At its event on March 4, 2026 (local time), Apple announced the "MacBook Neo," a new model in the MacBook lineup. This marks the first time a new brand has been added to the MacBook lineup since the MacBook Air in 2008 — a full 18 years later. The MacBook Neo comes in four color options: Silver, Blush (pink), Citrus (yellow), and Indigo (blue).

The general retail price in Japan starts at ¥99,800 (tax included), with an education pricing for students and faculty starting at ¥84,800 (tax included), making it a more accessible option. Pre-orders begin today, with a release date of March 11.

Amid a weakening yen, rising prices, and memory costs soaring due to AI demand, thank you Apple for keeping it under ¥100,000!!

A MacBook Powered by the Same "A18 Pro" Chip as the iPhone 16 Pro

The standout feature of the MacBook Neo is its use of the same "A18 Pro" SoC found in the iPhone 16 Pro series. This marks the first time a Mac — which has historically used the M-series chips — will feature an A-series chip.

The A18 Pro features a 6-core CPU consisting of two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores. Originally designed for iPhones, it is expected to deliver excellent power efficiency and single-threaded performance suited for mobile use. Memory is fixed at 8GB, with no upgrade options like those available on other MacBook Air/Pro models.

According to Apple's official tests, it is up to 50% faster than Windows PCs with Intel Core Ultra 5 chips for everyday tasks such as web browsing. The MacBook Neo also features a fanless design, meaning it operates in complete silence — perfect for use in a library.

However, being fanless means heat has nowhere to go, making it less suitable for extended heavy workloads. If you plan to use demanding software like CAD or Adobe applications, we recommend going with a MacBook Air or Pro instead.

13-Inch Liquid Retina Display with One Billion Color Support

A clean display design reminiscent of an iPad. No notch — now that's something to envy!

The MacBook Neo features a 13.0-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD display. Unlike other MacBooks, there is no notch at the top of the screen — instead, it adopts a uniform bezel design similar to the iPad.

The resolution is 2,408×1,506 with a brightness of 500 nits. It supports one billion colors and the sRGB color space. Compared to the 13-inch MacBook Air, it's 0.6 inches smaller and doesn't support P3 (only sRGB). Since P3 is really only necessary for designers or those who require critical color accuracy, this is a non-issue for most users. Being an Apple product — even the most affordable one — you can count on a beautiful display.

Like the MacBook Air, it supports up to one external display with a maximum resolution of 4K.

Available in 256GB and 512GB Storage Options

The MacBook Neo comes in two storage configurations:
Here's a breakdown ↓

  • 256GB model (¥99,800): Includes Magic Keyboard. Touch ID not included.
  • 512GB model (¥114,800): Includes Magic Keyboard with Touch ID.

In other words, if you want Touch ID, you'll need to opt for the higher-end 512GB model. However, unlike an iPhone — which you unlock many times throughout the day — the absence of Touch ID on a MacBook is unlikely to be a major inconvenience for everyday use. The author personally uses a MacBook Air but has had compatibility issues with Touch ID and relies solely on a password.

No Thunderbolt — Two USB-C Ports (But One Is USB 2)

It's a bit hard to tell, but all three ports are on the left side — there are none on the right

All ports are located on the left side, including two USB-C ports — one USB 3 (with video output support) and one USB 2 — along with a 3.5mm headphone jack.

MagSafe charging is not supported; the device charges via either USB-C port. It's also worth noting that Thunderbolt is not supported.

The USB 3 port offers transfer speeds of up to 10Gb/s, while the USB 2 port maxes out at 480Mb/s. This means that when connecting an external display, you would be limited to using the USB 2 port. Ideally both ports would be USB 3, but given that this is an entry-level model, it's hard to complain.

Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 6.

A Strong Contender Against Budget Windows PCs

According to various surveys, iPhone's market share in Japan is generally reported at around 50–57%, with some studies showing it exceeds 80% among women in their 20s.

Source: MMD Research Institute "September 2025 Smartphone OS Share Survey" https://mmdlabo.jp/investigation/detail_2496.html

In other words, more than half of smartphone users in Japan are already using an iPhone.

The integration between iPhone and Mac is incredibly powerful, offering a level of convenience that only Apple devices can deliver together.

You can exchange files via AirDrop, mirror your iPhone screen to your Mac, and even share copy-and-paste across devices.

Until now, the entry price for a MacBook was slightly higher than Windows PCs with comparable performance, which led many people to rule it out on price alone.

The MacBook Neo is priced at ¥99,800 at retail and ¥84,800 with a student discount — putting it in the same price range as mid-range Windows PCs sold at electronics retailers. On top of that, Apple products come with a guaranteed standard of quality: build materials, display quality, trackpad precision, and OS stability are all assured from the start, giving buyers peace of mind.


As an aside, the author handles PC support for a business and frequently arranges repairs — and Apple Silicon MacBooks simply never break down. Even an M1 MacBook Pro purchased five years ago is still running without any issues.

A Recommended Choice for College Students and Office Workers Alike

The MacBook Neo is not suited for heavy-duty tasks like advanced video editing or software development, but it is more than capable for everyday tasks such as writing reports, web browsing, email, creating presentations, and video conferencing.

It's compact, lightweight, comes with a small charger, and fits easily in a bag without taking up much space. It's a great option not just for college students, but also for office workers whose work revolves around document creation. If you're considering buying a new PC for the new school year or work season starting in April, definitely add this to your list of options.