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MacBook Neo is Apple’s most affordable Mac in the market today but what does that mean for the budget Windows brands?
The PC market is ‘shocked’ by the MacBook Neo and it is hardly surprising
Apple launched the MacBook Neo earlier this month, its supposed affordable model (not in India). Apple’s usual pitch for budget hasn’t exactly panned out that way over the years and the iPhone 16e is a good example of that. However, the MacBook Neo launch has felt different, very unlike Apple, and the PC industry seems to have got a big shock by this change of heart from Cupertino this year.
“In the past, Apple’s pricing situation has always been high, so for them to release a very budget-friendly product, this is obviously a shock to the entire industry,” this is what S.Y. Hsu, co-CEO, Asus was quoted saying by PCMag in a recent piece.
This is a disrupting moment for the industry and it seems brands across the segment are looking to compete in their own way, but we are not sure if that is possible in the Windows arena. “In fact, in the entire PC ecosystem, there have been a lot of discussions about how to compete with this product,” he adds.
And that is what the consumers have been crying out for, more reliable and affordable Windows PCs they can consider buying.
MacBook Neo Changes Things
The Asus chief claiming to compete with Neo sounds promising but the overarching feeling is that brands will need a robust system to make a product that delivers value and performance. The Neo might be lacking in RAM or even has a keyboard with backlight for $599 (Rs 54,999 approx) but macOS keeps the device ticking and Apple doesn’t throw the fancy AI toys on you. And if we reports are to go by, Apple could end the specs-debate with the rumoured Neo 2 model that could have 12GB RAM and powered by A19 Pro chipset next year.
Can Windows Do It?
Microsoft’s Windows 11 has grown in numbers mostly because people have been forced to ditch their perfectly-stable Windows 10 systems and invest in the so-called AI era.
The likes of HP, Dell and even Lenovo will find their niche within the business segment but brands like Asus will need to rethink their premium strategy, especially if people pivot away from Windows and head over to the Apple garden. So there is hope that the shock that the Asus chief is talking about delivers positive results and not a complete meltdown for the industry.
California, USA
March 12, 2026, 13:39 IST
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