Apple says MacBook Neo is its most sustainable Mac yet, with 60% recycled materials

Apple’s new MacBook Neo is not only the company’s most affordable laptop yet, but it is also its most environmentally conscious. According to Apple, the entry-level machine contains approximately 60 per cent recycled materials by weight, making it the most recycled-material product the company has produced to date.

The claim comes from Molly Anderson, Apple’s Vice President of Industrial Design, who spoke about the thinking behind the laptop’s design in a recent interview. Apple introduced the MacBook Neo earlier this month as a lower-cost Mac aimed at students, first-time buyers, and everyday users, with pricing starting at Rs 69,990, or Rs 59,900 with education discounts.

Despite the price positioning, Apple insists the Neo was designed from scratch rather than built by repurposing older Mac components. The idea, Anderson explained, was to make a laptop that still feels unmistakably like a MacBook while pushing the company further toward its sustainability goals.

A MacBook built from recycled parts

Much of that sustainability effort comes down to the materials used throughout the device. Apple says the chassis uses about 90 per cent recycled aluminium, while the battery includes 100 per cent recycled cobalt and 95 per cent recycled lithium. The company has also incorporated recycled rare earth elements in magnets, along with recycled metals in circuit boards and structural parts.

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Packaging follows the same direction, relying on fibre-based materials rather than plastic wherever possible. These moves are part of Apple’s broader environmental strategy. The company has previously pledged that its entire product lineup will become carbon neutral by 2030, and increasing the use of recycled metals is a central part of that roadmap.

A cheaper Mac that still looks premium

Designing a lower-cost MacBook without diluting the brand’s look proved to be one of the bigger challenges. Many budget laptops rely on plastic chassis or simplified designs to bring prices down.

Apple chose not to go that route. Anderson said the team wanted the MacBook Neo to remain “quintessentially a MacBook”, which meant sticking with aluminium construction and a clean, minimalist design.

The Neo also adds a more playful palette than typical MacBooks. Buyers can choose from Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and Silver, a shift from Apple’s usual neutral tones. Under the hood is Apple’s A18 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 16 Pro series. It is the first Mac to rely on an iPhone-class chip rather than Apple’s M-series silicon, a decision that helps keep the price down while still delivering enough power for everyday tasks such as browsing, document work, and streaming.

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The device features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and up to 16 hours of battery life, positioning it as a lightweight laptop for students and casual users.

The MacBook Neo is set to go on sale from March 11, following preorders earlier this month. What do you think of its build and design? Drop a comment with your thoughts.