The MacBook Neo is Apple’s newest, most affordable laptop. Although the MacBook Air has been known to occasionally drop by a couple of hundred dollars — rendering it more on par with a host of midrange Windows laptops — the Neo will take things a step further when it launches at a com petitive $599 on Wednesday, March 11th. At first glance, the Neo is not that different from Apple’s other laptops, even if its four colors are divisive. It features an aluminum design, a 13-inch (2408 x 1506) display, two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and side-firing speakers. You also get a 1080p camera, a multi-touch trackpad, and a color-matched Magic Keyboard (the 512GB model also includes a TouchID sensor). That said, it lacks Thunderbolt ports and MagSafe, which come standard on the MacBook Air. In terms of performance, think of it as if the guts of the iPhone 16 got transplanted into a 13-inch laptop. It should be fast enough for streaming, browsing the web, and most everyday use cases thanks to Apple’s A18 Pro chip, but it won’t replace a more powerful macOS machine (especially with only 8GB of RAM). In short, it’s going to be an extremely popular graduation or back-to-school gift. MacBook Neo (256GB) Where to Buy: $599 at Apple $599 at Best Buy (with $25 e-gift card) $599 at AmazonMacBook Neo (512GB) Where to Buy: $699 at Apple $699 at Best Buy (with $25 e-gift card) $699 at Amazon We haven’t had a ton of time with the Neo (yet), but if you want to secure the laptop at launch, you can already preorder it in its silver, indigo, blush, and citrus hues ahead of next week. The 256GB model is available for $599, while the 512GB — which also includes a TouchID sensor — is available for $699. Students and other educators, meanwhile, can preorder the 256GB and 512GB models directly from Apple for $499 and $599, respectively, which isn’t surprising, given its target audience. If you prefer a retailer other than Apple, Amazon, BH Photo, and Best Buy are all offering the 256GB MacBook Neo for $599, the latter with a $25 e-gift card. All three retailers (Amazon / BH Photo / Best Buy) are also taking preorders for the $699 512GB model, with Best Buy once again offering a $25 e-gift card for those who place an order now. Update, March 4th: Added retail links for Amazon, Best Buy, and BH Photo. ...read more read less