It looks like Apple itself spoiled this week’s biggest product reveal: A new laptop called the “MacBook Neo” briefly appeared on the company’s website Tuesday.
Apple quickly deleted the info after it leaked. While not confirmed, the name seems like it would align with the rumored features of the entry-level laptop. Rumors indicate it will come in fun colors, with a price tag low enough to compete with Windows laptops.
‘MacBook Neo’ name leaks on Apple website
Aimed at students and the Chromebook crowd, the long-rumored MacBook Neo should deliver decent performance for everyday tasks like writing, email and streaming content. It should offer an affordable entry point into the company’s vaunted ecosystem.
MacRumors spotted the leak that revealed the “MacBook Neo” name early Tuesday. Apple removed the link to the as-yet-unannounced product just minutes after the website published its story.
A regulatory document for the rumored budget laptop (Apple code-named Model A3404) declared that the new computer complies with various EU regulations. No information other than the name, code name and regulatory info appeared in the leak.
Here comes Apple’s colorful budget MacBook
Apple is expected to unveil the new entry-level laptop on Wednesday alongside a “special Apple Experience” for certain media outlets in New York, London and Shanghai. Rumors indicate the low-cost computers will come with a 12.9-inch display and run on an A18 Pro chip (which debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro).
The MacBook Neo, if it’s actually called that, reportedly will come in a variety of fun colors, possibly including yellow, green, pink, silver and dark gray.
Rumored to cost between $599 and $799, the MacBook Neo would sit below the MacBook Air in Apple’s laptop hierarchy. In related news, Apple hiked the base price of the MacBook Air by $100 on Tuesday when it launched new models powered by the M5 chip. It now starts at $1,099.
Other Apple product launches this week
It’s been a busy week for Apple product releases so far. On Monday, the company released the iPhone 17e and the M4 iPad Air.
And earlier today, it unveiled the M5 MacBook Air as well as updated MacBook Pros powered by M5 Max and M5 Pro processors.
The company also took the wraps off the new Studio Display XDR and Studio Display monitors.
Lewis Wallace is the managing editor of Cult of Mac and author of our weekly newsletter, The Weekender.
He’s a San Francisco-based writer and editor specializing in technology and culture. He loves his iPhone, hates Siri, and appreciates any hardware that combines form and function.
Prior to Cult of Mac, he juggled words and ideas as culture editor at Wired.com, homepage editor at TechTV, news product manager at NBCi, copy editor at PC World, reporter at The (Hayward) Daily Review and editor in chief of EveryBody’s News in Cincinnati.
He earned a bachelor of general studies degree with a journalism certificate from the University of Cincinnati. While in school, he worked as the entertainment editor of The News Record and as editor in chief of Clifton Magazine.
He’s also a bass player, who’s recorded and performed around the United States with Those Darn Accordions, The Electric Boogie Dawgz and The Mad Maggies. When not writing, editing or laying down bass lines, he plays darts and serves on the board of the San Francisco Darts League.
