Apple's Refurbished MacBook Neo: The Same Laptop, Now With a Discount That Makes You Forget It's Used
Apple's refurbished MacBook Neo drops to $599, proving that 'pre-owned' is just code for 'someone else already broke it in.' Plus other deals that might actually be worth your money.
In a move that will surprise absolutely no one who has been paying attention to laptop prices, Apple is once again selling its most affordable laptop, the MacBook Neo, at its pre-price hike price. The catch? It's refurbished, which is tech-speak for 'gently used by someone who probably spilled coffee on it at some point.' But hey, a discount is a discount.
All four colors are currently available through Apple's refurbished store, with the base 256GB model going for $599 (a cool $100 off the $699 new price), and the upgraded version with 512GB of storage and TouchID selling for $679 (saving you $120 from the $799 new price). Both come with a one-year manufacturer warranty, and you can extend your peace of mind with an AppleCare plan, because nothing says 'trust us' like paying extra for the right to be paranoid.
Our colleague Antonio G. Di Benedetto reviewed the MacBook Neo and was, in his words, impressed by its performance, especially considering it's running on the A18 Pro - the same chip that powers the iPhone 16 Pro. It's like putting a sports car engine in a sensible sedan, and it works surprisingly well. While power users might feel a bit constrained by the 8GB of RAM and storage that's about as fast as a snail on a treadmill, the excellent screen, keyboard, and speakers make this a great choice for people who mainly live in browsers rather than resource-hungry apps. It's also a fantastic laptop for high school or college students, who likely spend more time on Netflix than on video editing anyway.
If the MacBook Neo isn't quite your speed, or you're just a fan of deals that don't involve pre-owned electronics, there are other bargains to consider. Amazon has the Google Pixelsnap Charger on sale for $41.99 (down from $69.99), the lowest price we've seen yet. This Qi2 wireless charger features a detachable stand to keep your Pixel 10 series phone upright and visible while charging, and supports up to 25W of fast charging. Note that older Pixel models will need a compatible magnet case to attach to the stand - because nothing says 'progress' like needing a case to use a charger.
For the gamers among you, the Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition is available on Amazon for $50, which is half off its usual price. This wired controller is packed with features that competitive gamers will appreciate, like remappable back paddles, two trigger heights, and hall effect thumbsticks. It's compatible with PC and Xbox Series S/X over USB, so you can finally have a controller that matches your skill level (or at least your ambitions).
And if you're into cooperative climbing games that test both your teamwork and your patience, Fanatical has Steam codes for Peak discounted to $3.75, just over half off its usual $7.99 price. This co-op climbing game challenges you and your friends to scale a mountain together, with a physics system that often leads to hilarious circumstances - like your buddy slipping off a ledge and dragging you down with him - and a variety of helpful (or detrimental) items to discover along the way. It's a bargain, and you'll need all the laughs you can get when your 'friends' inevitably sabotage your climb.
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