As of August 16, 2026, the cheapest new MacBook sold by Apple in the United States is the base MacBook Neo, starting at $699 before tax. Apple’s current MacBook Air starts at $1,299, a $600 list-price gap. This comparison covers current, new Apple models—not used, refurbished, open-box, discontinued, or temporary retailer stock.
What “cheapest new MacBook” means
Here, “new” means sold as new with the manufacturer’s normal warranty; “current” means part of Apple’s active MacBook lineup; and “cheapest” means the lowest standard U.S. starting price before sales tax, shipping, AppleCare+, accessories, upgrades, financing costs, or trade-in credits. Prices and availability vary by country and date.
Clearance inventory, a retailer’s new-old-stock model, education pricing, and Apple-refurbished inventory can produce a lower checkout price, but they are different comparisons.
The cheapest current model: MacBook Neo
Apple lists the MacBook Neo from $699 on its U.S. Mac shopping page: Apple’s Mac buying page. The Neo was announced March 4, 2026 and became available March 11, 2026 (Apple announcement; availability announcement). It launched at $599, but Apple’s starting price rose to $699 on June 25, 2026; pages still quoting $599 are using launch pricing (MacRumors price-change report).
#1 Best Overall
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
Base configuration
Apple’s comparison page identifies the Neo’s A18 Pro chip (Apple comparison). An Apple-related institutional product list dated March 2026 identifies the entry configuration as follows; confirm selectable specifications at checkout because configurations can change:
- A18 Pro with a six-core CPU and five-core GPU
- 8GB unified memory
- 256GB SSD
- 13-inch display rated at 500 nits
- Support for one external monitor
- USB-C charging, USB-C connectivity, a headphone jack, trackpad, and Magic Keyboard
Configuration source: March 2026 Apple product list.
Price comparison at Apple’s list prices
| Model | U.S. starting price | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Neo | $699 | Cheapest current new MacBook |
| MacBook Air | $1,299 | Next step up in Apple’s current lineup |
| MacBook Pro | Higher than the Air | Performance-oriented range; exact entry price is not stated on the cited comparison |
These are Apple’s listed U.S. starting prices on the Mac buying page, before tax and options. A retailer promotion can change which model is the better deal on a particular day.
Rank #2
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
Why the Neo costs less
Different chip tier
The Neo uses Apple’s A18 Pro platform, while the Air occupies Apple’s mainstream M-series laptop tier. Apple places them in distinct product categories on its comparison page; the A18 Pro name alone does not establish parity with an M-series MacBook Air. Independent comparisons position the Neo below the Air for performance and features (MacRumors overview; Tom’s Guide comparison).
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The documented base Neo has 8GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD. That can cover documents, browser-based work, streaming, and cloud files, but 256GB fills quickly with photo libraries, games, video projects, or locally stored media. Unified memory is not a later user-upgrade, so compare the configuration you actually need rather than only the $699 headline.
Display, ports, and desk setups
The Neo’s documented 13-inch, 500-nit display and one-external-monitor limit suit a simple mobile setup. Users with two monitors, HDMI or USB-A equipment, SD cards, Ethernet, or other desk peripherals should budget for a USB-C hub and check compatibility. The cited product list confirms USB-C connectivity and a headphone jack, but not every current port detail.
Rank #3
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
Battery and other hardware compromises
Independent testing reports shorter battery life for the Neo than for the MacBook Air, but results depend on workload, brightness, software version, and review unit; do not treat one test result as a universal runtime (Tom’s Guide). Independent coverage has also identified cost-cutting choices such as keyboard backlighting; verify the live Apple specification for the exact revision before buying (TechRadar laptop coverage).
Who should buy the MacBook Neo
- Students whose work is mainly web apps, writing, email, video calls, and school software.
- Families buying a basic new laptop for a child.
- Mac users who strongly prefer macOS but cannot reach Air pricing.
- Travelers who want a compact Apple laptop.
