Value: Battle of the Entry-Degree Laptops
Let’s get the apparent out of the way in which first: The low pricing is the raison d’être for the MacBook Neo. It’s instantly (and comfortably) Apple’s lowest-cost MacBook, sitting in true finances territory at its $599 beginning worth. (Apple additionally provides an upgraded mannequin for $699, in addition to a $499 mannequin out there for training consumers.)
(Credit score: Eric Zeman)
The 13-inch MacBook Air M5, in the meantime, begins at $1,099. That is up $100 from the M4-based MacBook Air. Though $100 isn’t large within the grand scheme of laptop computer pricing, the optics of crossing that $1,000 line put the Air that a lot farther from true “finances” standing. The M5 did obtain some spec upticks for the additional cash (extra on that under), however the level stands.
With the MacBook Air vacating three-figure pricing, the MacBook Neo can step in because the clear finances choice. That is wholly new territory for Apple; the MacBook can now credibly compete with low-cost Home windows laptops and even Chromebooks than different MacBooks, a real try by Apple to courtroom finances customers. Getting a laptop computer with traditional MacBook construct high quality at that worth positive appears interesting, and we applaud Apple for hitting such a low beginning worth.
Whereas energy customers and professionals received’t give the MacBook Neo a re-evaluation, it exists for college students and informal customers. Take into account this as a lot a Chromebook different as something, particularly with that $499 training mannequin. A younger consumer getting their first pc within the type of the Neo? Apple hopes they’ll turn out to be a MacBook Air (and possibly, finally, a MacBook Professional) consumer as they become older. That worth is essential to getting them within the door.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
The MacBook Air nonetheless occupies an area separate from the MacBook Professional line; take into account it the entry level for the standard MacBook expertise. Once more, loads of traditional Mac house owners received’t even take into account the MacBook Neo, so the Air stays the place the choices actually start, even when the beginning worth is a bit increased than final yr’s mannequin.
Winner: MacBook Neo
Efficiency: Apple A18 Professional vs. Apple M5
The chief reply to how Apple achieved the lower cost for the MacBook Neo lies within the processor choice. As was rumored within the lead-up to its launch, the MacBook Neo runs on the prevailing Apple A18 Professional, beforehand a smartphone chip used within the iPhone 16 Professional. It is a massive departure and proof that Apple has actually succeeded in leveraging its personal ecosystem, with this conventional iPhone chip working throughout its working techniques.
The MacBook Air, in the meantime, acquired an in-line CPU improve with the M5 processor. This processor itself will not be new; we reviewed the 14-inch MacBook Professional with the bottom M5 chip final yr.
How do they measure up on paper? The Neo’s A18 Professional has a six-core CPU (two efficiency cores and 4 effectivity cores), a five-core GPU, a 16-core neural engine, and 60GBps reminiscence bandwidth. The Air’s M5 features a 10-core CPU (4 tremendous cores and 6 effectivity cores), an eight- or 10-core GPU, a 16-core neural engine, 153GBps of reminiscence bandwidth, neural accelerators, and help for hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
As you’ll be able to see from these productiveness and graphics benchmark outcomes, the M5 is just a stronger processor than the A18 Professional, which is unsurprising. Nonetheless, the Neo proved it might probably cling with the M5 in some single-core workloads, not practically as far off because it was in multi-core duties. Likewise, the graphics story sees the M5’s neural-accelerated GPU outstrip the A18 Professional’s graphics cores, however the Neo pulled off some spectacular gaming feats of its personal. Past these exams, we managed 52 frames per second in Cyberpunk 2077 on the Neo with decision upscaling and body technology engaged.
Whereas it might probably’t presumably examine with the brand new M5 chip, the A18 Professional processor made the leap from iPhone to laptop computer seamlessly. The Neo outperformed each finances PC laptop computer we in contrast it with, and it was able to some issues these machines may solely dream of. The Neo appears poised to be a drive amongst finances laptops, however the midrange belongs to the Air. (Try how we take a look at laptops for extra on what these numbers imply.)
Winner: MacBook Air
Reminiscence and Storage Choices: Fundamental vs. Boosted
It is a easier subject, and every laptop computer’s spec choice matches its respective supposed customers. The MacBook Neo base mannequin contains 8GB of reminiscence and a 256GB SSD. The upgraded $699 mannequin bounces the SSD as much as 512GB. (The additional $100 additionally will get you Contact ID help on the ability button.)
An 8GB reminiscence pool is usually a bit pokey for some customers, so we’ll should see how that performs out in testing. Informal and classroom customers needs to be simply high-quality with this quantity, although.
Apple’s MacBook Neo, Examined: That is 2026’s Breakout Funds Laptop computer
The M5 MacBook Air, in the meantime, sports activities 16GB of reminiscence and a 512GB SSD in its starter $1,099 mannequin. That storage capability is up from the 256GB within the $999 base-model 13-inch M4 model. That bigger SSD is a key issue within the $100 worth improve from final yr.
Whereas it’s unlucky to see the Air’s $999 beginning worth go away, 256GB of storage appears far more suited to a finances mannequin; we’d anticipate 512GB in virtually any $1,000-plus machine these days. The MacBook Air has extra reminiscence and storage to throw at any workload, and we’d suggest it for {most professional} customers over the MacBook Neo.
