MacBook Neo — Apple’s Most Affordable Laptop, Just Got More Expensive in Nepal!

Ever since Apple introduced the M1 chip to the MacBook lineup, they have been a step ahead of Windows laptops in a similar price range. However, Apple had stayed clear of the “budget” or “affordable” segment until March 2026. That’s when they dropped the MacBook Neo, seemingly out of nowhere!

The Neo did not just create ripples or waves; it practically caused a tsunami. When it was fresh, the whole tech world could not seem to stop raving about it.

But the MacBook Neo did not get the same level of fanfare in Nepal. That’s because of the price, which wasn’t “affordable” per se. Now, its price has been hiked even further.

What is the Price of Apple MacBook Neo in Nepal?

The global price for the MacBook Neo starts at $599, which is $500 less than the cheapest MacBook Air of 2026, the M5 Air. It’s even $100 less with Apple’s student discounts.

As such, we were hopeful for the MacBook Neo to land under a lakh, but when GenXT finally launched the laptop the following month, they priced it at Rs. 1,17,000 and Rs. 1,36,000 for the 256GB and 512GB variants, respectively.

A little steep. But fine. With US tariffs and all, we could see where the extra charge likely was. Now, the laptop has gone even steeper in pricing.

The current MacBook Neo price in Nepal is set at Rs. 1,21,000 (256GB) and Rs. 1,40,500 (512GB), and it comes with a complimentary SHIELD (1-year extended warranty).

This price hike is likely because of the fact that Apple’s struggling to keep up with demand for its most affordable MacBook. The demand was reportedly so high that the company has already exhausted its surplus chip inventory and is now facing shortages.

As a result, Apple may have to either procure a fresh batch of chips, refresh the Neo with newer surplus silicon, or simply raise the price globally. So there is a chance that the MacBook Neo will become even more expensive.

But that is just speculation at this point. We will have to wait and see what actually happens.

In the meantime, EvoStore is running a “Back to School” campaign until 30 May with a Belkin 5-in-1 USB-C Hub and a Belkin 30W USB-C Adapter bundled in for absolutely FREE!

Meanwhile, a few weeks before the Neo’s arrival, the Air M2 was officially the cheapest MacBook in Nepal at Rs. 1,19,900. But once Neo launched, the M2 Air listing on EvoStore, the authorized reseller, disappeared. Was that deliberate or just a coincidence? It’s anyone’s guess.

Currently, the cheapest MacBook, other than the Neo, is the 13-inch M5 Air, which also got a price hike reaching Rs. 2,15,500.

Coming back to the MacBook Neo, it is exactly what it is: a trimmed-down MacBook with a slightly less powerful chip, less RAM, and a few deliberate compromises to bring the price down for everyday users. The real question is whether those compromises are actually worth it — and that’s exactly what we’re here to find out

Apple MacBook Neo Overview

First off, it comes with a full aluminium build, which gives Apple a chance to try out some new colors, and they do. It comes in some playful colors like Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and the regular Silver. This is quite interesting as you don’t find these colors on the MacBook Air, Pro, or Ultra.

However, the overall design and feel of the laptop are much closer to the MacBook Air.

The laptop does not have a backlit keyboard, which is a bummer considering it has become standard on even budget laptops. So, better keep those lights on when working at night.

On the bright side, you can open it with one hand thanks to the smooth hinge. It’s not a huge deal on its own, but these small, thoughtful details, along with the overall build quality at this price point, really prove that Apple is treating the Neo seriously as an everyday laptop.

It’s a smaller 13-inch laptop that screams compactness and portability. Being designed for everyday casual use, the display comes with slightly thicker bezels, a 2K+ resolution, and a 60Hz refresh rate. The panel is rated at 500 nits peak brightness, and you get a 1080p FaceTime HD camera.

ALSO READ: Apple MacBook Air M5 Price in Nepal (June 2026 Updated)

Now being compact, there’s only a dual speaker system as opposed to the four speakers on the Air. But to my surprise, they are Dolby Atmos-supported.

To handle all the heavy lifting, the Neo runs on the A18 Pro chip, the same chip found on the iPhone 16 Pro. The only difference is that the A18 Pro on the Neo has a 5-core GPU, while the iPhone 16 Pro runs a 6-core one. After a few YouTube videos and some Googling, it seems the A18 Pro on the Neo performs similarly to the M1 chip, which is massive.

Also, according to Apple, MacBook Neo is 50% faster at web browsing and up to 3x faster when running on-device AI workloads compared to Windows laptops equipped with Intel’s Core Ultra 5 processor.

In terms of memory, there’s 8GB of unified memory paired with either 256GB or 512GB of SSD storage. And if you go for the 512GB version, you also get Touch ID on your Magic Keyboard.

I/O ports are quite limited on the Neo, with only three ports in total: two USB-C (USB 3 and USB 2) and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Wireless is covered by Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 6. On the software side, MacBook Neo runs regular macOS 26 Tahoe with Apple Intelligence.

The battery capacity is 36.5Wh, which is on the lower side. But with a more power-efficient SoC and a smaller display, it should be enough for a day’s casual use. Sadly, no MagSafe is charging here. For charging, there’s a 20W adapter in the box with a USB-C port. However, the laptop supports even faster charging speeds, reportedly from 30 to 35 watts.

I guess EvoStore also understood the limitations of MacBook Neo’s port selection and in-box charger, which is probably why they are offering Belkin Hub and adapter as freebies right now.

ALSO READ: ASUS V16 Price in Nepal (June 2026 Updated)

The Neo is basically a smaller, less powerful version of the much more popular MacBook Air. Of course, the performance takes a hit, the display is a downgrade, and there are some features missing.

But does it matter for an average Joe? No.

For most people, a laptop just needs to handle browsing, documents, and the occasional Netflix binge, and the Neo handles all of that without breaking a sweat. What really makes it stand out is the premium aluminium build, the Apple branding, and a price that finally makes the MacBook dream more accessible.

What do you think about the MacBook Neo? Let us know in the comments below!