Podcast Summary: The Wirecutter Show – Is The New $600 MacBook Neo Actually A Good Deal?

Date: March 13, 2026
Host: Rosie Guerin
Guest: Brenda Stolyar, Senior Staff Writer at Wirecutter

Episode Overview

This episode of The Wirecutter Show probes Apple’s latest effort to redefine affordability within its brand: the new MacBook Neo and iPhone 17e, both debuting at a $600 price point. Host Rosie Guerin chats with senior tech writer Brenda Stolyar to uncover what consumers are really getting (and giving up) for this lower price, how these devices stack up against their pricier siblings, who should consider buying them, and why Apple is releasing these budget-friendly products now.

Key Discussion Points

1. What Is “Affordable” in Apple’s Ecosystem?

• Affordability is relative.

  • $600 is still “expensive on the broader market” (laptops: $200-$500; phones: $100-$400), but compared to other Apple products, it qualifies as budget [03:55].

  • Education discounts lower the MacBook Neo to $499, with potential further sales [04:55].

    “When we're talking about Apple's ecosystem specifically...the MacBook Neo...is $500 cheaper than the base model MacBook Air, which is a massive difference.” – Brenda [04:27]

2. First Impressions of the New Products

• iPhone 17e:

  • Largely an iterative update—main excitement centers on addition of MagSafe, addressing a major previous omission [05:43].
  • MagSafe supports faster wireless charging and new magnetic accessories.

• MacBook Neo:

  • Contrary to fears, it feels surprisingly premium (“aluminum chassis...feels very similar to the MacBook Air”) [06:42].

  • Weighs the same as the Air (2.7 lbs), but is chunkier and thus likely more durable [06:39–07:16].

  • Comes in new, muted colors: blush, citrus (“Gatorade lemon lime flavor”—a source of much Slack debate), indigo, and silver [07:19–08:12].

    “I picked up the MacBook Neo and I was shocked to learn that it's actually the same weight as the MacBook Air.” – Brenda [06:42]

3. What Are You Sacrificing for Lower Price?

iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17

• Cameras:

  • 17e: Single 48MP rear, 12MP front
  • 17: Ultra-wide lens and upgraded 18MP front with “center stage” (auto-framing) [08:52].
  • Not ideal for photography enthusiasts.

• Display/Battery:

  • 17e lacks always-on display, “ProMotion” 120Hz refresh (stays at 60Hz), smaller screen, shorter battery life, and replaces Dynamic Island with the older notch [10:13].

    “It really just...comes down to the cameras and...that higher refresh rate. I didn't realize how much of a difference it is on your eyes to go from a 120Hz screen to a 60Hz screen.” – Brenda [11:27]

• Performance & Storage:

  • Both have the same A19 chip (performance parity) [10:59].

  • Storage starts at 256GB and goes to 512GB (up from last year's base) [11:25].

    “With this iPhone, you're not sacrificing speed for affordability.” – Brenda [14:50]

• Verdict: Feature set similar to last year’s iPhone, but for casual users not needing stellar cameras or display perks, it’s a strong offering.

MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air

• Processor & RAM:

  • Neo: Runs on an A18 Pro iPhone chip (not Apple’s usual M-series Mac chips) [13:11].

  • 8GB RAM, not configurable (MacBook Air starts at 16GB and is upgradeable); limits multitasking [15:50].

    “With this, you're fixed at 8 gigabytes...so you have to be intentional with the usage...” – Brenda [15:50]

• Performance:

  • Not suitable for heavy lifting: “This is not the laptop that you're going to use for heavy duty video editing or photo editing or gaming or 3D rendering... It's just your very basic computer.” [13:30]
  • For streaming, web browsing, video calls, and light office work only.
  • Reviewers are seeing “hiccups” with heavy multitasking or many open tabs/apps [17:03].

• Build/Design:

  • Thicker but still light and portable, durable for students [06:42–07:16].

4. Why Now? Context for Apple’s Move

• Timing is not coincidental:

  • The global RAM shortage (“Ramageddon”) is making all PCs pricier due to AI/data center demand [18:31].

  • Apple is seizing the chance to introduce lower-priced devices before costs skyrocket, and to welcome new (potentially lifelong) customers into its ecosystem [20:25].

    “It's serendipitous, I think, is the only word, really. And there's something to be said about Apple really taking advantage of this moment...” – Brenda [20:27]

• Budget laptop market is confusing:

  • Hundreds of models from various manufacturers, shifting prices and configurations—“decision fatigue” for consumers [19:12].
  • Apple’s straightforward, affordable options aim to stand out amid chaos.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On “affordable” Apple:

  “$500 cheaper than the base model MacBook Air, which is a massive difference.” – Brenda [04:27]

• On the MacBook Neo’s colors:

  “I like to think of it as like the Gatorade lemon lime flavor. It's an interesting color.” – Brenda [07:52]

• On who should consider the 17e:

  “This is for the person who just likes to snap random photos of things... They just want memories.” – Brenda [09:43]

• On the limitations of MacBook Neo:

  “You have to be intentional with the usage when it comes to that small amount of RAM, which wouldn't be a problem with a higher end MacBook...” – Brenda [15:50]

• On the timing and RAM shortage:

  “They're calling it Ramageddon.” – Brenda [20:25]

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• Introduction & Affordability Context: 03:37–05:30
• First Impressions (Look, Feel, Colors): 05:30–08:17
• What You Lose for the Lower Price (iPhone): 08:30–12:29
• What You Lose for the Lower Price (MacBook): 13:01–15:50
• RAM Limitations Explained: 15:42–17:03
• Why Now? (Market Context & Strategy): 18:15–21:21

Wirecutter Takeaways

• iPhone 17e
  • Great for basic users moving up from older phones, but not for photographers or display snobs. Impressive hardware parity for the price.
• MacBook Neo
  • Promising for students and light users who just need reliability. Heavy browser/tab-users and multitaskers will notice limitations. Durability and price are standout attributes.
• Strategic Timing
  • Apple’s ‘affordable era’ is well-timed amid global price hikes, confusion in the PC market, and shortages. These releases likely usher new users into the Apple ecosystem for years to come.

For Wirecutter’s in-depth written review, see Brenda’s piece: “Apple is in its affordable era, sort of.”