Apple Launches $599 Entry-Level MacBook Neo With Apple Intelligence Support

Apple has lowered the price of a Mac laptop to $599 with the MacBook Neo, which starts at NT$16,900 in Taiwan and targets the education and entry-level markets long dominated by Chromebooks and Windows devices. The colorful laptop is powered by the A18 Pro chip and offers full support for Apple Intelligence, lowering the barrier to entry for the macOS and generative AI ecosystems.

Apple formally unveiled the MacBook Neo in 2026, marking the most significant reduction in the entry price of a Mac laptop in more than a decade. Sales quickly gained momentum after its launch, with CEO Tim Cook saying the Mac recorded its best-ever week for sales to new users. The starting prices of $599 and NT$16,900 show that the lower-cost strategy has attracted large numbers of first-time Mac buyers.