. The phone now runs on Apple’s A19 chip, which brings faster performance and improved AI capabilities.
MagSafe has also been introduced on the 17e. This allows the phone to work with Apple’s magnetic accessories and enables faster wireless charging. Another welcome change is storage. The base model now starts with 256GB rather than 128GB while keeping the same £599 starting price.
For people who want a newer iPhone without paying flagship prices, the 17e sits comfortably in the middle of the lineup.
Other Updates Across Apple’s Lineup
Apple also rolled out a number of updates across the rest of its hardware range. The iPad Air now runs on the M4 chip with 12GB of memory and Apple’s N1 wireless chip, which adds WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support. In the Mac lineup, the MacBook Air has moved to the M5 chip and now starts with 512GB of storage, while the 14 inch and 16 inch MacBook Pro models have been updated with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips aimed at more demanding professional workloads.
Apple also refreshed its Studio Display range, adding Thunderbolt 5 connectivity and improved speakers to the standard model, while introducing a new Studio Display XDR with mini LED backlighting, higher brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate.
A Busy Week for Apple Hardware
Overall, Apple’s announcements touch almost every part of its product lineup. The MacBook Neo stands out the most simply because it changes the entry point to the Mac ecosystem.
A MacBook at £599 opens the door for many people who might not have considered a Mac before.
For buyers, launches like this often shift the wider market too. When new models appear, slightly older devices quickly become better value.
Apple devices also tend to receive software updates for years, which is one reason refurbished models remain popular long after their original release.
Upgrading?
If you are thinking about upgrading, it can be worth checking what your current device might still be worth before moving on. Many people are surprised by how much value older iPhones, iPads and MacBooks still hold, especially when trading them in toward a replacement.
It is also worth remembering that you do not always need the very latest model to get excellent performance. Refurbished Apple devices often offer similar specifications to brand new releases at a much lower price. For example, previous generation MacBook Air models with M series chips still handle everyday work comfortably while costing significantly less than newly launched Neo machines.
