The MacBook Neo is Apple’s newest, most affordable laptop. Our final verdict? It punches way above similarly-priced laptops in terms of design, and the performance isn’t bad either. If you can’t afford the MacBook Air, or you aren’t sure if its extra features or power are worth it to you, the Neo may be a really good pick. This laptop starts at $599, and goes down to $499 if you’re able to get an educational discount.
At first glance, the Neo is not that different from Apple’s other laptops, even if its four colors are more divisive. It features an aluminum design, a 13-inch (2408 x 1506) display, two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and side-firing speakers. You also get a 1080p camera, a multi-touch trackpad, and a color-matched Magic Keyboard (the 512GB model also includes a TouchID sensor). That said, it lacks Thunderbolt ports and MagSafe, which come standard on the MacBook Air.
In terms of performance, think of it as if the guts of the iPhone 16 got transplanted into a 13-inch laptop. It should be fast enough for streaming, browsing the web, and most everyday use cases thanks to Apple’s A18 Pro chip, but it won’t replace a more powerful macOS machine (especially with only 8GB of RAM). In short, it’s going to be an extremely popular graduation or back-to-school gift.
Here’s where you can buy the Neo in its 256GB or 512GB configuration.
Update, March 11th: This post now reflects that the Neo is available to purchase online and in stores. However, the $25 gift card promotion at Best Buy has expired.
