ARTICLE AD
Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?
MacBook Neo has hit Apple’s refurbished store after its price increase
MacBook Neo
Apple
The MacBook Neo launched in March as Apple’s most affordable notebook, but it has already been caught in the company’s recent price hike. The base model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage now costs $699, while the 512GB version with Touch ID is priced at $799.
Just days later, Apple has already listed refurbished MacBook Neo models on its online store, giving buyers a cheaper official option, though the savings are not as generous as you might expect.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
Refurbished models are already showing up
The refurbished MacBook Neo models are essentially selling at around the prices of new MacBook Neo models pre-price hike. The 256GB model was listed at $599, which currently appears to be unavailable, while the 512GB model is available for $679. So essentially, the most affordable MacBook Neo you can currently buy from Apple costs $679.
That is still cheaper than Apple’s new price, but it is not an automatic win. Unfortunately, the Amazon Prime Day sale is now over, so these deals appear to be the only way to get the Neo for less than MSRP.
Apple refurbished products are usually a safe bet
While many may be skeptical about refurbished products, Apple says certified refurbished products go through full functional testing, cleaning, and inspection, with genuine Apple replacement parts used when needed. They also include accessories, operating systems, free shipping and returns, and the same standard one-year limited warranty as a new device.
So this is not quite the same as buying a random used laptop or taking a chance on an unknown refurb seller. You may not get the original printed retail box, but you do get Apple’s own quality checks and warranty coverage.
Apple’s refurbished store may not be a huge bargain, but it is now one of the only ways to avoid paying the increased MacBook Neo price. With memory and storage costs still under pressure, there is little reason to assume Apple’s recent price hikes will be the last. If you are planning to buy one, waiting too long could mean paying even more later.

I’ve got about 4 years of experience, mostly covering gaming, PC hardware, and smartphones. In my free time, I like…
This cross-device clipboard app solves the copy-paste problem I keep running into on my Mac
ClipboardAI keeps a searchable history of everything you copy
I have lost count of how many times I have copied something important, copied another thing before pasting it, and then realized the first item was gone. It is a small frustration, but it happens often enough to become annoying. I recently came across ClipboardAI, which caught my attention because it goes beyond Apple’s built-in clipboard by saving copied items into a searchable history.
Instead of replacing the last thing you copied every time, ClipboardAI keeps a searchable record of copied text, links, codes, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, and images across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. That means an older clip does not disappear just because you copied something new.
If you miss the feel of paper in the digital age, this app gives your Mac’s screen a textured look
A paper-like screen overlay could make long work sessions feel less harsh.

Most screen-comfort tools work by changing color temperature. Apple’s Night Shift makes the screen warmer, often giving everything an orange tint. Paperman is an interesting alternative because it adds a subtle paper-like texture over the display instead.
The app is available for Mac and Windows, and it is designed to make a screen look closer to paper, matte glass, or an e-ink display. It softens the harsh contrast and reduces the glossy look of modern screens during long reading or writing sessions.
I dug these last-hour Prime Day smart home, laptop, and accessory deals that are irresistible
Deals up to 60% off, a few hours left, and no reason to wait any longer.

Amazon's Prime Day 2026 sale is in its final hours, giving you your last chance to get your hands on the best smart home, security, tablet, laptop, and accessory deals. I've pulled together the picks that are still live, still deeply discounted, and still worth buying before the sale ends tonight or until the stock lasts.
Best Amazon Prime Day deals on smart home devices
