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  "description": "Random thoughts on the new MacBook Neo.",
  "path": "/2026/03/macbook-neo/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-04T15:29:40.000Z",
  "site": "https://chrisenns.com",
  "tags": [
    "hack out the Touch ID button",
    "Apple's comparison chart",
    "John Siracusa points out",
    "Manton noted in USD pricing",
    "iPhone 17e",
    "iPad Air",
    "Mac mini",
    "MacBook Neo",
    "the education pricing"
  ],
  "textContent": "The MacBook Neo is the first Apple laptop to be powered by an A series chip, the A18 Pro, which is what's in the iPhone 16 Pro models. I thought we'd get here sooner than we did, given the A series has been in iPads and Apple TV hardware since 2010.\n\nIt starts at $799CAD for the 256GB model, and goes up to $999CAD for the 512GB with Touch ID configuration. It still sucks to see the promotional material from Apple talking up \"starting at $599!\" only to remember that that's USD pricing of course.\n\nFor the record, I think going for the 512GB model is the way to go if you can swing it. 512GB should be the minimum for a Mac laptop IMHO, and Touch ID gives you the ability to use Apple Pay on the MacBook Neo without having to authenticate in other ways which I miss a lot while using my Mac Studio with a Logitech keyboard instead of a Touch ID enabled keyboard. I really should look for a used Magic Keyboard and hack out the Touch ID button.\n\nIt still gives a much less expensive starting point for Apple laptops than the $1,499CAD MacBook Air.\n\nI noticed on Apple's comparison chart they highlight that it's the MacBook Neo (A18 Pro), which makes it _seem_ like it could be more powerful than a MacBook Air (M5) model. It's only interesting in that most folks looking for a cheaper MacBook probably aren't worried about which chip it has, or whether it's the \"Pro\" version or not.\n\nBoth models come with 8GB of RAM that isn't upgradeable.\n\nIt comes with 2 USB-C ports, though one is USB 3 and the other is USB 2 which feels like a weird thing to do since they both look the same on the outside.\n\nUSB 3 (USB-C) on the left, USB 2 (USB-C) on the right. Clearly marked.\n\nUpdate: John Siracusa points out an important performance and pricing distinction between the MacBook Neo and the Mac Pro:\n\n\n\n## Pricing\n\nAs Manton noted in USD pricing, an iPhone 17e, iPad Air, Mac mini, or MacBook Neo are all the same $599USD price. In CAD pricing, they're all $799CAD except the iPhone 17e is $100 more at $899CAD for some reason.\n\nPick any of those and you're going to get a really great computing device for under $1,000. You don't have to be a hardcore Apple pundit to realize Apple's going to sell a lot of these, especially when factoring in the education pricing of $679CAD for the entry level MacBook Neo.",
  "title": "MacBook Neo",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-04T16:34:51.693Z"
}