Even Windows fans saw the MacBook Neo as a stunning buy, with many saying that Microsoft and other brands were going to be forced to respond. Microsoft has now done so – but in completely the wrong way.
Yesterday saw the announcement of some very steep Microsoft Surface price hikes across the full range of models. The 13-inch version matching the MacBook Neo display size has cumulatively seen a staggering 50% increase from its original price of $999 to $1,499 today …
Windows Central reported on the increases.
Microsoft has raised prices across the board on its Surface PCs at the Microsoft Store, with other retailers expected to follow soon […] with the flagship Surface Laptop 7 and Surface Pro 11 now starting at $500 more than they launched at in 2024 […]
The Surface Pro 12-inch, which was previously Microsoft’s cheapest modern Surface PC at $799, now starts at $1,049. The flagship Surface Pro 13-inch, which originally launched for $999, now starts at an eyewatering $1,499.
Microsoft blames memory prices for the increases, but this is just one of the factors making the MacBook Neo look ever more appealing by the day.
There are still Chromebooks priced well below the Neo, but as our sister site 9to5Google says, budget pricing may not be enough to protect them.
[For consumers] much of the Chromebook market is propped up by cheap, accessible, but ultimately woefully underpowered machines that leave a sour taste in the mouths of those who use them […]
[In the education market] we won’t know for a while if Apple can tackle the Chromebook monopoly in the sector, but if anyone can, it’s likely Apple that can succeed where Microsoft has slipped in recent years.
If you’re already switching platform to move up from a cheap Chromebook, then moving to Mac instead of Windows looks ever more appealing. It could be a similar story for iPhone and iPad, with Apple retaining existing pricing while competitors increase their prices.
As we recently noted, Apple isn’t immune to increases in RAM costs, but for now at least, the company isn’t responding with higher prices in any of its product categories. Instead, it seems to be removing more expensive configurations further ahead of anticipated upgrades.
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