Winner: MacBook Air
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Design Variations: Colour Conflict
The distinction in cell processors (A18 Professional versus M5) goes a great distance towards explaining the $500 distinction in beginning costs between these two laptops. However there are additionally some design and have variations at play. Typically talking, Apple minimize a number of the typical premium MacBook inclusions from the MacBook Neo.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
To begin, the MacBook Neo is barely smaller (however thicker) general, measuring 0.5 by 11.7 by 8.1 inches (HWD), in contrast with the Air’s 0.44-by-12-by-8.5-inch dimensions. Each weigh 2.7 kilos. A part of the distinction in footprint is that the Neo’s display measures 13 inches on the diagonal, versus the 13.6-inch show on the MacBook Air.
This implies completely different resolutions for the laptops’ Liquid Retina shows, too. The Neo’s display is 2,408 by 1,506 pixels, whereas the Air’s panel has a barely denser 2,560-by-1,664-pixel decision. Each are LED-backlit shows with IPS expertise rated at 500 nits of brightness, so the 2 do hit parity in some circumstances.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
By no means thoughts all these pesky specs, although. Let’s give attention to what’s actually vital: the chassis shade choices. Every of those machines is available in 4 colours, however after the standard silver choice, the aesthetics diverge considerably. The M5 MacBook Air is available in stylish Sky Blue, Starlight, and Midnight variants, all of which carry a trendy, skilled look. The MacBook Neo pivots to the enjoyable and student-friendly, with Blush (pink), Citrus (yellow), and Indigo, along with the silver.
Winner: Draw
Battery Life and Show Testing: Nearer Than You May Suppose
The MacBook Neo comes surprisingly near the MacBook Air in battery life, in line with our testing, with the Air lasting only a bit greater than two hours previous the Neo’s time in our video-playback battery rundown take a look at. That claims so much for the Neo’s longevity, which once more outlasted the PC laptops we in contrast it with in our full overview. The excellent news is you are not lacking out on a lot battery life if all you’ll be able to afford is the Neo.
Really useful by Our Editors
When taking a look at our show testing outcomes, we see an identical story unfold. Sure, the MacBook Air’s Liquid Retina panel has benefits in broader shade protection general, and within the True Tone ambient shade adjustment function. Nonetheless, the Neo’s model of that display practically matched the Air’s on sRGB shade illustration in our gamut testing utilizing a colorimeter, and each screens are basically equivalent in brightness at each 50% and 100% settings. Primarily based on the use circumstances respective to every, it is troublesome to name an outright winner right here, however the Air technically wins the uncooked math.
Winner: MacBook Air
Ports and Connectivity: Thunderbolt, or Straight USB-C?
The Neo-versus-Air query additionally poses some subtler design and have variations. Ports are at all times a key consider any good MacBook, and this, too, is the place Apple reduce to convey the Neo’s worth down. I say “refined” since you wouldn’t discover the distinction by simply counting ports: Each laptops have two USB Kind-C ports and a headphone jack.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
Nonetheless, the Neo’s USB-C ports don’t help Thunderbolt, a connection expertise sometimes related to Macs. Each of the MacBook Air’s ports help Thunderbolt 4, enabling as much as 40Gbps of peak throughput. Thunderbolt 4 additionally helps charging and DisplayPort video output to 2 screens at 6K/60Hz (or 4K/144Hz) or to at least one show at 8K/60Hz (or 4K/240Hz). The MacBook Neo, in distinction, has one USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C port and one USB 2.0 USB-C port; these can push DisplayPort and can be utilized for charging, however the video-out help is restricted to at least one exterior display as much as 4K at 60Hz.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
Talking of charging, one other beloved MacBook function is lacking from the Neo: no MagSafe connection! A rarity within the trendy MacBook panorama, you’ll should cost the Neo completely by means of its USB-C ports.
Winner: MacBook Air
Keyboard, Touchpad, and Wi-fi: Two Totally different Touches
The Neo drops the flowery haptic Pressure Contact trackpad for a less complicated mechanical multitouch trackpad. It is a downgrade for the beloved trackpad, however an comprehensible place to chop prices on the Neo. Additionally, observe that the Neo’s keyboard lacks key backlighting. If you happen to sort deep into the evening, be warned.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
Each model of the brand new MacBook Air contains Contact ID for simple fingerprint-based logins. The bottom $599 MacBook Neo doesn’t, however as talked about earlier, it’s not fully excluded from the road; should you improve to the $699 mannequin with the 512GB SSD, you may get Contact ID in your Neo.
For audio, the MacBook Neo sports activities simply two audio system, in contrast with the Air’s four-speaker setup. The Air naturally produces fuller sound than the Neo, however the latter is stunning within the audio division for its measurement and worth.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
On the wi-fi entrance, the MacBook Neo contains Wi-Fi 6E, whereas the MacBook Air sports activities sooner Wi-Fi 7. Each help Bluetooth 6. For hopping on the web and taking video calls, the MacBook Neo features a 1080p digital camera, however that is not the similar 12-megapixel Heart Stage digital camera with Desk View help that the Air has.
Winner: MacBook Air
