Apple Launches MacBook Neo in India — Rs 69,900 Price Tag Changes the Budget Laptop Game

Apple Inc. has introduced the new MacBook Neo, marking the company’s most affordable laptop to date and a significant shift in its entry-level computing strategy. The device, positioned as a budget alternative to the MacBook Air lineup, starts at $599 globally and ₹69,900 in India. With this launch, Apple aims to make its MacBook range more accessible to a broader set of consumers, particularly students and first-time laptop buyers who previously found the company’s devices relatively expensive compared to competitors.

The MacBook Neo sits below the latest MacBook Air M5 in Apple’s laptop portfolio and is designed primarily to reduce costs rather than introduce breakthrough features. While the MacBook Air continues to use Apple’s high-performance M-series chips, the Neo takes a different approach by adopting the A18 Pro chip — the same processor found in the iPhone 16 Pro. This shift reflects Apple’s attempt to balance performance and affordability by leveraging mobile-class silicon rather than its more powerful laptop-focused processors.

Apple has also emphasized sustainability in the construction of the MacBook Neo, highlighting the extensive use of recycled materials in the device. The laptop is available in four colour options — silver, blush, indigo and a new citrus shade — aimed at appealing to younger users and first-time Mac buyers. According to the company, the Neo maintains Apple’s signature design language while introducing subtle visual variations through its colour-coded finish and minimalist build.

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In terms of hardware, the MacBook Neo features a 33.02-cm (13-inch) Liquid Retina display with up to 500 nits of brightness, promising sharp visuals for everyday productivity and media consumption. The laptop includes Apple’s Magic Keyboard and a large trackpad, along with two USB-Type-C ports and a standard headphone jack. The device also comes equipped with two side-firing speakers, offering stereo sound output designed to enhance video streaming and casual entertainment.

Apple is offering the base variant of the MacBook Neo with 256 GB of storage at ₹69,900 in India. A higher configuration priced at ₹79,900 includes 512 GB of storage along with the addition of Touch ID for biometric authentication. While the Magic Keyboard is standard across variants, the base model does not include Touch ID, a decision likely intended to keep the entry-level price competitive in the budget laptop segment.

The MacBook Neo will be available in India beginning March 11 through Apple’s retail stores and the company’s official online store, with pre-orders already open. Apple is also offering promotional discounts of up to ₹3,000 for customers using select Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and American Express cards. With its lower pricing and mobile-chip architecture, the MacBook Neo signals Apple’s effort to expand its reach in emerging markets and attract users who have so far remained outside the Mac ecosystem.

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