Somehow, Apple’s Brand-New MacBook Is Cheaper Than Its Brand-New Headphones

Apple is full of surprises lately. 

Last week, the company released its cheapest laptop ever, the MacBook Neo, priced at $499 for students with Apple’s education discount. (Non-education folk will pay $599 for the colorful budget machine.)

But just five days after Neo arrived, Apple made an unexpected announcement: Its most expensive over-the-ear headphones are getting a new chip. The AirPods Max 2 will go on sale March 25 for $549. That means it’s more costly for a student to buy these headphones than it is to buy a MacBook. (Alas, Apple doesn’t offer an education discount on AirPods.)

Watch this: Apple Surprises With AirPods Max 2 (and Why Does MacBook Neo Cost Less?)

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When the cost for Apple’s headphones rivals that of a Mac machine, it’s clear we’re in new territory. How can a MacBook be that cheap? And why do the AirPods Max cost that much? 

In today’s episode of One More Thing, which you can watch in the video embedded above, I go over the new features of the AirPods Max 2 and put some of the pricing into perspective to help sort it out. Plus, there are other things to consider when it comes to where each of the products sit in Apple’s lineup. It’s also worth noting the lengths Apple went to cut costs on the laptop.

And if you’re wishing Apple had more for the Max 2, consider that the tech giant could be more focused on another kind of AirPod coming later.

Meanwhile, Apple stores around the world are hosting surprise events to celebrate Apple’s 50th anniversary. It all started last Friday, when I experienced some of that surprise and delight myself at an Alicia Keys concert inside New York’s Grand Central Terminal. 

Maybe you’ll run into some Apple surprises of your own this year. If you do capture some fun, send me a note. I’d love to share your videos on a future episode.

For more One More Thing, subscribe to our YouTube page to catch Bridget Carey breaking down the latest Apple news and issues every Friday.