Apple 2026 Neo 13-inch

By Apple · Laptops · Phones & Computers

  • 13.0 in display, 2408 x 1506, 500 nits
  • 8 GB unified memory
  • 256 GB SSD
  • 36.5 Wh battery, up to 11 hours web browsing
  • 2.7 lb weight

Lowest price seen
$789.99
from $789.99 at Costco · Checked Oct 11, 2026

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

The MacBook Neo is Apple’s cheapest laptop: a 13-inch, 2.7-pound notebook with an A18 Pro chip, 8 GB of memory and a fanless aluminum design, aimed at students and first-time Mac buyers. Check whether 8 GB of soldered memory and a keyboard with no backlight fit how you work — the price also rose from $599 at launch to $699 in June 2026.

Strengths

  • Aluminum build at a price where rivals use plastic — PCMag noted none of the PC laptops it tested has a full-metal frame.
  • Battery life confirmed by four independent tests, from 13 hours 28 minutes of web browsing (Tom’s Guide) to 15:35 of video playback (PCMag).
  • Fanless and silent — PCMag said it stayed silent through all performance testing and barely got warm.
  • iFixit calls it the most repairable MacBook in 14 years, with a screwed-down battery and no parts pairing.
  • The display measured 516 nits, 96% sRGB coverage and 10-bit color depth (PCMag).
  • Sharp value at launch — Reddit owners called $599 “INSANE value”.

Weaknesses

  • 8 GB of memory is soldered and maxes out under modest loads — Wirecutter had it “completely maxed out” with about 20 Chrome tabs, Slack and YouTube running.
  • The keyboard has no backlight, and the trackpad is mechanical with no Force Touch.
  • Ports are limited to two USB-C (one only USB 2.0 at 480 Mbps), with no Thunderbolt, HDMI, SD card slot or MagSafe.
  • The base 256 GB model has no Touch ID, and the display covers sRGB but not P3 wide color.
  • A $100 price increase in June 2026 narrowed the gap to the MacBook Air.

Verified specifications

ModelMacBook Neo (Mac17,5, A3404).
Display13.0-inch Liquid Retina IPS, 2408 x 1506, 219 ppi, 500 nits (Apple claim), 60 Hz, sRGB only (no P3), no True Tone.
ChipApple A18 Pro (3 nm), 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency), 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 60 GB/s memory bandwidth.
Memory8 GB LPDDR5X, soldered, not upgradeable.
Storage256 GB or 512 GB SSD, soldered.
Battery36.5 Wh lithium-ion; Apple claims up to 16 hours video streaming, up to 11 hours wireless web.
Weight2.7 lb (1.23 kg).
Dimensions0.50 × 11.71 × 8.12 in (1.27 × 29.75 × 20.64 cm).
CoolingFanless (aluminum heat dissipator), silent operation.
Camera1080p FaceTime HD (no Center Stage, no Desk View).
Audio2 side-firing speakers with Dolby Atmos playback; dual-mic array with beamforming.
Keyboard78/79 keys, 12 full-height function keys, no backlight.
TrackpadMechanical Multi-Touch (no Force Touch, no Haptic Touch).
Touch IDNo on 256 GB base model; Yes on 512 GB model.
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 6.
Ports1x USB-C 10 Gbps (DisplayPort 1.4), 1x USB-C 2.0 (480 Mbps), 3.5 mm audio jack.
External display1x 4K at 60 Hz.
Power adapter20W USB-C (included in US); USB-C charge cable 1.5 m.
ColorsSilver, Blush, Citrus, Indigo.
Recycled content60% recycled, including 90% recycled aluminum.
OSShips with macOS Tahoe (macOS 26).
Full research notes and sources

Performance and memory

The A18 Pro is a binned iPhone 16 Pro chip with one GPU core disabled, silicon Apple had already paid for during iPhone production. PCMag’s unit led budget systems in single-core tests, and Geekbench 6 scores of 3,461 single-core and 8,668 multi-core put it ahead of the M1 MacBook Air. But the 8 GB of LPDDR5X is soldered into the package and cannot be upgraded. Wirecutter’s workload — about 20 Chrome tabs plus Slack, YouTube and a Hangouts call — maxed it out completely, and complex photo or video editing caused lag and beach balls. PCMag’s stress test with Lightroom and 8K video hit the same ceiling. Gaming is limited: Wirecutter got 36 of 50 macOS games running sufficiently, with demanding 3D titles below 20 fps. Tom’s Guide’s reviewer does not recommend the Neo for coding, large spreadsheets or demanding photo and video editing.

