The nine best ways to protect, customize, and accessorize your MacBook Neo

Summary: You can use the Neo as it comes out of the box, or enhance your experience with some add-on accessories.

Background

| Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge The MacBook Neo is poised to be a top-selling laptop in 2026, thanks in large part to its affordable $599 entry price.

Despite launching at a more accessible price point than Apple’s $1,099 (though often discounted) 2026 MacBook Air, the Neo makes surprisingly few concessions in terms of build quality.

Its design has the same level of precision as pricier Apple products, and we found in a hands-on comparison that it handily outclasses similarly priced Windows laptops in just about every way despite running on an iPhone chipset.

In short, you might want one, or perhaps you already have one.

Whatever your situation is, it’s possible that you may also want a couple of accessories to get the most out of your Neo.

Further details

We have nine recommendations — a MacBook Neo accessory starter kit, if you will — that can help you protect it, customize it, or just use it more comfortably in your day-to-day life.

A USB-C monitor to use as a second screen Not every computer monitor supports USB-C video input, so the selection of ones that do is smaller (and often pricier) than if you just want a cheap model that only boasts HDMI or DisplayPort inputs.

Whether you find a deal or not, the Asus ProArt PA278CV is an appealing (and relatively inexpensive) monitor that offers USB-C video-in as well as passthrough charging to keep your Neo charged.

It’s a 27-inch 1440p monitor with a 75Hz refresh rate that’s color accurate.

It features built-in speakers and can deliver 65W of power via USB-C, which is more than enough to keep the Neo charging at its peak 30W speed (faster than the 20W charger that Apple includes).

It’s typically priced at $299 at retailers like Amazon and B&H Photo, but you might find it for as low as $209 if you’re lucky.

Asus 27-inch 1440p ProArt monitor Where to Buy: $299.99 at Amazon $299.99 at B&H Photo If you want something cheaper and small enough to fit in a bag (but with even better contrast), portable OLED monitors might be a better fit.

Brands like Innocn make them in various sizes with different screen capabilities, but the firm’s 13.3-inch 1080p model — which connects via USB-C — is a steal at $99.99, its current price for Amazon Prime members.

Context

Market participants continue to weigh supply dynamics, regulatory signals, and enterprise adoption when assessing near-term outcomes. Analyst commentary remains mixed, with emphasis on execution risk and timing of product rollouts.

Readers following this topic may also consult ongoing coverage from Reuters Technology and AP News Technology for additional primary reporting and market context.

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