$599 MacBook Neo Available for Same-Day Pickup at Apple Stores

[MacRumors]

Wednesday is the official launch day of Apple's low-cost MacBook Neo, and as customers who pre-ordered begin to receive their purchases, Apple has also started in-store sales for the new laptop, along with a host of other new products it announced last week.

Customers across Europe, Asia and other regions can now place an order on Apple's website or in the Apple Store app and arrange for in-store pickup at a local retail location.

A quick spot check on the U.K. Apple online store suggests that most stores in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have available stock for customers today, although there are bound to be exceptions, with availability also running on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Apple has yet to update its online store for customers in the United States and Canada, but that will change in the next few hours, when in-store availability across North America will become clear.

To order a product with ‌Apple Store‌ pickup, add the product to your bag on Apple.com, proceed to checkout, select the "I'll pick it up" option, enter your ZIP code, choose an available ‌Apple Store‌ location, and select a pickup date. Payment is completed online, and a valid government-issued photo ID and the order number may be required upon pickup.

The MacBook Neo starts at $599, and is powered by the A18 Pro chip first introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro in 2024. It's the first Mac to use an iPhone-class chip. Apple says it delivers up to 50% faster everyday performance than the bestselling PC with Intel's latest Core Ultra 5 processor.

It features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2,408 × 1,506 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and an anti-reflective coating. The display uses uniform, iPad-style bezels instead of a notch, and the machine weighs 2.7 pounds and comes in Silver, Indigo, Blush, and Citrus, with matching keyboard accents and wallpapers.

Connectivity includes two USB-C ports – one USB-C 2 (up to 480 Mb/s) and one USB-C 3 (up to 10 Gb/s) – plus a headphone jack. Other features include 8GB of unified memory, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, a 1080p camera, dual beamforming microphones, Spatial Audio speakers, and up to 16 hours of battery life.

The base model includes 256GB of storage and the Magic Keyboard for $599, while a $699 configuration adds 512GB of storage and Touch ID. Education pricing starts at $499.

Today also marks the launch of the iPhone 17e, MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, MacBook Air with M5 chip, iPad Air with M4 chip, new and updated Apple Studio Displays. In-store availability for these devices will vary depending on popularity, but overall we think the MacBook Neo is likely to be the star of the show today in retail stores worldwide.

Article Link: $599 MacBook Neo Available for Same-Day Pickup at Apple Stores

 

[ProMotionPotato]

The star of the show on a day that also includes the iPhone 17e, M5 MacBook Pro, M5 MacBook Air, M4 iPad Air, and new Studio Displays. That's the sentence worth sitting with.

Apple launched six products today. The one getting called out by name as the likely standout in retail stores worldwide isn't the one with the most powerful chip or the highest price. It's the one that starts at $599. That's not an accident. That's the whole point.

The PC industry is in emergency meetings about it. The ASUS CFO called it a shock on an earnings call. Every major reviewer converged on the same conclusion. And now it's the star of launch day in a lineup that includes some of the best hardware Apple has ever made.

What Apple understood, and what took the rest of the industry by surprise, is that the most powerful product in a lineup isn't always the most important one. Sometimes it's the one that opens the door for everyone who couldn't get in before.

 

[2ilent8cho]

Getting quotes for 40 of these (education), very surprised at the price.

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

The star of the show on a day that also includes the iPhone 17e, M5 MacBook Pro, M5 MacBook Air, M4 iPad Air, and new Studio Displays. That's the sentence worth sitting with.

Apple launched six products today. The one getting called out by name as the likely standout in retail stores worldwide isn't the one with the most powerful chip or the highest price. It's the one that starts at $599. That's not an accident. That's the whole point.

The PC industry is in emergency meetings about it. The ASUS CFO called it a shock on an earnings call. Every major reviewer converged on the same conclusion. And now it's the star of launch day in a lineup that includes some of the best hardware Apple has ever made.

What Apple understood, and what took the rest of the industry by surprise, is that the most powerful product in a lineup isn't always the most important one. Sometimes it's the one that opens the door for everyone who couldn't get in before.

So the fact that they are in stock and you can get it the same day, on launch day, does not, to me, make it the star of the show.

Apple products that are super hot, are not available like that on launch day and for a bit of time unless you pre-ordered at midnight on whatever day with the website buckling under the load.

Can you walk in and buy the Macbooks with a M5 Pro or M5 Max CPU?

 

[ProMotionPotato]

So the fact that they are in stock and you can get it the same day, on launch day, does not, to me, make it the star of the show.

Apple products that are super hot, are not available like that on launch day and for a bit of time unless you pre-ordered at midnight on whatever day with the website buckling under the load.

Can you walk in and buy the Macbooks with a M5 Pro or M5 Max CPU?

It’s worth checking the pre order picture before drawing that conclusion. Blush and Citrus 512GB models sold out before launch day even arrived. Delivery dates for pre orders slipped to late March not because Apple under supplied, but because demand absorbed the initial allocation faster than expected. The walk in stock available today exists because that demand was front loaded, not because it was absent.

The M5 Pro and Max comparison actually reinforces the point rather than challenging it. Those are also available for same day pickup because at $2,000 plus, the pool of people who can walk in and buy one on launch day is relatively small. The Neo is priced for the largest addressable market of any Mac Apple has ever made. Managing same day availability at that price point and that scale isn't a sign of weak demand. It's a supply chain achievement.

The person who judges product significance by launch day scarcity is the person Apple has always sold to. The Neo is for everyone else.

