Apple silicon for under R12,000. iStore has begun taking pre-orders for the MacBook Neo in South Africa, the most affordable Mac laptop to date, starting at R11,999 ($659).
iStore, South Africa’s only Apple Premium Partner, announced the launch on 5 March 2026. The 13-inch MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip and targets students, professionals, and small businesses looking for an entry point into the Mac ecosystem.
Specifications and design
The MacBook Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display housed in a colourful aluminium body available in 4 colour options. Apple claims up to 16 hours of battery life from the A18 Pro chip, which handles everyday tasks such as spreadsheets, photo editing, streaming, and business applications.
The device represents Apple’s push to make its silicon-based laptops accessible at a lower price point, following the same strategy seen with the iPhone 17e, which launched in South Africa at R14,599 just weeks earlier.
PC Buy Back trade-in offer
To sweeten the deal for switchers, iStore is offering a guaranteed trade-in value of R3,000 ($165) for customers who hand in a qualifying PC laptop. The PC Buy Back promotion opens on 11 March 2026.
Small business buyers get additional incentives: a free 3-year warranty and dedicated technical support with any Mac purchase.
Pricing and availability
The MacBook Neo is available for pre-order from iStore stores nationwide and online at iStore.co.za, starting at R11,999. Flexible payment options are available for students, professionals, and small businesses.
The launch continues Apple’s aggressive pricing strategy in South Africa, where it competes with Samsung and a growing range of affordable Windows laptops in the student and small-business market.
