Macbook Neo Vs. Macbook Air: I Compared Apple's New Laptops, And Here's My Winner

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Looking for a small, light, and budget-friendly MacBook that you tin usage astatine home, astatine work, aliases connected nan road? In nan past, that would person been a elemental decision, arsenic you apt would person opted for a 13-inch MacBook Air. But pinch nan preamble of nan MacBook Neo, location are now 2 contenders successful that space.

Both nan Neo and 13-inch Air look similar, astatine slightest connected nan surface. Both measurement successful astatine 2.7 pounds and are almost nan aforesaid size. (The Air is somewhat larger, but not capable to make immoderate applicable difference.) Screen size differs a bit. The show connected nan Air measures 13.6 inches, while nan Neo is simply a spot smaller astatine 13 inches. Both support Apple Intelligence if AI is important to you.

Peek beneath nan surface, however, and much important differences travel into focus. The Neo starts astatine conscionable $599, a value that seems difficult to resist. The 13-inch Air starts astatine $1,099. Not bad, but possibly much than you'd want to spend, particularly if you're connected a budget.

Also: Apple's $599 MacBook Neo hands-on: This fund laptop makes maine worried for Windows 

For your $599, nan Neo comes pinch conscionable 8GB of RAM, which you can't upgrade, compared pinch 16GB connected nan basal Air. The Neo offers 256GB of storage. For $699, you tin bump that up to 512GB. By spending that other $100, you besides get Touch ID, which doesn't travel pinch nan guidelines version. The guidelines Air starts pinch 512GB of retention and includes Touch ID.

Another awesome quality is successful nan processor. To trim costs, nan Neo is equipped pinch an A18 Pro, nan aforesaid spot recovered successful nan iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. The Air has agelong been powered by Apple's M-class processors, pinch nan latest exemplary featuring an M5 chip.

From there, nan differences are much subtle but still noteworthy. The Neo comes pinch a Multi-Touch trackpad, while nan Air provides a Force Touch trackpad. The Neo comes pinch Wi-Fi 6E, while nan Air comes pinch Wi-Fi 7.

Apple promises up to 16 hours of artillery life connected nan Neo and 18 hours connected nan Air. On nan nosy side, nan Neo comes successful a scope of vibrant colors -- Indigo, Blush, Citrus, and Silver. The Air is stuck pinch nan accustomed overgarment jobs, including Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight, and Midnight.

Also: Everything Apple conscionable announced: The $599 MacBook Neo, M5 Pro, iPhone 17e, and more

There is 1 much wrinkle here. Instead of shelling retired astatine slightest $1,099 for nan latest MacBook Air, you tin prime up an older exemplary for less. Though Apple nary longer sells anterior generations of nan Air, you tin find a utilized 1 connected Amazon. For example, nan 2023 M2 MacBook Air pinch 8GB of RAM and 256GB of retention sells for astir $700.

Which 1 is nan amended choice? Let's dive into nan details.

Specifications

You should bargain nan MacBook Neo if...

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You want nan cheapest option

At conscionable $599, nan guidelines Neo is considerably little costly than nan guidelines M5 Air astatine $1,099. Even a utilized Air pinch an older M-series spot will costs you much than a Neo. If you request nan 512GB of retention and Touch ID connected your Neo, beryllium prepared to salary $699. Though that's much comparable to what you mightiness walk for an older Air, nan Neo is marque caller and comes pinch a one-year warranty.

Also: A $500 MacBook Neo might've saved maine from my assemblage laptop nightmare

2. Your needs are light, and you want an entry-level MacBook

Don't request a powerful PC processor aliases tons of memory, aliases storage? The Neo is nan measurement to go. Though immoderate of nan specs look lightweight connected paper, nan Neo will grip astir communal tasks, specified arsenic web browsing, email, streaming videos, and editing photos.

Also: How to get nan MacBook Neo $499 acquisition value - qualifications to know

3. You're looking for a backup aliases secondary Mac, particularly for travel

Maybe you already person a larger and beefier MacBook Pro aliases MacBook Air and are looking for a 2nd MacBook to return connected nan road. The Neo fits this niche perfectly. You tin easy usage it astatine an airport, connected an airplane, aliases successful a akin setting. And nan long-lasting artillery ensures you tin usage it astir of nan time without needing a recharge.

You should bargain nan MacBook Air if...

Jason Hiner/ZDNET

1. You don't mind spending to get nan astir bang for your buck

With nan latest M-series processor and much representation and retention options, nan Air is an perfect prime for group who don't want to skimp connected features aliases performance. If you consciousness that nan specs connected nan Neo will beryllium excessively ray for your needs, you'd beryllium amended disconnected spending nan money connected an Air.

2. You request a MacBook for much demanding tasks

If you're a developer, graphics artist, video editor, aliases different professional, nan Air is nan amended choice. The beefier processor and greater representation and retention each guarantee that you tin instal and tally nan applications you need. More demanding tasks for illustration video editing and dense multitasking require much power, and nan Air won't disappoint here.

Also: The caller MacBook Air M5 costs $100 much - here's what that gets you

3. You don't mind redeeming money by getting a utilized Air

Want nan Air but don't want to salary nan $1,099 value tag? You tin prevention yourself immoderate money by opting for an older, utilized model. Though you won't find 1 astatine Apple aliases different beingness retailers, you tin prime 1 up connected Amazon. Prices connected nan M2 commencement astatine astir $700. You'll request to pony up much rate to outfit 1 pinch much representation and storage. But this whitethorn still beryllium worthy considering.

Final thoughts

Which of nan 2 would I recommend? That really depends connected really you scheme to usage it. If your needs are ray aliases you already ain 1 MacBook and want a 2nd one, spell for nan much budget-friendly Neo. If your needs are heavier and you don't mind paying more, drawback nan M5 Air. A utilized Air is besides an option, but I'd still steer you toward nan newest exemplary pinch nary deterioration aliases tear and a afloat one-year warranty.