What Makes the MacBook Neo Apple’s Most Affordable Model?

Updated On: March 10, 2026 1:08 pm

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Apple unveiled its most affordable MacBook to date last week: the $599 MacBook Neo (which drops to $499 for those who utilize the Apple education discount). However, the company is also developing new offerings at the higher end of the market.

Apple is expected to label this new line as “Ultra,” according to a recent report from Bloomberg’s Apple expert Mark Gurman. As Gurman highlights, the company already has several premium products that carry this designation — such as the Apple Watch Ultra, CarPlay Ultra, and its Ultra chips, which represent the company’s top-tier chipset.

The iPhone Fold, the upcoming generation of AirPods, and the touchscreen MacBook are all anticipated to be part of the “Ultra” series, according to Gurman.

Gurman mentions that while Apple might not ultimately choose the Ultra branding, they are indeed developing a range of high-end products that will surpass their existing premium offerings, including the iPhone Pro and the MacBook Pro.

All three anticipated products are likely to come with a premium price tag, even for their entry-level versions. For instance, Apple’s upcoming foldable smartphone, the iPhone Fold, which Gurman suggests could be named “Ultra,” is projected to debut at a starting price of approximately $2,000.

The next-generation AirPods are said to feature “computer-vision cameras” that will enable Siri to utilize visual data for its AI assistant capabilities. Gurman speculates that these AirPods might also bear the “Ultra” name, and they would undoubtedly be a more advanced offering compared to the current AirPods Pro.

In addition, Apple may introduce its long-anticipated touchscreen MacBook as a distinct product line separate from the MacBook Pro series. Gurman indicates that they might choose to use the Ultra name or opt for a different title for the touchscreen MacBook, but the key takeaway is that Apple seems to intend for the touchscreen MacBook to coexist with the MacBook Pro, rather than replace it.

According to Gurman, the touchscreen MacBook could be priced even higher than the recently launched M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models, with the M5 Max MacBook Pro currently starting at $3,599.