MacRumors

Apple's low-cost MacBook Neo is compatible with the company's new Studio Displays, but its output will be scaled to 4K resolution at 60Hz.

Apple confirmed the compatibility and output limitation with 9to5Mac.

With pricing starting at $1,599, the regular Studio Display runs at 5K with a maximum 60Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the all-new 5K Studio Display XDR is capable of up to 120Hz and pricing starts at $3,299.

Apple calls the refreshed Studio Display "the perfect companion to Mac," but if you were planning on using it as an external display for a new MacBook Neo, there are other options available at significantly lower price points – USB-C 4K displays from companies like LG, Dell, and Samsung, for example.

If you still have a Mac with an Intel chip inside, you're not going to want to pick up one of the new Studio Display or Studio Display XDR models either – neither model will work with an Intel-based Mac.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has two USB-C ports, but only one supports DisplayPort 1.4 for connecting an external display. To use an external monitor, it must be connected to the correct port, which is the USB 3 port located closest to the rear of the device. The laptop does not support Thunderbolt either, so you can't daisy-chain multiple monitors.

The $599 MacBook Neo‌ and the new Studio Displays are available to pre-order now, with availability beginning on Wednesday, March 11.

Apple Music is rolling out a new metadata system called Transparency Tags, which indicates when AI has been used in the creation of music hosted on the platform.

According to Music Business Worldwide, Apple sent a newsletter to industry partners on Wednesday to explain how it will roll out the new set of metadata.

The system covers four categories including artwork, track, composition (lyrics), and music video. Labels and distributors can begin applying the tags immediately. Apple describes the tags as optional for now, noting that if omitted, no AI is assumed.

Apple said it defers to content providers to determine what qualifies as AI-generated, and that it treats the tags similarly to genres, credits, and other existing metadata. The company describes it as a first step toward industry-wide transparency around AI-generated music.

Proper tagging of content is the first step in giving the music industry the data and tools needed to develop thoughtful policies around AI," Apple said in the newsletter, "and we believe labels and distributors must take an active role in reporting when the content they deliver is created using AI."

Apple's approach contrasts with the route taken by competitors like Deezer, which has built its own detection infrastructure to independently identify AI-generated tracks, but it's not 100% accurate all the time.

Deezer reports that it receives over 60,000 fully AI-generated tracks per day, with synthetic content now accounting for roughly 39% of all music delivered to the platform. Up to 85% of streams on AI-generated music were fraudulent in 2025, according to Deezer's data.

With Apple's tags, there isn't a visible enforcement or cross-verification process in place. The system is completely voluntary, or at least it is for now. Whether labels and distributors will actually use it remains to be seen.

The new MacBook Neo is equipped with two USB-C ports, but they are not the same. The left USB-C port supports USB 3 speeds of up to 10 Gb/s, while the right USB-C port closer to the trackpad is limited to USB 2 speeds of just 480 Mb/s. As a result, Apple says external display connectivity is supported on the left port only.

Given the ports are not labeled, this limitation could be an inconvenience. Fortunately, though, Daring Fireball's John Gruber said if you plug an external display into the incorrect port, macOS will alert you to use the other port.

Apple says the MacBook Neo supports one external display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz.

If you want to learn more about which features and specs you have to live without if you buy a MacBook Neo, read our in-depth list of compromises.

MacBook Neo is available to pre-order now, with U.S. pricing starting at $599 ($499 for college students). The laptop launches Wednesday, March 11.

None of the new MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro models unveiled this week come with a charger in the UK and EU countries, such as Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. This change began with the base 14-inch MacBook Pro last year.

If you need a power adapter, you must purchase one separately during checkout or later.

In all other countries, Apple includes a charger in the box with these Macs, at no additional cost. In the U.S., for example, the MacBook Neo ships with Apple's 20W USB-C Power Adapter (sold separately for $19), while the 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with Apple's 140W USB-C Power Adapter (sold separately for $99).

