Tech News, CUPERTINO, CA, 5 March, 2026: Apple has concluded a high-stakes “Big Week” of product launches, signaling a strategic pivot toward the budget-conscious segment. The company officially unveiled the iPhone 17e and a groundbreaking new entry-level laptop, the MacBook Neo, both starting at a disruptive $599 price point.
iPhone 17e: Flagship Power, Entry-Level Price
The iPhone 17e arrives as the most affordable gateway into the iPhone 17 family. While it retains the classic notch design (opting not to include the Dynamic Island found on the standard 17), it receives a massive performance boost via the A19 chip—the same silicon powering the flagship iPhone 17.
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Storage: Doubled to 256GB as the base configuration.
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Camera: Upgraded to a 48MP Fusion system with 2x Telephoto capabilities.
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Durability: Features the new Ceramic Shield 2, offering 3x better scratch resistance.
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Charging: Finally introduces MagSafe and Qi2 support to the “e” series.
MacBook Neo: The Return of the Affordable Mac
Stealing the spotlight is the MacBook Neo, Apple’s most aggressive move into the affordable laptop market in years. Designed to compete with high-end Chromebooks, the Neo is the first Mac to be powered by an iPhone-class processor, the A18 Pro.
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Display: 13-inch Liquid Retina display with 500 nits brightness.
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Design: A lightweight, fanless aluminum chassis weighing just 2.7 lbs, available in vibrant colors like Indigo, Blush, and Citrus.
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Battery: Up to 16 hours of video playback.
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Price: Starts at $599 ($499 for education), making it significantly cheaper than the $1,099 MacBook Air M5.
Availability
Both the iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo are available for pre-order now, with official retail availability beginning Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
