Laptops

Lenovo’s new Chromebooks are perfect for school kids

Now built for spills and falls

Published

February 26, 2018

Luigi Leonardo

Recently, Lenovo unveiled three new Chromebooks tailored for the education market, and now at MWC 2018 in Barcelona, is making the trio of devices available to a wider consumer base.

The new Lenovo 100e, 300e, and 500e Chromebooks share the same features that made them popular in the classroom. As with most of Lenovo’s offerings, all three come with the Yoga 360-degree hinge for flexibility in form factor.

Like the classroom variant, the consumer-friendly devices can take a beating. They come fitted with rubber bumpers, reinforced ports and hinges, and spill-resistant keyboards. They are also drop-resistant from heights of up to 29.5 inches. Likewise, they come installed with Chrome OS.

Lenovo 100e

The entry-level 100e Chromebook fits in the fundamental basics into an affordable price. It sports an Intel Celeron N3350 chip, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB eMMc of internal storage. Its 11.6-inch HD anti-glare screen churns out a 1366 x 768 resolution. The laptop’s 42Wh battery boasts up to 10 hours of runtime.

The Lenovo 100e Chromebook will be available starting in March. It will retail for US$ 219.

Solve math problems with the Lenovo 300e Chromebook

Meanwhile, the midrange 300e Chromebook enjoys a new feature: Lenovo’s Enhanced Touch. Unlike most touchscreens today, the 300e can use everyday writing implements as a stylus. In Barcelona, our team used an ordinary pencil in lieu of a stylus and it worked like a charm. We found it pretty impressive that the graphite on the pencil didn’t leave marks on the display (and nope you can’t flip the pencil around to erase your doodle).

The 300e rocks a MediaTek MTK 8173C chip, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB eMMc of internal storage. It comes powered by a 45Wh battery that can last up to 10 hours of usage.

The Lenovo 300e Chromebook is now available in authorized stores. It retails for US$ 279.

The Lenovo 500e Chromebook

Finally, the 500e Chromebook flaunts a responsive, pressure-sensitive EMR pen that fits snugly into a built-in compartment. The pen writing experience on this model, is closer to higher-end all-in-ones (vs the 300e) because of its pressure sensitivity. The pen boasts of lag-free writing, powered by predictive technology that tells where you’re about to write next.

Lenovo engineered the 500e with an Intel Celeron N3450 chip, up to 8GB of RAM, and 64GB eMMc of internal storage. It touts a front-facing camera, and its 42Wh battery churns out up to 10 hours of usage.

The Lenovo 500e Chromebook is now available everywhere. It retails for US$ 349.

Related Topics:100e 300e 500e Chromebooks Lenovo

Laptops

Hands-on: NEW iPhone 17e, iPad Air, MacBooks, Studio Displays

What Apple has announced other than the MacBook Neo

Published

March 9, 2026

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

The MacBook Neo was the star of yesterday’s Apple event, and it has every right to be but it’s been a big week for Apple.

So as promised, we also went hands-on with every other device announced this week: iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, M5 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and the new Studio Displays.

Hands-On

Apple MacBook Neo Hands-on

Say Hello to Apple’s Most Affordable Laptop!

Published

March 5, 2026

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

Apple finally has a MacBook for the budget-conscious!

In this video, we take a look at the latest MacBook Neo — Apple’s most affordable laptop at $599.

It’s the perfect first computer for students, families, and anyone who’s always wanted a Mac but couldn’t justify the price.

Here’s our exclusive hands-on with the all-new MacBook Neo for you to check out.

Laptops

MacBook Neo enters the chat with a $599 starting price

Here comes a new challenger

Published

March 5, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Apple has a new contender in the ring. And if you grew up on fighting games, the reveal almost feels like that classic moment when the screen flashes: Here comes a new challenger.

Meet the MacBook Neo — Apple’s newest and most affordable laptop yet. Starting at just US$599 (US$499 for education), it aims to bring the Mac experience to a much wider audience.

Despite the lower entry price, Apple isn’t treating this like a stripped-down Mac. The new machine still carries a full aluminum design, a vibrant display, and Apple silicon performance — the same core pillars that define the modern Mac lineup.

The goal is simple: make the Mac more accessible without losing the parts that make it feel premium.

A colorful new entry

At first glance, MacBook Neo looks every bit like a modern Mac. It features a durable aluminum enclosure with soft rounded edges and weighs just 2.7 pounds, making it easy to toss in a backpack or handbag.

Apple is also leaning into color here. The laptop comes in four finishes: blush, indigo, silver, and citrus. The Magic Keyboard matches each colorway with lighter shades, creating a cohesive look across the entire device.

Front and center is a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2408 × 1506 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and support for one billion colors. Apple says the panel delivers sharper text and brighter visuals than most laptops in this price category.

It’s a display designed to make everyday tasks — browsing, watching videos, editing photos — feel a little more vibrant.

A18 Pro powers everyday performance

Under the hood, MacBook Neo runs on Apple’s A18 Pro chip — the same architecture that powers some of Apple’s most advanced mobile devices.

Apple says the chip delivers up to 50 percent faster everyday performance compared to the bestselling PC powered by Intel Core Ultra 5. For AI-heavy tasks like applying advanced photo effects or running on-device intelligence features, the system can be up to three times faster.

The chip also includes a 16-core Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence features and a 5-core GPU for graphics workloads. The system is completely fanless, which means silent operation even under load.

In practical terms, that translates to smooth multitasking across apps like Messages, Safari, Canva, Excel, and more.

Built for all-day use

Battery life is another highlight. Thanks to the efficiency of Apple silicon, MacBook Neo can run for up to 16 hours on a single charge.

The laptop also includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera with improved image processing, along with dual microphones that use directional beamforming to reduce background noise during calls.

For audio, dual side-firing speakers support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos for a more immersive listening experience.

The device features Apple’s Magic Keyboard and a large Multi-Touch trackpad, while select models include Touch ID for quick and secure logins.

Connectivity includes two USB-C ports for charging and accessories, a headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 6.

The Mac experience, now more accessible

MacBook Neo ships with macOS Tahoe, complete with built-in apps like Safari, Photos, Messages, and FaceTime. It also supports Apple Intelligence features such as Writing Tools and Live Translation.

For users already in the Apple ecosystem, Continuity features make switching between devices seamless. Tools like Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and iPhone Mirroring let users move between Mac and iPhone without breaking their workflow.

With its $599 starting price, MacBook Neo now becomes the most affordable entry point into the Mac lineup — a position long rumored but never quite realized until now.

In fighting game terms, Apple didn’t just add another character to the roster.

It added one meant for a whole new set of players.

Pricing and availability in Singapore and the Philippines

In Singapore, the MacBook Neo starts at S$849 and S$729 for education. Customers can pre-order the new MacBook Neo from Friday, March 6.

In the Philippines, Apple’s friendliest-to-the-budget MacBook starts at ₱39,990 and ₱33,990 for education. They will be available soon on apple.com/ph/store and Apple Authorized Resellers.