Apple includes a USB-C or MagSafe 3 charging cable with all of the new MacBooks sold worldwide.

Across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Apple unveiled seven new products, including low-cost iPhone and MacBook options, new displays, and refreshes for the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iPad Air.

We've rounded up all of our coverage from this week in case you missed any of the product announcements or details.

MacBook Neo

• Apple Announces $599 'MacBook Neo' With A18 Pro Chip
• Hello, MacBook Neo: Apple Showcases All-New $599 MacBook in Videos
• Want Touch ID on the MacBook Neo? It'll Cost You $100 Extra
• MacBook Neo Features Two Different USB-C Ports
• MacBook Neo Starts at Just $499 for Students
• MacBook Neo Has Just 8GB RAM With No Upgrade Option
• MacBook Neo Can Only Drive One External Display at 4K 60Hz
• MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air Buyer's Guide: 40 Differences Compared
• Hands-On With the New MacBook Neo
• 20+ MacBook Neo Compromises: What You Give Up for Apple’s Cheapest Mac

iPhone 17e

• Apple Announces iPhone 17e With A19 Chip, MagSafe, and More
• iPhone 17e Comes in These Three Colors
• iPhone 17e Now Features 256GB Base Storage
• iPhone 17e Solves iPhone 16e's Biggest Limitation
• iPhone 17e: Smaller Details You Might Have Missed
• Get an iPhone 17e at No Cost With First Pre-Order Deals From T-Mobile and Verizon

iPad Air

• Apple Unveils iPad Air With M4 Chip, Increased RAM, Wi-Fi 7, and More
• First M4 iPad Air Benchmarks Surface

Studio Display

• Apple Introduces All-New Studio Display XDR: 120Hz, Mini-LED, and More
• Apple Updates Studio Display With Thunderbolt 5 and More
• Apple Discontinues Pro Display XDR and $999 Stand
• These Macs Can't Run the Studio Display XDR at 120Hz
• New Apple Studio Display and Studio Display XDR Don't Support Intel Macs
• Apple's New Studio Display Boxes Designed to Fit in Your Recycle Bin
• New Studio Display and Studio Display XDR Will Have Day One Firmware Update
• Apple’s Two New Studio Display Models Feature Different Chips

MacBook Pro

• Apple Unveils MacBook Pro Featuring M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips With New Fusion Architecture
• Apple Debuts M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips
• Apple Removes 512GB Storage Option From M5 MacBook Pro, Drops SSD Upgrade Prices

MacBook Air

• Apple Announces MacBook Air With M5 Chip and 512GB Base Storage
• New M5 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Get First Pre-Order Offers From Best Buy

Accessories

• Apple Releases iPhone Cases, Apple Watch Bands, and Crossbody Strap in New Colors

Other News

• Apple Changes Trade-In Values for iPhones, Macs, and More
• Apple Opens Pre-Orders for MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e, M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro, New Studio Displays and More

More Coverage

Apple CEO Tim Cook shared a wrap-up post on social media, and with pre-orders now live for all of the new products, we're not expecting any additional announcements this week.

Everything Apple announced this week will be launching on Wednesday, March 11, and we'll have more in-depth coverage and reviews of what's new.

The new MacBook Neo is Apple's most affordable Mac notebook, and at $599, it's priced the same as the iPhone 17e. For teachers and college students, it's even more affordable at $499.

To offer a Mac at such a low price, Apple had to make some compromises, and there are some features that the ‌MacBook Neo‌ is lacking compared to the next most expensive Mac notebook, the MacBook Air.

