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ZDNET's key takeaways
The MacBook Neo raised the bar for the budget PC market.
Existing budget PCs are inferior to the Neo.
Google may be better positioned to compete with the Neo than Windows is.
Apple's $599 MacBook Neo was a shock to the Windows PC market -- and that's a good thing. The most affordable MacBook ever brings a new experience to budget laptops, forcing Microsoft and its partners to respond with higher-tier products that can actually compete.
Let's face it, the low-end of the PC market is a little dismal: uninspired displays, clunky form factors, and lackluster performance. Sure, you get what you pay for, but the Neo is so popular because it punches above its price point. In fact, since its March 2026 release, it's been flying off shelves, exceeding Apple's projected numbers and resulting in a backlog on Apple's official site.
Also: We compared the MacBook Neo to its closest Windows and Chromebook rivals: by the specs
You can bet that Microsoft is working on a follow-up. It's only been a few months, but we're starting to see the first PCs at similar prices with similar features, including some rumored developments. We've already identified a handful of Windows PCs (and Chromebooks) that could rival the MacBook Neo, but how do they actually hold up?
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