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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Anthony Spadafora

MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air M1: Which budget Apple laptop should you buy?

Mac Apple Tom Guide
A side by side shot showing the MacBook Neo on the left and the MacBook Air M1 on the right.

If you’ve been considering upgrading to one of the best MacBooks, you’re in luck: Apple just released the MacBook Neo. Starting at $599 (or $499 for education), this is Cupertino’s most affordable laptop yet and a fantastic entry point into the Mac ecosystem.

Up until now, you had to choose between the $1,099 MacBook Air for portability or the $599 Mac mini M4 if you were willing to stay tethered to a desk. In our MacBook Neo review, we praised the new device as the best budget laptop yet, but there is still another option worth considering.

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