Processor

• A18 Pro Chip - Apple is using an A-series chip instead of an M-series chip in the Neo. It has the A18 Pro chip that Apple debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro, but it is a binned version. It has a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU, while the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro chip had a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU.
• RAM - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has 8GB RAM with no option to pay for more. All other Macs start with 16GB. It still supports Apple Intelligence, because 8GB is the minimum for it.
• Memory bandwidth - Apple's chips use unified memory that's available to the CPU and GPU. Memory bandwidth in the Neo is 60GB/s, less than half that of the ‌MacBook Air‌.
• Storage - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ starts with 256GB of storage, and there's only a single 512GB upgrade. Other Macs support much higher capacity SSDs.
• Wi-Fi - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has Wi-Fi 6E, but not Wi-Fi 7 because Apple did not include its new N1 networking chip.

Battery and Charging

• Battery capacity - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is almost the same size as the ‌MacBook Air‌, but it has a shorter battery life. It lasts for up to 16 hours when streaming video, while the ‌MacBook Air‌ lasts for up to 18 hours. The battery has a 36.5-watt-hour capacity, while the ‌MacBook Air‌ has a 53.8-watt-hour battery.
• Battery size - Since the ‌MacBook Neo‌ is thicker than the ‌MacBook Air‌, it has even more room for a battery, but Apple didn't max out on battery life, which is likely a cost cutting measure. Apple is using older battery technology or a smaller battery. Battery life should theoretically be even longer because the A18 Pro chip doesn't draw as much power as the M5.
• No MagSafe - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is limited to USB-C charging, and it does not include a MagSafe port.
• No fast charging - Apple ships the ‌MacBook Neo‌ with a 20W power adapter, and there is no mention of fast charging support.

Ports

• USB-C - There are two USB-C ports, one that's USB 3 and one that's USB 2. The USB3 port supports DisplayPort 1.4 and up to 10Gb/s transfer speeds, but the USB 2 port is limited to 480Mb/s.
• Display support - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ only supports a single external display at 4K 60Hz, though it may be possible to connect another with a third-party DisplayPort adapter.
• No Thunderbolt - There are no Thunderbolt ports on the ‌MacBook Neo‌ because Thunderbolt is not supported.
• No Studio Display - Since the Neo does not have Thunderbolt and is limited to 4K displays, it is not compatible with the Studio Display.

Design

• Display size - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has a 13-inch display size, so it is Apple's smallest Mac notebook. The ‌MacBook Air‌ has a 13.6-inch display.
• Bezels - There is no notch on the Neo, but it does have thick iPad-style bezels at the top, bottom, and sides of the display. The bezel hides the FaceTime camera.
• Thickness - The Neo is just a little smaller than the ‌MacBook Air‌ when it comes to length and width, but it is thicker at 0.50 inches (vs 0.44 inches for the ‌MacBook Air‌).

Display

• No True Tone - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ does not support True Tone, which is the white balance feature that adjusts the temperature of the display to match the ambient lighting in the room, making it easier on the eyes.
• No P3 Wide color - sRGB is supported, but P3 Wide color is not, so the ‌MacBook Neo‌ won't have colors that are as true to life as other Mac notebooks.
• No ProMotion - Unsurprisingly, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and it does not support ProMotion.

Trackpad and Keyboard

• Backlighting - There is no backlight for the keyboard.
• Touch ID - Touch ID is not included with the base 256GB model, but you can get it by paying an extra $100 for the 512GB model.
• Trackpad - There isn't a Force Touch trackpad, with Apple instead adopting a less complicated physical Multi-Touch trackpad. The button on the trackpad is an actual button, rather than a virtual button with haptic feedback. There is no pressure-sensing feature, Force clicks, or pressure-sensitive drawing option.

Speakers and Camera

• FaceTime Camera - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has a 1080p ‌FaceTime‌ HD camera like older Macs rather than the newer 12-megapixel Center Stage camera Apple has been adding to its newer models. There is no Center Stage or Desk View.
• Camera light - There's no little light to alert you when the ‌MacBook Neo‌ camera is on, with Apple instead displaying a warning on the menu bar.
• Speakers - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has a dual-speaker sound system with speakers that are on the outer sides of the device. The ‌MacBook Air‌ has a four-speaker sound system with richer sound, but both the Neo and the Air support spatial audio.
• Microphones - There are only two microphones, but Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum are still supported for better clarity for calls.
• Headphone jack - There's a 3.5mm headphone jack, but it does not have support for high-impedance headphones.

