Apple has launched the MacBook Neo, a new entry-level laptop starting at A$899, making it the most affordable MacBook the company has ever released.

The Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, a fanless aluminium design and is powered by Apple’s A18 Pro chip, the same processor family used in the latest iPhone lineup.

The announcement follows weeks of speculation that Apple was preparing a colourful, lower-cost MacBook powered by its iPhone-class silicon.

Apple says the device is designed to make the Mac platform more accessible while still delivering premium build quality.

The move aligns with Apple’s broader push into lower-priced devices – a strategy analysts say could drive traffic to retailers like JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman.

As expected, Apple has leaned heavily into colour for the new model.

The MacBook Neo ships in blush, indigo, silver and citrus, continuing Apple’s push toward more vibrant products seen in recent iMac and MacBook Air releases.

The laptop weighs 2.7 pounds (around 1.2kg) and features a recycled aluminium chassis designed using a more material-efficient manufacturing process.

In a notable shift, Apple has moved away from its traditional M-series Mac chips for this entry-level device.

Instead, the MacBook Neo runs on the A18 Pro, enabling what Apple claims is up to 50% faster performance for everyday tasks compared with leading Intel Core Ultra 5 PCs.

The chip also features a 16-core Neural Engine designed to accelerate on-device AI tasks and Apple Intelligence features within macOS Tahoe.

Apple says the laptop can deliver up to 16 hours of battery life, while remaining completely silent due to its fanless design.

Other hardware includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones, Spatial Audio speakers, two USB-C ports, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6.

The Neo is the latest in a wave of Apple announcements this week.

The company also unveiled an M4-powered iPad Air, a new iPhone 17e and refreshed MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models powered by the M5 chip.

MacBook Neo pre-orders open today in Australia, with devices shipping 11 March. Education pricing starts at A$749.