Announced at an event in New York City on Wednesday, the MacBook Neo is the first Apple laptop powered by the A18 Pro chip a processor similar to the one used in the iPhone 16 Pro. Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, John Ternus, described the device as “totally new” and built “from the ground up.”

Reported by BBC, the new laptop signals Apple’s attempt to appeal to customers who might otherwise choose cheaper Windows laptops or Chromebooks. Until now, Apple has largely focused on higher-priced MacBooks.

Compared with other Apple laptops such as the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the MacBook Neo has a smaller display and less memory, but it comes in brighter colors, including a new “citrus” yellow option.

Industry analysts say Apple’s decision to run its macOS software on a chip designed for smartphones demonstrates the company’s tight integration of hardware and software. Jitesh Ubrani, a research manager at the International Data Corporation, said the move highlights Apple’s ability to optimize its devices in ways many PC makers cannot.

Although Apple is a major tech company, it is not the world’s largest PC maker. According to Gartner, Lenovo led the global PC market with about 27.2% share at the end of 2025, while Apple held roughly 9.4%.

Analysts believe the MacBook Neo could be particularly attractive to students and younger consumers who want a Mac laptop but cannot afford higher-priced models. It could also help Apple expand its presence in classrooms where Chromebooks are widely used.

The launch comes at a challenging time for the PC industry, which is facing component shortages and rising memory costs driven by demand for AI data centers. Gartner expects PC prices to increase by 17% in 2026, while IDC forecasts global PC sales could fall by 11.3% this year.

Apple is also introducing updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models alongside new laptop chips. The MacBook Neo is scheduled to go on sale on March 11.