MacBook Neo Pros

Even though the ‌MacBook Neo‌ has a simplified feature set compared to other Mac models, the price can't be beat. $599 for a Mac is an incredible deal, and the A18 Pro chip is more than adequate for daily use and the type of work that students do.

It's not the best choice for 3D rendering, running local AI models, video editing, or similar creative tasks, but it will do those things at a basic level. It's an ideal MacBook for anyone who doesn't need more than a machine for web browsing and other light work, and it will do everything an iPhone can do. These days, that's quite a bit.

For more on the differences between the ‌MacBook Neo‌ and the ‌MacBook Air‌, we have a dedicated comparison guide.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is available for pre-order now, and it is set to launch on Wednesday, March 11.

Apple's press release and marketing materials for the new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR models do not mention which chips are inside the monitors, but MacRumors has confirmed this information in the latest Studio Display firmware.

The firmware reveals that the second-generation Studio Display is equipped with an A19 chip, while the Studio Display XDR has an A19 Pro chip, according to code reviewed by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. Rumors had mentioned either the A19 chip or the A19 Pro chip, and it turns out that the two chips are split across the two models.

The original Studio Display from 2022 is equipped with an A13 Bionic chip, which is something that Apple advertised. Apple said the chip enables features such as Center Stage camera framing, Spatial Audio, and "Siri" and "Hey Siri" voice activation for Siri. Apple introduced the A13 Bionic chip in the iPhone 11 series in 2019.

Introduced across the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models last year, the A19 and A19 Pro chips are much newer than the A13 Bionic. They continue to enable features such as Center Stage, Spatial Audio, and "Hey Siri," but Apple has not publicly commented on any specific improvements that the newer chips contribute to.

Both of the new Studio Displays are also equipped with Apple-designed timing controllers, or TCONs. In the Studio Display XDR, the TCON drives the XDR display with 2,304 local dimming zones, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Adaptive Sync.

These chips likely help to drive the improved speakers in both new Studio Display models, and they likely enable the camera's Desk View feature, which can show your face and an overhead view of your desk at the same time.

We will learn more about the new Studio Displays and the hardware inside of them through upcoming reviews and teardowns.

Both new models can be pre-ordered now and launch on Wednesday, March 11.

Apple today released iOS 18.7.6 for older devices, addressing an issue that caused some older iPhones in Australia to be unable to connect to emergency services.

According to Apple's release notes, the update fixes an issue that was preventing the iPhone XS and iPhone XR from properly connecting to emergency networks in Australia.

• This update addresses a mobile network issue for iPhone XS models and iPhone XR when establishing a connection to emergency services in Australia.

Australian mobile network operators have been improving support for emergency calling on their networks, which has led to a host of problems with older iPhones connecting to emergency situations in some situations. Apple has released several updates to address the problem, including iOS 16.7.4 and iOS 26.2.1.

Some of Apple's updates exacerbated the issue, and Apple ended up temporarily pulling iOS 18.7.4, iOS 16.7.13, iOS 15.8.6, and iOS 12.5.8 back in December. Since then, additional updates have been released to further fix the emergency calling bugs, including the new iOS 18.7.6. update.

Earlier today we began tracking the first pre-order offers on the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, and now the MacBook Neo has joined in at Best Buy. If you pre-order the new low-cost MacBook Neo at Best Buy, you'll get a free $25 Best Buy gift card after purchase.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

In order to get the deal, you need to pre-order any MacBook Neo model at Best Buy with a valid e-mail address. The e-gift card will be sent out after you receive the MacBook Neo, or after you pick it up in a Best Buy store.

