If you’ve ever shopped for a “cheap” MacBook, you’d either have to wait for a holiday sales event, buy a previous-gen model, or take your chances on a refurbished machine. Things have changed: Apple has just announced the MacBook Neo, a truly affordable laptop starting at $599.
Of course, that wasn’t the only MacBook announcement we got this week, as Cupertino has also unveiled the new MacBook Air M5. While these ultraportable notebooks have a similar appearance and screen size, they’re very different machines. Because of that, choosing an entry-level MacBook has become a tad harder.
Between the two, the MacBook Air M5 is the premium option, starting at $1,099, and it packs the company’s desktop-class M5 chip, designed for power and efficiency. Conversely, the MacBook Neo runs on an iPhone chip but sports more fun color options.
Based on what Apple has announced, they should rank among the best MacBooks, but one could be better for you than the other. Here are the biggest differences between the MacBook Neo and MacBook Air M5 to help you decide which one to get.
MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air M5: Specs
MacBook Neo |
MacBook Air M5 |
|
|---|---|---|
Price (starting) |
$599 ($499 Education) |
$1,099 ($999 Education) |
Chip |
A18 Pro (6-core CPU / 5-core GPU) |
M5 (10-core CPU / up to 10-core GPU) |
Unified Memory |
8GB |
16GB |
Base storage |
256GB SSD |
512GB SSD |
Display |
13-inch Liquid Retina (sRGB, 2408x1506 resolution) |
13.6-inch Liquid Retina (P3 wide color, 2560x1664 resolution) |
True Tone |
No |
Yes |
Keyboard |
Magic Keyboard (No Backlight) |
Magic Keyboard (Backlit) |
Biometrics |
None (Touch ID is +$100) |
Touch ID (Standard) |
Camera |
1080p FaceTime HD |
12MP Center Stage |
Ports |
2x USB-C (one USB 3, one USB 2), Headphone Jack |
2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, Headphone Jack |
Wireless |
Wi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 6 |
Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 6 |
Weight |
2.7 pounds |
2.7 pounds |
Battery life |
Up to 16 hours (rated) |
Up to 18 hours (rated) |
MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air M5: Price
Let’s start with the biggest difference for your wallet: price. The MacBook Neo starts at $599, which is a price we don’t normally see for new MacBooks unless they’ve been heavily discounted. If you’re budget-conscious, the conversation might end right here — especially if you just want a reliable laptop for everyday tasks.
Then there’s the MacBook Air M5, which starts at $1,099. That’s a $100 increase over the MacBook Air M4 it replaces, though Apple says that’s because it’s doubling the base storage to 512GB and starting with 16GB of RAM. If that’s the case, the $100 price bump isn’t egregious.
Side by side, the Air M5 is almost double the price of the Neo. We’ll get into the specifics, but if you’re not a power user and just need a machine for Google Docs or Netflix, the Neo wins here. However, if you need that M5 power, then you’ll need to splurge on the Air M5.
MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air M5: Design
The MacBook Neo and MacBook Air M5’s respective designs say a lot about who they’re intended for.
The Air M5 retains the same utilitarian design that MacBooks have had since late 2021. It’s a svelte slab of aluminum that wouldn’t look out of place at a cafe or boardroom. The four available color options (Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and Sky Blue) are also relatively understated. It’s a fine industrial design that won’t turn heads.
Conversely, the MacBook Neo is more playful, with vibrant color options including Citrus, Blush, Indigo, and Silver. Because of that, this laptop feels like an extension of the iPad lineup. The Neo also lacks a notch in the top center of the display, which some might consider a win. Overall, the Neo has a cleaner, friendlier look.
MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air M5: Display
Here’s where the $500 price difference starts showing. Both screens are Liquid Retina, but they aren’t equal. The MacBook Air M5 has a 13.6-inch P3 wide color display with True Tone. It’s vibrant, color-accurate, and shifts its warmth and brightness to match your room’s lighting. This is a great feature that reduces eye strain.
The MacBook Neo has a slightly smaller 13.0-inch sRGB display. It lacks True Tone and doesn't support the wider P3 color gamut. If you're an amateur photographer or video editor, you’ll likely notice that the colors on the Neo look a bit duller than on the Air. For writing emails or scrolling TikTok, it won't matter, but for creative work, the Air is the clear winner here.
MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air M5: Performance
Another major difference is in performance. The MacBook Neo is the first MacBook to run on an A-series chip, specifically a version of the A18 Pro from the iPhone 16 Pro. It’s a fast chip, but it’s a mobile-first processor built for the best iPhones. It can handle web browsing, 4K streaming, and basic multitasking with relative ease. You can almost view it as an M1 reboot with performance comparable to the MacBook Air M1.
The MacBook Air M5, however, is on another level in terms of performance. The M5 chip inside packs a 10-core CPU and a Neural Accelerator in every GPU core. If you’re doing on-device AI work, heavy photo editing in Lightroom, or even playing video games, the M5 will run circles around the Neo.
Additionally, the Air M5 starts with 16GB of RAM, whereas the Neo is capped at 8GB. In 2026, you want at least 16GB of memory if you want your laptop to be usable for more than three years.
MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air M5: Features
As detailed in my article, Apple's $599 MacBook Neo — what are the trade-offs?, here’s a quick look at some of the other features Apple had to cut to get the starting price down to $599:
- Touch ID: The base Neo doesn’t have it, so you’ll need to type in your password when logging into secure websites. You can pay $100 extra to get Touch ID (which also upgrades storage to 512GB), though that bumps the laptop’s price to $699.
- Keyboard backlighting: Unless you’re a touch typist, you might have a hard time using the Neo in the dark, as the keyboard is not backlit.
- MagSafe: Unlike the Air M5, the Neo doesn’t have a MagSafe port. You’ll have to charge the Neo via one of its two USB-C ports, which means you’re down to just one port for peripherals while plugged in.
- Camera: Though the Neo thankfully has a 1080p webcam instead of a 720p one, the Air’s 12MP Center Stage camera is superior.
MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air M5: Bottom line
MacBooks are some of the best laptops out there, so you won’t go wrong with either the Neo or Air M5. However, if you have specific needs, then one will be better for you than the other.
If you’re a student, a parent buying a first computer for your child, or just someone who mostly surfs the web or watches YouTube, the MacBook Neo is a solid choice. It offers a premium build and decent performance for a price that competes with the best Chromebooks and best budget laptops. Just be aware of some of the limitations detailed above.
The MacBook Air M5 is another excellent addition to Apple’s popular laptop line and has all you’d want and need from a computer. If you plan to keep it for the next five to seven years (or until Apple stops supporting it with macOS updates), the $1,099 investment is worth it. Between 16GB of RAM, the more powerful M5 chip, and other features like MagSafe and the P3 display, the Air M5 is hard to top.
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