There are two hidden ways to avoid the MacBook Neo price hike — here's how you can snag it for $599

(Image credit: Future) Price hikes suck. The MacBook Neo is our choice for the best laptop in terms of value, even though it costs $100 more than it did on its initial launch.But you don't actually have to pay $699 for the MacBook Neo. There are two hidden ways to get its price back down to $599. That makes the MacBook Neo pretty much a steal once again.Option one: get a refurbished MacBook Neo for $599 at the Apple Store.Option two (for students and educators): get the MacBook Neo for $599 at the Apple Education Store.The MacBook Neo is one of the best laptops you can buy. It provides some of the best value for money out of any laptop on the market, delivering fast performance from its A18 Pro chip, long battery life and an extremely portable design.In our MacBook Neo review we gave the laptop 4.5 out of 5 stars and called it the "best budget laptop ever." In addition to a sturdy aluminum chassis, you get a bright and colorful 13-inch display and surprisingly loud speakers. We also like the fun color options. You can get it four colors: Silver, Indigo, Blush and Citrus.In the Tom's Guide battery test, the MacBook Neo lasted an excellent 13.5 hours, which outclasses most budget Windows laptops.There are some trade-offs, such as the lack of a backlit keyboard. And Touch ID costs extra. But overall this is a fantastic laptop, especially for back to school.Students and educators can still get it new for $599, which is excellent. And the rest of us can just shop refurbished.If you've never purchased refurbished tech before, you're in good hands with Apple; not only do they thoroughly clean devices, they replace the outer casing and the battery, making them basically feel as good as new (while costing less.) You also get a one-year limited warranty. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Alternatively, you can read our content on the Tom's Guide app available now for iOS and Android. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow us on TikTok. Finally, you can visit our dedicated Tom's Guide Savings Squad hub for expert help on getting the best products for less. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Millie is a Deals Editor at Tom's Guide specializing in deals content. She also covers the latest tech news and and creates how-to articles about everything from phones, streaming devices, and headphones to apps and video games. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gaming on her Nintendo Switch and creating digital art.