Design and display

The 13-inch Liquid Retina panel runs at 2408 x 1506; PCMag measured 516 nits against Apple’s 500-nit claim, with 96% sRGB coverage and 10-bit color depth. Wirecutter called it higher-resolution, more color-accurate and brighter than any other laptop at this price. The catch: it is sRGB only, with no P3 wide color, no True Tone and no HDR. The chassis is an aluminum extrusion rather than the CNC-milled unibody of higher-end MacBooks, with 90% recycled aluminum, and PCMag noted the brushed finish is more pronounced than on other MacBooks. At 2.7 pounds and 0.50 inches thick it carries easily, and the fanless design means no noise. Two side-firing speakers and two microphones are modest next to the four to six speakers and three mics in higher-end Macs.

Battery life

Apple claims up to 16 hours of video streaming and 11 hours of wireless web. Independent tests land near those claims at moderate brightness: Wirecutter measured 14 hours of web browsing at about one-third brightness, Tom’s Guide 13 hours 28 minutes at 150 nits, PCMag 15:35 of video playback and RTINGS nearly 12 hours of video. Brightness is the swing factor — Wirecutter got only about 6 hours at full brightness, and a Reddit owner reported a 7% drop in 30 minutes with one browser tab open, estimating about 7 hours total. Another owner in r/MacbookNeo reported about 8 hours. One owner noted the 16-hour figure assumes a video playing at 50% brightness. macOS optimized battery charging can also stop the charge at 80%, which some owners find confusing; “Charge to Full Now” overrides it.

Repairability and running costs

iFixit gave the Neo a 6/10, its highest MacBook score in 14 years: the battery tray is held down by 18 screws with no adhesive, there is no parts pairing, and Repair Assistant accepts replacement parts without complaint. A first teardown praised “absolutely amazing” repairability with disassembly in under 100 minutes, and the ports, speakers and display are modular. The limits are soldered RAM and storage and pentalobe screws. Apple covers the Neo with a one-year warranty. AppleCare+ runs $50 a year or $140 for three years, with $150 accidental-damage and $50 screen-damage repairs — cheaper than the $300 and $100 the MacBook Air charges. Since the 256 GB SSD is soldered, budget for external storage, and a USB-A dongle may be needed for legacy accessories.

Is it worth it?

At its $599 launch price the Neo was easy to recommend: aluminum build, strong single-core performance, a good display and all-day battery for the least money Apple had ever charged for a Mac. The June 2026 increase to $699, driven by global memory shortages, narrows the gap to the MacBook Air M5 at $1,299, and Wirecutter now points most buyers there. At the time of writing, Macworld’s guide listed the Neo at $628 at Walmart and $689 at B&H, and Wirecutter’s buying options showed $698 at Walmart and $699 at Best Buy. If you are a student, a first-time Mac buyer or someone who mainly browses, writes and streams, the Neo covers it. If you edit photos or video for a living, keep heavy multitasking or want a laptop that lasts five-plus years, spend the extra on an Air.

Which model this is

This page covers the 13-inch MacBook Neo (Mac17,5, model A3404), released in March 2026 — the first Mac to use an A-series chip. The Amazon listing for the 256 GB base configuration is ASIN B0GR6KJ72L. Two configurations exist: a 256 GB model without Touch ID or a keyboard backlight, and a 512 GB model that adds both. Part numbers MHFA4, MHFH4, MHFD4 and MHFF4 cover the 256 GB builds; MHFC4, MHFJ4, MHFE4 and MHFG4 the 512 GB ones.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

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