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# MacBook Neo
- URL: https://chrisenns.com/2026/03/macbook-neo/
- Published: 2026-03-04T15:29:40.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-04T16:34:51.000Z
- Description: Random thoughts on the new MacBook Neo.
- Author: Chris Enns
- Tags: Apple

The MacBook Neo is the first Apple laptop to be powered by an A series chip, the A18 Pro, which is what's in the iPhone 16 Pro models. I thought we'd get here sooner than we did, given the A series has been in iPads and Apple TV hardware since 2010.

![Photo of the MacBook Neo in 4 colours](https://storage.ghost.io/c/67/50/6750cf9b-787e-4b61-ae0a-04a8492a2ece/content/images/2026/03/Apple-MacBook-Neo-color-lineup-260304_big.jpg.large.jpg)

It starts at $799CAD for the 256GB model, and goes up to $999CAD for the 512GB with Touch ID configuration. It still sucks to see the promotional material from Apple talking up "starting at $599!" only to remember that that's USD pricing of course. 

For the record, I think going for the 512GB model is the way to go if you can swing it. 512GB should be the minimum for a Mac laptop IMHO, and Touch ID gives you the ability to use Apple Pay on the MacBook Neo without having to authenticate in other ways which I miss a lot while using my Mac Studio with a Logitech keyboard instead of a Touch ID enabled keyboard. I really should look for a used Magic Keyboard and [hack out the Touch ID button](https://sixcolors.com/post/2022/07/touch-id-on-a-mac-desktop-deconstructed/?ref=chrisenns.com). 

It still gives a much less expensive starting point for Apple laptops than the $1,499CAD MacBook Air. 

I noticed on [Apple's comparison chart](https://www.apple.com/ca/macbook-neo/compare/?modelList=MacBook-Neo-A18-Pro,MacBook-Air-M5,MacBook-Pro-14-M5&ref=chrisenns.com) they highlight that it's the MacBook Neo (A18 Pro), which makes it *seem* like it could be more powerful than a MacBook Air (M5) model. It's only interesting in that most folks looking for a cheaper MacBook probably aren't worried about which chip it has, or whether it's the "Pro" version or not.

![Screenshot of Apple's compare Mac models tool on their website showing MacBook Neo (A18 Pro), MacBook Air (M5), and MacBook Pro (M5)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/67/50/6750cf9b-787e-4b61-ae0a-04a8492a2ece/content/images/2026/03/CleanShot-2026-03-04-at-09.11.17.png)

Both models come with 8GB of RAM that isn't upgradeable.

It comes with 2 USB-C ports, though one is USB 3 and the other is USB 2 which feels like a weird thing to do since they both look the same on the outside. 

![Photo of MacBook Neo USB 3 (USB-C) on the left, USB 2 (USB-C) on the right.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/67/50/6750cf9b-787e-4b61-ae0a-04a8492a2ece/content/images/2026/03/charging1__bh73vm3pydbm_large.jpg)

USB 3 (USB-C) on the left, USB 2 (USB-C) on the right. Clearly marked.

Update: [John Siracusa points out](https://bsky.app/profile/siracusa.social/post/3mgaoclelf6gm?ref=chrisenns.com) an important performance and pricing distinction between the MacBook Neo and the Mac Pro:

[![The A18 Pro in the MacBook Neo is 19% faster than the M2 Ultra in the Mac Pro in single-core performance (Geekbench 6).  The MacBook Neo starts at $599.  The Mac Pro, which is still for sale, starts at $6,999.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/67/50/6750cf9b-787e-4b61-ae0a-04a8492a2ece/content/images/2026/03/CleanShot-2026-03-04-at-10.33.01.png)](https://bsky.app/profile/siracusa.social/post/3mgaoclelf6gm?ref=chrisenns.com)

## Pricing

As [Manton noted in USD pricing](https://www.manton.org/2026/03/04/apples-pricing-this-week-is.html?ref=chrisenns.com), an [iPhone 17e](https://www.apple.com/ca/iphone-17e/?ref=chrisenns.com), [iPad Air](https://www.apple.com/ca/shop/buy-ipad/ipad-air?ref=chrisenns.com), [Mac mini](https://www.apple.com/ca/shop/buy-mac/mac-mini?ref=chrisenns.com), or [MacBook Neo](https://www.apple.com/ca/macbook-neo/?ref=chrisenns.com) are all the same $599USD price. In CAD pricing, they're all $799CAD except the iPhone 17e is $100 more at $899CAD for some reason.

Pick any of those and you're going to get a really great computing device for under $1,000\. You don't have to be a hardcore Apple pundit to realize Apple's going to sell a lot of these, especially when factoring in [the education pricing](https://www.apple.com/ca-edu/shop/buy-mac/macbook-neo?ref=chrisenns.com) of $679CAD for the entry level MacBook Neo.