Apple appears to have briefly revealed the name of its rumoured lower-cost MacBook model after a regulatory document for a “MacBook Neo” carrying model number A3404 surfaced on the company’s EU compliance website before being removed within minutes of the link going public.
The accidental listing, which was spotted by MacRumors, contained no images or detailed specifications, but the model number confirms that a new Mac product is progressing through regulatory approval, a process that typically precedes an imminent announcement by days rather than weeks.
Apple is holding “Apple Experience” media gatherings in New York, London, and Shanghai this Wednesday at 9 am Eastern Time, with no live stream planned, pointing to a press release on the Apple Newsroom website as the primary channel for the official announcement.
The MacBook Neo is rumoured to sit below the new MacBook Air M5 in Apple’s laptop lineup, a price tier the Mac range has not occupied for several years, with estimates placing the starting price somewhere between $599 and $799 depending on configuration.
Unlike the MacBook Air and Pro lines, the device reportedly runs an iPhone-derived chip rather than an M-series processor, with an A18 Pro or A19 Pro cited in current rumours alongside a 12.9-inch display that falls between the existing 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air screen sizes.
Colour options, including yellow, green, blue, and pink, have also been hinted at, a palette that aligns with Apple’s approach to the iPhone and iMac consumer lines and reinforces the Neo name’s positioning as an accessible, personality-led entry point into the Mac ecosystem.
A sub-$800 MacBook would represent Apple’s most affordable laptop in years and could meaningfully expand the Mac’s reach in the education and first-time buyer segments where Chromebooks and budget Windows laptops currently dominate.
Apple has not officially confirmed any details about the MacBook Neo, with pricing, full specifications, and availability expected to be announced later today.
![Apple Grand Central retail store closed due to special activity [U] – 9to5Mac](https://i0.wp.com/9to5mac.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/03/alicia-keys-apple-50.webp?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1 "Apple Grand Central retail store closed due to special activity [U] – 9to5Mac")
