MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air: I compared Apple's new laptops, and here's my winner

Apple has introduced a new budget contender in its laptop lineup with the $599 MacBook Neo, directly challenging the established 13-inch MacBook Air which starts at $1,099. According to ZDNET's hands-on comparison by Lance Whitney, both devices target the portable, lightweight market at 2.7 pounds and support Apple Intelligence, but the Neo's aggressive pricing comes with significant hardware trade-offs. The most notable difference is the processor: the Neo uses the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro, while the Air features Apple's laptop-optimized M5 silicon, creating a clear performance divide for professional workloads.

The Neo's cost-cutting extends to its base configuration of 8GB non-upgradable RAM versus the Air's 16GB, along with Wi-Fi 6E instead of Wi-Fi 7 and a 16-hour battery life versus 18 hours. However, the Neo counters with vibrant color options (Indigo, Blush, Citrus, Silver) and includes a Multi-Touch trackpad, while maintaining core Apple ecosystem features. This strategic move positions Apple to compete in the budget segment while potentially cannibalizing sales of older Air models available on the secondary market, forcing consumers to choose between raw value and professional-grade performance.