The MacBook Neo is Apple’s newest, most affordable laptop. Our final verdict? It punches way above similarly-priced laptops in terms of design, and the performance isn’t bad either. If you can’t afford the MacBook Air, or you aren’t sure if its extra features or power are worth it to you, the Neo may be a really good pick. This laptop starts at $599, and goes down to $499 if you’re able to get an educational discount.

At first glance, the Neo is not that different from Apple’s other laptops, even if its four colors are more divisive. It features an aluminum design, a 13-inch (2408 x 1506) display, two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and side-firing speakers. You also get a 1080p camera, a multi-touch trackpad, and a color-matched Magic Keyboard (the 512GB model also includes a TouchID sensor). That said, it lacks Thunderbolt ports and MagSafe, which come standard on the MacBook Air.

In terms of performance, think of it as if the guts of the iPhone 16 got transplanted into a 13-inch laptop. It should be fast enough for streaming, browsing the web, and most everyday use cases thanks to Apple’s A18 Pro chip, but it won’t replace a more powerful macOS machine (especially with only 8GB of RAM). In short, it’s going to be an extremely popular graduation or back-to-school gift.

Here’s where you can buy the Neo in its 256GB or 512GB configuration.

MacBook Neo (256GB)

Where to Buy:

• $599 at Apple
• $599 at Best Buy
• $599 at Amazon

MacBook Neo (512GB)

Where to Buy:

• $699 at Apple
• $699 at Best Buy
• $699 at Amazon

Update, March 11th: This post now reflects that the Neo is available to purchase online and in stores. However, the $25 gift card promotion at Best Buy has expired.

Apple’s downpour of March product announcements kicked off with the iPhone 17E, a phone designed for those who don’t want to spend north of $700 on their next upgrade. The iPhone 16E follow-up is now available online and in stores, and those who preordered should have their units in-hand soon.

Like last year’s budget option, the 6.1-inch 17E starts at $599. It checks more off our wishlist than the 16E, though, with an expanded 256GB of base storage and built-in magnets, ensuring compatibility with the entire range of MagSafe accessories (including Qi2 chargers). What’s more, it’s powered by the same A19 chip found in the iPhone 17. Its Ceramic Shield 2 display is also as durable as the iPhone 17’s, so it won’t scratch as easily as previous models, and the phone offers a 48-megapixel “fusion” camera.

We recently published a review of the 17E, and indeed, it’s everything we wanted the 16E to be. However, it’s still easy to see the shortcomings of the 17E compared to the iPhone 17. For example, it lacks an ultrawide camera, and its display is locked at 60Hz without always-on display functionality (the iPhone 17 can go up to 120Hz). Those features may be worth spending an extra $200 for you, but maybe they’re not.

We’ve pulled together more spec details in our recent comparison post if you want to compare the latest model with the last-gen version. But if you just want to buy it, we’ve rounded up where you can easily do so.

Where to buy the iPhone 17E

You can buy the iPhone 17E from Apple and Best Buy in black, pink, or white with 256GB of storage starting at $599. If you need additional space, both Apple and Best Buy are also selling it with 512GB of storage for $799.

iPhone 17E

Where to Buy:

• $599 at Apple (256GB)
• $599.99 at Best Buy (256GB)
• $799.99 at Best Buy (512GB)

US carrier deals and incentives

• T-Mobile is offering the iPhone 17E for free via 24 monthly bill credits when you trade in an eligible device on an Experience More plan (or a Go5G Plus if you’re an existing customer), or when you trade in and add a line on most plans. If you’re switching from another carrier, T-Mobile is also offering the 17E for free (or for up to $630 off) with no trade-in required. Essentials customers, meanwhile, can get four iPhone 17E devices and four new lines for $25 per line per month with eligible trade-ins.
• Verizon is also offering the entry-level iPhone 17E for free. To get the offer, you’ll need to add a new line on an Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plan. The discount is applied as monthly bill credits over 36 months. Alternatively, the promo allows you to take $600 off the 512GB model, bringing it down to $5.55 per month, so you’ll only pay $200 over the same time frame.
• AT&T is offering the iPhone 17E for as low as $5.99 per month for 36 months when you buy the phone on a qualifying plan and activate a new line or upgrade an existing one on an eligible unlimited plan. The carrier is offering up to $384.36 in bill credits for the 256GB model and up to $404.36 for the 512GB variant. If you switch from another carrier, you could also get up to $800 in Visa rewards cards, along with up to $200 in additional bill credits when you activate a new line online.

Update, March 11th: This post now reflects that the iPhone 17E is available to purchase online and in stores.