Apple announced the MacBook Neo today, and it's now the cheapest MacBook in the lineup starting at $599 and powered by the A18 Pro chip. Apple says it is up to 50% faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5, up to 3x faster for on-device AI workloads, and up to 2x faster for tasks like photo editing.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.3.1, a minor update to the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ operating system that came out last September. ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3.1 comes three weeks after Apple launched macOS Tahoe 26.3.

Mac users can download the new software by opening up the System Settings app and navigating to the Software Update section.

According to Apple's release notes for the update, it adds support for the new Studio Display and ‌Studio Display‌ XDR. Apple has also released a firmware update for the new displays.

The new monitors are available for pre-order and will launch on Wednesday, March 11.

Apple today released a new firmware update for the Studio Display and ‌Studio Display‌ XDR, two products that aren't set to launch until March 11.

The ‌Studio Display‌ Firmware 26.3 update is only for the new ‌Studio Display‌ options, and it is not available on the older model.

‌Studio Display‌ firmware can be updated by connecting the display to a Mac and going to System Settings > Software Update.

Pre-orders are available for the ‌Studio Display‌ and ‌Studio Display‌ XDR as of today. Prices start at $1,599.

Apple today provided public beta testers with the third release of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.4 update for testing purposes. The public beta comes a week after Apple seeded the second beta.

After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section in the settings app for each update.

‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4 includes several new features. The Compact tab layout has been reimplemented in Safari for those who missed having the option in earlier versions of ‌macOS Tahoe‌, and there is a new Charge Limit feature that lets Mac users select a maximum charge level that ranges from 80 percent to 100 percent.

Apple silicon Mac users will see now see warnings about apps that are still using Rosetta 2, because Apple is phasing out Rosetta after macOS 27. ‌macOS Tahoe‌ is also the final version of macOS that will run on Intel-based Macs, and Apple is working to remove all lingering Intel features.

We could see additional features in upcoming versions of ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4, such as new emoji characters. Apple is expected to test the update for the next several weeks, with a launch planned for the spring.

Apple today released iOS 26.3.1 and iPadOS 26.3.1, minor updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems. The software comes three weeks after Apple released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3.

The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

According to Apple's release notes, the update adds support for the new Studio Display and ‌Studio Display‌ XDR, and it includes unspecified bug fixes.

Apple is also beta testing iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, major updates that are set to come out this spring.

Apple introduced an all-new affordable Mac today, the MacBook Neo. Members of the media were invited to try the new device and other Apple products at events in New York, Shanghai, and London, and MacRumors' videographer Dan Barbera was in attendance. Dan was able to see the ‌MacBook Neo‌ in person, as well as other devices like the new Studio Display XDR.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ looks and feels a lot like the MacBook Air, because it's almost the same size and has an aluminum chassis. It's thicker than the ‌MacBook Air‌, but it has a 13-inch display, and it also weighs 2.7 pounds.

Apple designed the ‌MacBook Neo‌ from the ground up, and it comes in some fun colors like Silver, Indigo, Blush, and Citrus. Each of the notebooks has a color matched keyboard and trackpad, but the keyboard has no backlighting and the trackpad isn't the higher-end Force Touch trackpad Apple uses in its other Macs. It's a physical trackpad with an actual click rather than haptic feedback for presses.

There is no notch, with Apple instead adopting an iPad-style design with thicker bezels that house the front-facing camera. Speakers are located on the exterior sides of the device, which is new, and Spatial Audio is supported. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has a bit of a cheaper feel compared to the ‌MacBook Air‌ or MacBook Pro because of the thicker bezels and the changes to the trackpad, but it is still an excellent machine for the price.

Apple used the A18 Pro chip in the ‌MacBook Neo‌, which is technically an iPhone chip. It was first introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro, and while it's a powerful chip, it doesn't match the performance of Apple's newer M-series chips. There's only 8GB RAM included, and 60GB/s memory bandwidth, half that of the ‌MacBook Air‌.

Apple says the ‌MacBook Neo‌ is up to 50 percent faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with an Intel Core Ultra 5 chip, which is an apt comparison because this is aimed at people who might instead buy a lower-cost Windows laptop or Chromebook. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is up to two times faster at photo editing, and three times faster when it comes to on-device AI workloads, according to Apple.

