The new MacBook Neo is Apple’s new laptop bringing Mac software to wider audiences, without the heavy price tag.
MacBook Neo has a 13-inch display and features fun colors in Silver, Blush, Citrus, and Indigo and is powered by the A18 Pro chip, the same chip in the iPhone 16 Pro. It retails for only $599—and $499 for college students.
MacBook Neo isn’t really for people who already have a Mac, or even an iPad. Apple positions the MacBook Neo for people without a Mac and want to be introduced at a lower price point, or make the transfer from a PC laptop to a Mac.
In reality, the Apple device you already have is most likely the same speed or even faster than the MacBook Neo. However, there may be a place for it if you have an iPad and want a Mac. An iPad and a Mac have similar use cases, yet they’re very distinct. iPads have touch screens and styluses, and give a more physical experience than Macs.
MacBook Neo is marketed towards lifestyles like answering emails and video calls, web surfing, editing documents, and gaming. Macs have a more robust operating system and support for desktop-oriented apps and programs, like Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. If you already have an iPhone, getting the MacBook Neo is a no-brainer, when they work together they unlock a whole new ecosystem.
MacBook Neo is not marketed toward heavier workflows like editing 4K video or working with high resolution graphics. It does not have a physical fan cooling system like the MacBook Pro, which makes Neo more prone to overheating and lower loading speeds. MacBook Neo’s 16-hour battery life may not last as long on extended workdays. It’s much shorter than the 18-hour Air and the 24-hour Pro. (Battery life compared by video streaming. Compared with 13” Air M5 and 14” Pro M5.)
At its price point, MacBook Neo does have its tradeoffs. It does not have a MagSafe charging port and a keyboard with backlit keys. MacBook Neo has a physical trackpad, not a Force Touch trackpad, meaning it physically clicks rather than mimicking a click with vibrations like on the Air and Pro MacBooks. The baseline model of Neo does not have TouchID to unlock, but it is an add-on for $100 more. It has an A-series chip, which can be found in iPhones and select iPads, and is a downgrade from an M-series chip, which are found in all other Macs and select iPads. Overall, loading speeds may be lower than the Air and Pro.
Regarding prices, MacBook Neo is over $500 cheaper than the M5 MacBook Air, over $1,600 cheaper than the M5 Pro MacBook Pro, and over $800 cheaper than the M5 iPad Pro and its accessories. The MacBook Neo is the cheapest modern MacBook we have seen in a while. It is even cheaper with a valid student ID.
Overall, MacBook Neo is perfect for people who want a Mac and have a budget. While it may be limited in capabilities, it covers general use cases that all Macs can do, all for only $599. But, if you are looking for something that is more for larger workloads and isn’t under a budget, the new M5 MacBook Air or MacBook Pros may be a better option. It all comes down to your specific use cases and budget.
If you are interested, the new MacBook Neo releases Wednesday, March 11. For more information head to apple.com/macbook-neo or your nearest Apple store.