- People comfortable using cloud storage and one external display.
For these workloads, the Neo delivers the lowest official entry into a new MacBook. Keep enough budget for tax and any storage, hub, or protection needs.
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- You regularly edit photos or video, develop software, run virtual machines, use large spreadsheets, or keep many demanding apps and browser tabs open.
- You need more than one external display or substantial desk connectivity.
- You need more than 256GB of local storage.
- Battery endurance and sustained performance matter more than the lowest initial price.
- You expect to keep the computer for five or more years and can afford greater memory and storage headroom.
- A sale places a new Air within roughly $100–$200 of the Neo; compare the exact model, warranty, and seller on that date.
The Air’s official starting price is $1,299, but its real-world value depends on configuration and promotions rather than that list price alone.
Rank #4
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
Could a refurbished MacBook Air be a better value?
Yes, if “cheapest” means the most capable MacBook for the money rather than the lowest price for a new current model. A refurbished M-series Air may provide more memory, storage, sustained performance, battery capacity, and a more premium display and keyboard experience.
The trade-offs are older hardware, uncertain battery health outside Apple-certified programs, a potentially shorter remaining support period, and different warranty and return policies. Marketplace listings also vary in condition and authenticity. Check the exact chip, memory, storage, battery condition, warranty, return window, and macOS compatibility. Apple’s live refurbished inventory is at Apple Certified Refurbished Mac; prices and models change.
This creates three separate answers:
- Cheapest new current MacBook: MacBook Neo at $699 from Apple.
- Cheapest MacBook during a deal: whichever new-old-stock or discounted model meets your condition and warranty requirements that day.
- Potentially best low-cost value: a suitable refurbished or discounted MacBook Air, if you accept its age and condition.
Ways to reduce the effective price
Education pricing
Eligible students, parents, faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers should check Apple’s education store at Apple Education MacBook Neo. Eligibility and the exact price must be confirmed in the live checkout; no fixed education figure is stated here.
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Best Value
- AN AMAZING MAC AT A SURPRISING PRICE — With an incredibly portable and durable aluminum design, up to 16 hours of battery life,* and the A18 Pro chip, MacBook Neo is ready to go wherever school takes you.
- FOUR STUNNING COLORS. ONE DURABLE DESIGN — Choose from four beautiful colors — Silver, Blush, Citrus, or Indigo — each with a color-coordinated keyboard. And MacBook Neo is made with a durable recycled aluminum enclosure that helps it reach 60 percent recycled content by weight — the most ever in any Apple product.*
- FLY THROUGH EVERYDAY ASSIGNMENTS — Whether you’re cramming for finals, using Apple Intelligence* to summarize class notes, creating presentations, or even playing the latest Apple Arcade game,* MacBook Neo delivers the performance and AI capabilities you need to get things done.
- UP TO 16 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Neo delivers all day battery life, so you can power through from early morning classes to late night study sessions without worrying about plugging in.
- A VIBRANT 13-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Neo supports 1 billion colors, so photos and videos pop and text is crisp for easy reading.
Trade-in
Apple Trade In can reduce the amount paid, but valuation depends on the device, configuration, and condition. Selling privately may return more, with extra effort and risk.
Optional protection and accessories
AppleCare+ details and pricing vary by configuration and must be checked at AppleCare. The Neo may also require a USB-C hub, external SSD, monitor, sleeve, or an additional charging cable depending on your setup; browse Apple’s accessory categories at Mac accessories.
Bottom line for a budget buyer
At Apple’s U.S. list prices on August 16, 2026, the MacBook Neo is the clear answer to the narrow question: it is the cheapest new, current MacBook, at $699 before tax. Buy it when your work is everyday computing and the 8GB memory, 256GB storage, one-display limit, and budget hardware are acceptable. Choose the Air—or a carefully checked refurbished Air—when additional headroom, storage, displays, battery endurance, or long ownership matters more than the lowest entry price.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
