Apple’s core business still revolves around the iPhone, with about half of its sales coming from these devices. But this is why it feels so strange that the company managed to build a better entry-level Apple laptop than an entry-level iPhone.
The MacBook Neo starts at $599 in the US. Buyers get an all-aluminum body, a high-resolution 13-inch Liquid Retina display, Apple silicon and all-day battery life. Apple makes it clear what it has built. This is not a pro device with the powerful M-series processors. But despite the various hardware compromises, it still feels like a complete product.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 17e follows the same philosophy as a new entry-level iPhone, but it’s still harder to love in the same way. For the same price of $599, you get a faster A19 chip, MagSafe support, and 256GB of boot storage. These are neat improvements, and I’ve written before that Apple has finally fixed some of the “budget iPhone” vibe. But the MacBook Neo clicked for me: Apple has managed to make its cheapest Mac seem generous, while its cheapest iPhone still feels like a carefully crafted compromise.
Apple’s affordable Mac still feels spacious in a way that the 17e doesn’t
This is the core of the epiphany. For all its flaws, the MacBook Neo still feels like it belongs in the Mac family. It’s not just about reluctantly letting people into the ecosystem. The Neo looked like it was built to win in its segment. The company credits it with its premium aluminum chassis, strong display, quiet, fanless design, and clear positioning for students, families, and first-time Mac buyers.
And people are voting with their wallets, and even Apple is surprised by the demand, which has reportedly led the brand to push for more units. The iPhone 17e isn’t a bad phone. It just seems like Apple’s version of “just enough.” Yes, it gets the A19, MagSafe support (finally) and more storage. But it still has the familiar “e” energy, with just a rear camera, a notch in place of Dynamic Island, and an air that says, “You can have the iPhone experience, but not too much of it.”
Compared to the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17e’s lack of ProMotion makes it feel like the only “old generation” smartphone at this price – and the only rear camera doesn’t do any favors either. Google Pixel 10a is much closer to the standard Pixel 10 in this respect. The display is smoother and the camera sensors are tiny but still versatile. But in the case of the 17e, compromises are made in both areas.
How Apple’s Neo took the laptop world by storm
The AI memory shortage has driven up laptop prices across the board, and Arm laptops that were supposed to challenge Apple on price-to-performance are instead drifting into MacBook Air and MacBook Pro territory. All of this just makes the Windows ecosystem look worse in terms of value. These price increases also hit the smartphone market, as many Android competitors were priced at par with the iPhone. So where the MacBook Neo has successfully taken its place, the 17e is left behind.
That’s my main argument here too, as the MacBook Neo changes the conversation in the current landscape, while the iPhone 17e barely survives it.
The contrast seems even sharper when you look at the playful energy that Apple has brought to the entry-level iPhones. The iPhone 5c’s comeback is a good example of this, with part of the phone’s retro appeal being that it looked neither serious nor sterile. It came in bright and fun colors. The MacBook Neo brings back some of that energy, while the iPhone 17e still gives the impression that Apple is afraid to inject personality into its entry-level phone.
Apple accidentally proved where there is still a lot of work to be done
The iPhone 17e is by no means a defective product. It’s smarter than its predecessor and a good choice for the right buyer. But with the MacBook Neo, Apple is really relying on an entry-level device. This makes it feel exciting, thoughtful and almost disturbing. This only happened with a laptop and not with the device category that it actually dominates.
Apple’s cheapest computer now appears to be one of the best value products in its lineup. The cheapest new iPhone still feels like you’re buying it because you want an iPhone, not because the company has finally cracked the code to budget value. And for a company built on the iPhone, that’s a pretty telling failure.
