Here you can buy the budget-friendly MacBook Neo from Apple

The MacBook Neo is Apple’s latest and most affordable laptop. our Final ruling? It beats similarly priced laptops in terms of design, and performance isn’t bad either. If you can’t afford a MacBook Air, or aren’t sure if its extra features or power are worth it to you, the Neo could be a really good choice. The price for this laptop starts at $599, and drops to $499 if you’re able to get an education discount.

At first glance, the Neo isn’t much different from Apple’s other laptops, even if its four colors are more divisive. It features an aluminum design, a 13-inch (2408 x 1506) display, two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and side speakers. You also get a 1080p camera, a multi-touch trackpad, and a color-matching Magic Keyboard (the 512GB model also includes a TouchID sensor). However, it lacks Thunderbolt and MagSafe ports, which come standard on the MacBook Air.

In terms of performance, think of it as if the guts of the iPhone 16 were transplanted into a 13-inch laptop. It should be fast enough for streaming, web browsing, and most everyday use cases thanks to Apple’s A18 Pro chip, but it won’t replace a more powerful macOS device (especially with only 8GB of RAM). In short, it will be a very popular graduation or back to school gift.

Here you can buy the Neo in its 256GB or 512GB configuration.

March 11 update: This post now reflects that Neo is available for purchase online and in stores. However, the $25 gift card promotion at Best Buy has expired.