MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air: which Apple laptop should you buy?
MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air: which Apple laptop should you buy?
https://www.stuff.tv/features/macbook-neo-vs-macbook-air-which-apple-laptop-should-you-buy/
Publish Date: 2026-06-30 06:51:00
Source Domain: www.stuff.tv
Trying to decide between the MacBook Neo or MacBook Air for your next laptop? It’s not as easy a decision as one may think – though that hasn’t always been the case.
It used to be simpler, y’know. For years, if someone asked which Apple laptop to buy, the answer was almost always the same – the MacBook Air. It struck a sweet spot between price, portability, and performance, that very few laptops – Apple’s or otherwise – could match.
Then the MacBook Neo arrived, bringing macOS to a lower price point without asking buyers to spend four figures. Far from simply a cheaper MacBook Air, Apple has saved money in some clever places, and whether those compromises matter depends entirely on how you use your laptop.
Luckily for you, we’ve reviewed both laptops extensively, with editor-in-chief Dan Grabham testing the MacBook Neo, and contributor Craig Grannell reviewing the latest MacBook Air. The comparison below is based on their thorough testing, and, by the end of this page, you should have a much better idea of whether the MacBook Neo or MacBook Air is the best MacBook for you.
Price and release date
MacBook Air M5
The MacBook Neo and MacBook Air both landed in March 2026. The Neo in particular made quite an impact, arriving as Apple’s answer to everyone who wanted a MacBook without spending four figures. It remains the cheapest way into the Mac ecosystem, but its value proposition has, sadly, shifted since launch.
The base 256GB MacBook Neo model now starts at $699 / £699, while the 512GB version with Touch ID costs $799 / £799. That’s an increase of $100 / £100 across the board, all thanks to supply shortages fuelled by the AI boom. Boo, hiss etc. The increase undoubtedly dents some of its appeal, although it’s worth remembering many people expected the Neo to launch at around this price anyway.
It’s also still comfortably cheaper than the MacBook Air, which, following its own price increase, now starts at $1299 /…
