In a market where the Mac has always been desirable, it’s somehow a better deal than Windows machines now
For a long time, the advice to buy a laptop was simple enough. Windows had a flexible portfolio that brought you affordable, mid-range, high-end, and gaming options, while MacBooks were known as a simple premium recommendation.
But due to the price circus caused by memory shortages and rising component prices, the number is no longer realistic.
Apple has been struggling with its products, including the Mac. The appeal was the sleek hardware, the solid software experience, and the ecosystem that made you feel comfortable after you signed in. Price was one factor that brought people back to Windows. Don’t get me wrong, Windows has its strong points. But for most people, the argument was always the same. Mac is great, but look at what you can get on the PC side for less.
In 2026, this is no longer true. The MacBook Neo has changed the entry point into Apple’s laptop system. The Mac now starts at $599 with an A18 Pro chip, a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, and macOS Tahoe. It ships with 8GB of integrated memory and starts with 256GB of storage, which is still an obvious limitation in 2026. And yet, the value it offers is much better than its competitors in this price range.
Windows laptops are compact
The Windows side is facing a much bigger problem. Memory prices have become a major pressure point for the entire PC industry. Windows laptop makers like HP, Dell, Asus, and others are raising prices due to the global memory chip shortage. And the worst part is, memory prices may not drop until next year. The current RAM crunch makes the Apple look like a reasonable laptop choice.
This is something that Apple has masterfully navigated. Thanks to a deep supply chain advantage and its highly efficient chip strategy, the iPhone maker has avoided the issue plaguing its Windows rivals. Microsoft’s latest Surface for Business lineup is a good example. These are powerful new laptops, to be sure, but the prices are frankly disappointing.
After years of pushing Windows 11 and Copilot, both of which require at least 16GB of RAM, the company is selling its 8GB Surface Laptop for $1,299. By comparison, the brand new M5 MacBook Air costs just $1,099, and Apple packs 16GB of RAM into it.
Still no answer on MacBook Neo
For $599 in the US, Apple suddenly has a Mac sitting where Windows should comfortably belong. Just compare it to the 13-inch Surface Laptop, and the huge price gap alone would win any arguments. With the exception of a few rare models, the MacBook Neo remains undisputed.
You get a clean aluminum design, a sharp 13-inch display, long battery life, Apple Intelligence support, and enough everyday functionality for students, families, and basic creative work. Sure, the Surface has advantages like touch, better battery claims, and strong multicore performance, but that’s the same kind of argument people made against the MacBook when Windows was cheaper. What mattered most was what the buyer was willing to compromise on price. The only difference now is that I find myself protecting the MacBook.
Apple is now a viable option
MacBook Neo has no trade-in. It’s not a machine for heavy video editors, serious multitaskers, or anyone who refuses to buy an 8GB laptop in 2026. But it offers casual consumers something that Apple usually reserves for the higher price brackets, which is a proper Mac experience at a price that no longer feels unreasonable.
Meanwhile, the Windows market is getting squeezed. Memory costs are increasing; every new laptop is more expensive than the previous generation models, and the budget space to the middle is not there at all. However, MacBooks are not the right choice for everyone. Windows maintains a strong lead for games, various customizations, hardware options, and much more. However, in 2026, Apple’s cheapest MacBook now looks like a laptop that you don’t have to justify with feelings, only with math.