 

[MilaM]

Just for reference, it's 810 USD for the base model if you buy it directly from Apple's EU store.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

Just for reference, it's 810 USD for the base model if you buy it directly from Apple's EU store.

I think that has something to do with sales tax. As in: sales tax is included in Europe, excluded in USA.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Getting quotes for 40 of these (education), very surprised at the price.

Surprised in what way? What does it work out per unit? (Presuming base model)

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Just for reference, it's 810 USD for the base model if you buy it directly from Apple's EU store.

There is no EU Apple store. They are all different stores in Europe per country. Including education discount in my country Neo is €599 (inclusive of sales tax), €599 = $696. Cheaper than 17e, that is €729 here in Ireland. Fortunately 17e now has MagSafe and 256 GB in base model, but a reconditioned better iPhone for the same cost or less is the better option. Mind, I'm keeping my 13 mini for a long time—prefer smaller phones.

Edit: meaning VAT and all taxes, but I just simplified it to "sales tax" for comment purposes. So VAT does not need to be added, I included it in my calculation. One positive about living in western Europe is all taxes are included in the store quoted price, be that online or IRL. €100 Levi's on the shelf are €100 at checkout. No head calculations required. Legal requirement.

 

[hoorayforhollywood]

I'm sure many of us had limited - maybe even nervous - expectations for this machine but early signs point to it not only being a smash hit, but most likely Apple's Product of the Year if it disrupts the entire industry and boosts Apple's sales and reputation.

 

[Entilzha]

So the fact that they are in stock and you can get it the same day, on launch day, does not, to me, make it the star of the show.

Apple products that are super hot, are not available like that on launch day and for a bit of time unless you pre-ordered at midnight on whatever day with the website buckling under the load.

Can you walk in and buy the Macbooks with a M5 Pro or M5 Max CPU?

You do understand that Apple almost always has stock in-store on launch days which was reserved for that specific purpose, right?

 

[HouseLannister]

Getting quotes for 40 of these (education), very surprised at the price.

Should be $20k. They are $499 for education.

 

[MilaM]

There is no EU Apple store. They are all different stores in Europe per country. Including education discount in my country Neo is €599 (inclusive of sales tax)

There is one official Apple Online Store for all of Europe. It's based in Ireland and some orders are even shipped from there. Even though you can browse it in different languages, the prices are the same, at least inside the Eurozone. The edu discount is only available to Uni students.

 

[Dark_Omen]

The person running the US online store should be fired. Everything still says pre-order. I have a job to go to, I don’t have time to wait until 2 pm for it to update.

 

[MilaM]

I think that has something to do with sales tax. As in: sales tax is included in Europe, excluded in USA.

Yes, this includes sales tax (or VAT to be specific). But even if you exclude it, most Apple hardware is more expensive outside of the US.

 

[hans1972]

So the fact that they are in stock and you can get it the same day, on launch day, does not, to me, make it the star of the show.

Apple products that are super hot, are not available like that on launch day and for a bit of time unless you pre-ordered at midnight on whatever day with the website buckling under the load.

Can you walk in and buy the Macbooks with a M5 Pro or M5 Max CPU?

Apple sells above 200 million iPhones a year. If Apple sells 5 million Neos in 2026 it will be a huge success. That means about 16-17,000 devices per day.

The volume is still so low Apple can afford and be able to have a few ten thousands in their distribution channel to cover the initial sales.

 

[Corefile]

There is no EU Apple store. They are all different stores in Europe per country. Including education discount in my country Neo is €599 (inclusive of sales tax), €599 = $696. Cheaper than 17e, that is €729 here in Ireland. Fortunately 17e now has MagSafe and 256 GB in base model, but a reconditioned better iPhone for the same cost or less is the better option. Mind, I'm keeping my 13 mini for a long time—prefer smaller phones.

So multiple the 696$ by 0.8 as VAT is typically 20% in Europe. American prices do not include any type of sales tax as those vary with city, county, and state tax levels.

 

[2ilent8cho]

Surprised in what way? What does it work out per unit? (Presuming base model)

Getting £395 without VAT from some resellers. So sub £400 is what surprised me.

 

[Hank001]

I think that has something to do with sales tax. As in: sales tax is included in Europe, excluded in USA.

Quite true. I really wish people would look this stuff up when visiting an American website.

For laughs, that $599 model...it's $841 in Hungary, the country with the highest sales tax (VAT)

MacBook Neo, indigó, 256 GB vásárlása

Vásárold meg a MacBook Neo laptopot indigó színváltozatban, 256 GB tárhellyel. Ha az apple.com-ról rendeled, a szállítás ingyenes.

www.apple.com

 

[Macalway]

Plenty of stock all around. It's possible there's actually lines at the store. Still happens, absurd as it is, considering if you just go back after a couple of hours there's no wait.

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

Cue people saying this proves it is a flop and isn't selling well.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

So multiple the 696$ by 0.8 as VAT is typically 20% in Europe. American prices do not include any type of sales tax as those vary with city, county, and state tax levels.

It is included, I edited my comment above for elaboration purposes.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

The edu discount is only available to Uni students.

TIL this is who the education discounts are available to: Parents of higher-education students (apparently they can buy on behalf of their kids, who ends up using the computer is anyone's guess). Students in higher education. Teachers and staff at any education institution at any level—college professors to teachers of children.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I guess supply wasn't all that constrained after all, eh?

 

[svish]

To all who ordered the new Neo, enjoy them. Not going to buy one but went to Apple Store to see the new laptop. Saw it in Citrus, which is my favorite among the four. Looks very nice and is a fantastic laptop.