You get a Retina quality display, but only 500 nits brightness and no add-on features like True Tone or P3 Wide color. There are two USB-C ports, but only one is USB3 with DisplayPort 1.4 support. You can connect a single 4K 60Hz display to the ‌MacBook Neo‌.

Battery life is a little low for a device the size of a ‌MacBook Air‌ with an A-series chip, and it lasts for up to 16 hours. Bluetooth 6 and Wi-Fi 6E are supported, so it is compatible with 6GHz networks.

We'll have more in-depth hands-on coverage of the ‌MacBook Neo‌ and Apple's other new products next week.

The MacBook Neo is now Apple's entry-level MacBook, undercutting the MacBook Air by $500. To deliver such a dramatically lower price, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ has a significant number of tradeoffs. Here's everything that's different between the two devices.

Apple's introduction of the ‌MacBook Neo‌ expands the company's laptop lineup with a far more affordable entry point, sitting well below the ‌MacBook Air‌ in both price and capability. While the two machines share a similar size and lightweight design, they are aimed at very different types of users. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ focuses on delivering the essentials of the Mac experience at the lowest possible cost, while the ‌MacBook Air‌ offers significantly more performance, features, and flexibility.

Design

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ and the 13-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ have similar dimensions. The ‌MacBook Air‌ remains thinner, but the ‌MacBook Neo‌ has a slightly smaller overall footprint owing to its smaller display. Both machines weigh 2.7 pounds (1.23 kg).

	‌MacBook Neo‌	‌MacBook Air‌
Height	0.50 inch (1.27 cm)	0.44 inch (1.13 cm)
Width	11.71 inches (29.75 cm)	11.97 inches (30.41 cm)
Depth	8.12 inches (20.64 cm)	8.46 inches (21.5 cm)

There are still some notable design differences. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ does not have a backlit keyboard or a haptic trackpad, and only has Touch ID when configured with 512GB of storage for an extra $100. They are also available in different selections of color options, with the ‌MacBook Neo‌'s color extending to the Magic Keyboard in a lighter shade.

‌MacBook Neo‌	‌MacBook Air‌
Available in Silver, Blush, Indigo, and Citrus	Available in Silver, Sky Blue, Midnight, and Starlight
‌Touch ID‌ on 512GB models only	‌Touch ID‌
Magic Keyboard or Magic Keyboard with ‌Touch ID‌	Backlit Magic Keyboard with ‌Touch ID‌
Color-matched Magic Keyboard	Black Magic Keyboard
Mechanical Multi-Touch trackpad	Haptic Force Touch trackpad with pressure-sensing capabilities
	Display "notch"

Display

The ‌MacBook Air‌'s display is slightly larger and supports True Tone and P3 wide color. Both are Liquid Retina displays with 500 nits of brightness.

‌MacBook Neo‌	‌MacBook Air‌
13-inch Liquid Retina display	13.6-inch Liquid Retina display (15-inch model also available)
2408 by 1506 pixel resolution	2560 by 1664 pixel resolution
sRGB	Wide color (P3)
	True Tone technology
Thicker display borders	Slimmer display borders

Performance

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is Apple's first Mac to contain an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro is still a capable chip, but the M5 is around 20% faster for single-core tasks and 80% faster for multi-core tasks. The M5 chip also has more than double the GPU throughput of the A18 Pro and features Neural Accelerators.

‌MacBook Neo‌	‌MacBook Air‌
Apple A18 Pro chip	Apple M5 chip
Made with TSMC's second-generation 3nm process (N3E)	Made with TSMC's third-generation ‌3nm‌ process (N3P)
6-core CPU	10-core CPU
5-core GPU	8-core GPU
	Neural Accelerators
8GB unified memory	16GB, 24GB, or 32GB unified memory
60GB/s memory bandwidth	153GB/s memory bandwidth

Battery and Charging

The ‌MacBook Air‌ has up to two hours of extra battery life over the ‌MacBook Neo‌, along with support for charging via MagSafe 3 and fast charging.

