Apple recently made waves by launching the MacBook Neo, a budget laptop with a stunning $599 price tag (around KES 78,000 at current rates). It was supposed to be the machine that finally brought the Mac experience to the masses.
But, as is tradition with early tech arrivals in Nairobi, that budget dream has hit a massive snag. I’ve spotted the MacBook Neo at local third-party retailers like Ricky Customs, and the asking price is a staggering KES 130,000.
That is nearly double the Apple RRP. We’re talking about a KES 50,000 early adopter tax that, frankly, is some of the craziest markup I’ve seen in a while. If you’re tempted to pull the trigger now, my best advice is to spend that money elsewhere or wait.
We’ve seen this movie before with the iPhone 17
If this feels familiar, it’s because we just went through this. When the iPhone 17 series and the iPhone Air first landed in Kenya late last year, the prices were similarly orbital. But look what happened: just three months into the business, those prices came crashing down as official stock stabilized and the initial hype faded.
I’m willing to bet my last coin that the MacBook Neo will likely follow the exact same trajectory. While we can point fingers at the global memory chip shortage or geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, there is simply no justifying a near 100% markup on a device Apple specifically designed to be affordable. I expected this to land at around KES 90,000 after taxes and a reasonable profit margin. KES 130k is just wild.
Better ways to spend your KES 130,000
At the current early bird price of the MacBook Neo, you aren’t just paying a premium; you’re actively choosing a worse deal. For the same KES 130,000 (or less), you could currently pick up:
- A brand new 13″ MacBook Air M1 (8/256GB) at below KES 90,000 depending on where you buy, with some retailers valuing it at about KES 115,000: This is a significantly more powerful machine with a better chip architecture.
- A brand new 13″ MacBook Air M4 (16/256GB) at below KES 130,000, which is even better than the Air M1 and way ahead of the Neo.
- A slightly used 14″ MacBook Pro M1 (16/512GB): You get a ProMotion display, way more ports, and better sustained performance.
There’s even a segment of the Kenyan market already joking about the inevitable price drop. I saw a hilarious post on X from a guy claiming he’s waiting for the “Ex-UK” MacBook Neo models to hit the market for KES 30,000. While we might not get that low anytime soon, his sentiment is right—patience pays.
The MacBook Neo is a great concept. It uses the A18 Pro chip (the same one in the iPhone 16 Pro), it’s fanless, and it comes in fun colours like Citrus and Indigo. But it is meant to be an entry-level gate-way to macOS, not a luxury investment.
My verdict? Spend that money elsewhere, because there are better alternatives. Otherwise, stick with your current setup for another three or so months. Let the initial stock rush clear, let the official channels open up, and watch that KES 130,000 price tag melt away.
