Apple today unveiled the MacBook Neo, a $599 notebook powered by the A18 Pro chip with 16-hour battery life and four vibrant color options. The entry-level model features a standard keyboard without Touch ID and 256GB storage, but customers wanting biometric security must pay $100 extra for the 512GB configuration.

This pricing strategy means Touch ID is exclusively bundled with higher storage tiers, with no option to add the feature to the base model. The MacBook Neo comes in Silver, Citrus, Blush, and Indigo, and is available for pre-order now with a March 11 launch. Apple offers a $100 EDU discount, bringing the standard version to $499 for students and teachers, while the Touch ID model costs $599 for educational buyers.

The Touch ID bundling approach mirrors Apple's strategy with other products, forcing customers to choose between security features and storage capacity. This could frustrate users who want biometric authentication but don't need the extra storage, potentially pushing them toward higher-priced configurations or competing laptops with more flexible upgrade paths.