‌MacBook Neo‌	‌MacBook Air‌
Integrated 36.5-watt-hour lithium-ion battery	Integrated 53.8-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
16-hour battery life	18-hour battery life
	‌MagSafe‌ 3 charging
	Fast-charge capable with 70W USB-C Power Adapter or higher
Comes with 20W USB-C Power Adapter	Comes with 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max

Cameras, Speakers, and Microphones

The ‌MacBook Air‌ has a superior array of camera and audio hardware, resulting in a slightly better experience with video calls, listening to music, and recording audio.

‌MacBook Neo‌	‌MacBook Air‌
1080p FaceTime HD camera	12MP Center Stage camera
	LED webcam indicator light
	Desk View support
Dual-speaker sound system	Four-speaker sound system
	Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking when using supported AirPods
Dual-mic array with directional beamforming	Three-mic array with directional beamforming

Connectivity

The ‌MacBook Neo‌'s connectivity is more limited than that of the ‌MacBook Air‌. While both have two USB-C ports, the ‌MacBook Air‌'s are considerably more capable in terms of data transfer and external display support.

‌MacBook Neo‌	‌MacBook Air‌
Wi-Fi 6E connectivity	Wi-Fi 7 connectivity
One USB 3 (10 Gb/s) port and one USB 2 port (480 Mb/s)	Two Thunderbolt 4 ports (40 Gb/s)
Support for one 4K external display at 60Hz	Support for two 6K external displays up 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz
3.5mm headphone jack	3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones
	Magnetic ‌MagSafe‌ 3 charging port

Other Differences

The most significant difference between the ‌MacBook Neo‌ and the ‌MacBook Air‌ is price: The ‌MacBook Air‌ costs $500 more. It is also much more configurable, with higher amounts of memory and storage available.

‌MacBook Neo‌	‌MacBook Air‌
	Ambient light sensor
256GB or 512GB storage	512GB, 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB storage
Starts at $599	Starts at $1,099

Which to Choose?

Choosing between the ‌MacBook Neo‌ and the ‌MacBook Air‌ primarily comes down to how demanding your needs are and how much you want to spend. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is clearly positioned as Apple's most accessible notebook, delivering the core Mac experience at the lowest possible price. For users who primarily need a reliable computer for basic everyday tasks, the Neo provides enough performance. Its lower cost also makes it an appealing option for households purchasing multiple computers, such as for kids or family use.

For first-time Mac owners, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ is also likely to be the most sensible starting point. It offers the same software experience as Apple's more expensive laptops, allowing new users to explore the platform without a large financial commitment. In many cases, buyers moving from inexpensive Windows laptops or Chromebooks will find the Neo significantly faster and better built than devices in the same price range.

The ‌MacBook Air‌, by contrast, is aimed at users who expect higher performance, greater longevity, and a more feature-rich, premium experience. Its more powerful M5 chip, memory options, larger display, and significantly more capable connectivity make it far better suited to multitasking, professional workloads, and creative applications. Users who regularly work with large files, run demanding software, connect multiple external displays, or want a machine that will remain comfortable to use for many years will benefit from choosing the Air.

In practical terms, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ is best viewed as a budget entry point into the Mac lineup, while the ‌MacBook Air‌ remains Apple's mainstream ultraportable for most people. Buyers who simply want a dependable Mac for everyday computing can save money with the Neo, but those who want stronger performance, better hardware features, and a laptop that will scale to more demanding tasks over time should consider spending the extra money on the ‌MacBook Air‌.

Apple's new low-cost MacBook Neo is equipped with the A18 Pro chip that Apple first used in the iPhone 16 Pro, and it's the first Mac that has an A-series chip.

