The MacBook Neo arrived in March as the cheapest Mac ever and broke sales records. Since then its price has kept going up in Europe, and now it’s students’ turn: in Apple’s education store in Spain, the MacBook Neo costs €40 more and the education discount shrinks from €100 to €60.
How prices have changed in Spain
| Model | Launch | June | Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 256GB (regular price) | €699 | €799 | €799 |
| 256GB (education) | €599 | €699 | €739 |
| 512GB (regular price) | €799 | €899 | €899 |
| 512GB (education) | €699 | €799 | €839 |
The regular price doesn’t change this time, but the education price does. The result: in just seven months, a student buying the 256GB model pays €140 more than at launch. In the US, on the other hand, the education price is still $649, versus $699 for the regular price.
Why it’s going up
Apple attributes the increases to the shortage of memory chips, which is making computers and phones from every brand more expensive. The MacBook Neo, with its A18 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, has very thin margins, so any increase in component costs shows up in the final price.
What about the MacBook Neo 2?
Rumors point to a second generation in the first half of 2027, with an A19 chip and 12GB of RAM. If that happens, it would be a big jump, especially in memory, which is the current model’s weak spot. I cover everything we know in the MacBook Neo 2 article.
My take
At €739 it’s still a good computer for school, but it’s no longer the bargain it was at €599. And at €839 for the 512GB model, it’s getting too close to a discounted MacBook Air, which has more RAM and an M-series chip. If you’re a student and need it now, the Neo still does the job. If you can wait, I’d look at MacBook Air deals on Black Friday or hold out to see what the Neo 2 brings. And if you’re studying in the US, the $649 education price is still one of the best deals in Apple’s lineup.
Sources: Apple Education Store Spain, Applesfera, La Manzana Mordida, MacRumors.
