A Full Apple Ecosystem Now Costs Less Than a MacBook Pro

[MacRumors]

Apple's entire entry-level product lineup now costs less than a single 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip.

The ten products that now define Apple's lowest-cost tier are as follows:

• iPhone 17e: $599
• MacBook Neo: $599
• iPad (11th generation): $349
• Magic Keyboard Folio: $249
• Apple Pencil (USB-C): $79
• Apple Watch SE 3: $249
• AirPods 4: $129
• Apple TV 4K: $129
• HomePod mini: $99
• AirTag: $29

The total comes to $2,510, which is $189 less than the $2,699 starting price of the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip. AppleCare One, which can cover any three Apple devices of the buyer's choosing, costs an additional $19.99 per month.

The MacBook Neo, announced on March 4, is the linchpin of the shift. At $599, it is Apple's most affordable laptop ever and the first Mac to contain an A-series chip, using the A18 Pro that debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro. After its March 11 launch, Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple saw its "best launch week ever for first-time Mac customers."

The iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo, both at $599, anchor the lineup at an identical price point that would have seemed implausible just two years ago, when the cheapest Mac laptop cost $999.

What is striking about today's lineup is how capable most of Apple's entry-level products have become relative to their more expensive siblings. The iPhone 17e uses the same A19 chip and 48-megapixel main camera as the $799 iPhone 17, differing meaningfully only in its slightly smaller 60Hz display, single rear camera, and notch design. The MacBook Neo's A18 Pro chip posts a single-core score of 3,461, within 6% of the M5 MacBook Air, and is highly capable for everyday tasks. The Apple Watch SE 3 shares the same S10 chip as the $399 Series 11 and, with its last refresh, gained an always-on display, sleep apnea detection, body temperature sensing, and fast charging. The notable exception in the lineup is the entry-level iPad, which is the only current Apple device that does not support Apple Intelligence.

It is also notable that three of the eleven products on the list are also due for imminent replacements. The 12th generation iPad with an A18 chip and Apple Intelligence support is said to be "[url="http://

Article Link: A Full Apple Ecosystem Now Costs Less Than a MacBook Pro

 

[thecombatwombat]

Did I miss it when they canceled the Vision Pro?

Certainly it's still an important part of the uhm, ecosystem . . .

 

[Apple_Robert]

Did I miss it when they canceled the Vision Pro?

Certainly it's still an important part of the uhm, ecosystem . . .

The article is about comparing the price of the MBP to the other items listed. The Vision Pro is not in the article because it isn't applicable.

 

[Octavius8]

That was an achievement from Tim.

 

[I7guy]

I love the juxtaposition.

 

[BeatsByTim]

Did I miss it when they canceled the Vision Pro?

Certainly it's still an important part of the uhm, ecosystem . . .

lol this was my thought. you're throwing in a lot of useless stuff into that figure you might as well pile it all on.

 

[Mr_Ed]

Not sure how this information is useful for most people. I’m sure there are a few who perhaps feel Apple products are part of their identity in some way, and owning Apple products in every category is some sort of goal. I’ve never met anyone like that.

 

[BeatsByTim]

• Magic Keyboard Folio: $249

Clearly a necessary part of a complete apple ecosystem. The whole premise of this article is so strange lol. And a singular airtag.

 

[adamlbiscuit]

Did I miss it when they canceled the Vision Pro?

Certainly it's still an important part of the uhm, ecosystem . . .

There’s no entry level equivalent for the Vision Pro.

 

[thecombatwombat]

The article is about comparing the price of the MBP to the other items listed. The Vision Pro is not in the article because it isn't applicable.

It's not a shot at the article it's a shot at the Vision Pro. It's just not part of "the ecosystem," no?

Has Apple ever launched a similar project and made so much noise about it, to years later have it not be relevant in an article like this?

I can't think of one. Maybe the iPod Hi-Fi.

 

[vertsix]

Did I miss it when they canceled the Vision Pro?

Certainly it's still an important part of the uhm, ecosystem . . .

 

[BeatsByTim]

I'm the van-life zoomer with enough disposable income to buy a $4,000 camera and lens to go with my macbook pro to show off how affordable apple products are.

 

[capamac]

I'd rather have the MacBook Pro.

 

[BeatsByTim]

I'd rather have the MacBook Pro.

Yeah, there are much cheaper ways to get basic email and web browsing than buying all that stuff.

 

[63W]

Its cheaper than a 14 inch MacBook M4 Max. 🙄

 

[Pitogyro]

Reminder that Tim Cook is still CEO and you’ve just given him a fantastic new reason to raise prices to balance things out

 

[jsavvy]

Interesting article. It is true that it’s easier than ever to get into the Apple ecosystem.

 

[TheOldChevy]

The Neo is really a thing for itself.

On the iPhone, a lower cost SE or -e should be possible without killing the product line.

 

[jjrtiger]

Apple is now a services company that makes great hardware. TV, Music, iCloud+, Maps...

The Neo presented a bold, novel effort to get new users into the ecosystem, and I expect it to pay off big time.

 

[ab2c4]

Eh, I prefer to stay away from ecosystems from all companies, this way I can buy any type of product from any company. I mix and match and jump back and forth between company's products and everything works good.

 

[magicschoolbus]

It's pretty amazing the amount of parts sharing across devices.. innovate at the top and the lower tier gets the trickle down at a reduced price.. further monetizing design, R&D, ETC across many years after the initial investment. Tim Apple was a great CEO.

 

[Ctrlos]

Or:

• iPhone 17e: $599
• MacBook Neo: $599
• iPad (11th generation): $349
• Magic Keyboard Folio: $249
• Apple Pencil (USB-C): $79
• Refurb Apple Watch SE 2: $129
• CMF Buds Pro: $29
• Refurb Apple TV 4K: $70
• Bluetooth Speaker: $30
• 3rd Party AirTags x4: $20

~$1500 all in.

 

[Max_G]

Is this to show that Apple stuff is dirt cheap?
Or is this to show that the MacBook Pro 16" is prohibitively expensive?

 

[wonderings]

who needs a keyboard folio when you have a MacBook already? Pretty redundant. Now you could price in a non Apple product to actually give the full lineup albeit without the same screen and power. You could skip a redundant bluetooth keyboard for an iPad and go with a Quest 2 and have a very decent VR wireless gaming headset that is enjoyable to watch movies in as well as play the massive library of games actually made for the device. Not a Vision Pro replacement but a headset with a massive library.

 

[awesomecat]

ah yes the unnecesary air tag,