Apple sells refurbished MacBook Neo at pre-hike prices — but Amazon is cheaper

Apple added the MacBook Neo to its Certified Refurbished store on June 26 — exactly one day after raising new-model prices by $100. The refurbished base model (8GB RAM, 256GB storage) costs $599, which is what the new MacBook Neo launched at in March. That $100 gap versus the new $699 price looks like a deal. It's less of one when you check Amazon.

The numbers

Apple's refurbished lineup now covers both configurations. The base 256GB model is $599; the 512GB version with Touch ID is $679. Compare those to the new prices — $699 and $799 respectively — and the saving is real. All four launch colors are available: Silver, Citrus, Indigo, and Blush.

Certified Refurbished machines go through Apple's full inspection process: functionality testing, memory wipe, battery replacement, and swap-out of any damaged components. Each unit ships with a standard one-year warranty.

The Amazon problem

Here's the wrinkle. As 9to5Mac reported on the same day, Amazon was selling the new MacBook Neo base model for $589–$590 — undercutting Apple's refurbished price by roughly $10. That's a brand-new unit, not a refurb, for less money. Amazon's deal pricing can change without notice, so that gap may have already closed, but it's worth checking before committing to Apple's store.

The timing of the refurbished launch also coincided with Apple raising prices across its entire Certified Refurbished catalog, with average increases of $160–$180 on other models, per MacRumors. The Neo refurbished pricing holds at original rates, but the broader store-wide hike signals Apple is protecting margins rather than passing savings to buyers.

What it means for UK shoppers

In the UK, third-party resellers — Back Market, Hoxton Macs, and MacFinder — were already stocking refurbished MacBook Neo units before Apple's own store added them. UK sterling pricing from Apple has not been confirmed as of June 26, so comparing against those retailers is a sensible first step.

For anyone who wants a MacBook Neo under $700 (or the sterling equivalent), the refurbished Apple store is now a legitimate option — just not automatically the cheapest one. Check Amazon and the third-party refurb market before buying.