Using an iPhone chip in a Mac comes with some downsides, like external display support. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ supports a single external display with a 4K resolution and 60Hz refresh rate.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ will not work with the new Studio Display and ‌Studio Display‌ XDR that Apple announced yesterday because both of those are 5K displays, but it will work with affordable USB-C 4K display options from companies like LG, Dell, and Samsung.

There are two USB-C ports in the ‌MacBook Neo‌, but only one supports DisplayPort 1.4 for an external display. An external monitor will need to be plugged into the appropriate port, which is the USB 3 port closest to the rear of the device. There is no Thunderbolt support, which is what other Macs use for multiple displays, and how the ‌Studio Display‌ options connect.

Adding a second display might be possible using a third-party DisplayLink adapter, as has been the case with other Macs with display limitations, but this has not been tested yet.

While there's official support for just one external display, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ can at least drive the extra display and its own built-in display at full native resolution. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has a 13-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2408 x 1506 at 219 pixels per inch.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is priced starting at $599, and it is available for pre-order today from Apple's website. The new Mac will launch on March 11.

Apple this week unveiled seven products, including an iPhone 17e, an iPad Air with the M4 chip, updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, a new Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, and an all-new MacBook Neo that starts at just $599.

iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gains Apple's A19 chip, MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories, Apple's second-generation C1X modem for faster 5G, and a doubled 256GB of base storage. In the U.S., the iPhone 17e starts at $599, just like the iPhone 16e did.

The new iPad Air's key upgrades include Apple's M4 chip, an increased 12GB of RAM, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and the C1X modem in cellular models.

The MacBook Air received a faster M5 chip, and a doubled 512GB of base storage, but the starting price increased from $999 to $1,099 as a result of a 256GB configuration being dropped. With the N1 chip, the MacBook Air now has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and it now comes with Apple's 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max.

The higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models finally received M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, plus up to twice as fast SSD speeds and a doubled 1TB of base storage. Battery life has increased slightly across all of the models, and the N1 chip extends to the MacBook Pro line now for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support.

The regular Studio Display gained Thunderbolt 5 support and improved speakers, and the camera now supports Desk View. There is also an all-new, higher-end Studio Display XDR that gained all of those benefits, plus bigger improvements such as a 120Hz refresh rate, mini-LED backlighting, increased brightness, and more.

The colorful new MacBook Neo starts at just $599 in the United States, and at an even lower $499 for college students. Available in Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and Silver, the MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone, and it is equipped with a 13-inch display, up to 512GB of storage, and a non-configurable 8GB of RAM.

To learn about these new products, read our coverage of Apple's announcements:

• Apple Announces iPhone 17e With A19 Chip, MagSafe, and More
• Apple Unveils iPad Air With M4 Chip, Increased RAM, Wi-Fi 7, and More
• Apple Announces MacBook Air With M5 Chip and 512GB Base Storage
• Apple Unveils MacBook Pro Featuring M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips
• Apple Updates Studio Display With Thunderbolt 5 and More
• Apple Introduces All-New Studio Display XDR: 120Hz, Mini-LED, and More
• Apple Announces $599 'MacBook Neo' With A18 Pro Chip

Apple also released new color options for a variety of accessories, including iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and the Crossbody Strap.

Apple today launched pre-orders for the new M5 MacBook Air, but if you're looking for a good discount you'll do better to shop previous generation models on Amazon. Right now you'll find up to $300 off select M4 MacBook Air devices, with the best deals on 15-inch models.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Specifically, you can get the 256GB 15-inch M4 MacBook Air for $999.00 ($200 off), the 16GB/512GB model for $1,099.00 ($300 off), and the 24GB/512GB model for $1,299.00 ($300 off). In regards to the latter two models, these are matches for the all-time low prices on the M4 MacBook Air.

Deals on the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air aren't quite as steep, but you can still find up to $200 off these models on Amazon. The best price is on the 16GB/512GB 13-inch M4 MacBook Air, available for $999.00 ($200 off).

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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