MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air M1: There’s a clear (and colorful) winner

MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air M1: There’s a clear (and colorful) winner

https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/macbooks/macbook-neo-vs-macbook-air-m1

Publish Date: 2026-03-04 11:48:00

Source Domain: www.tomsguide.com

The MacBook Neo is here, and it’s a colorful $599 marvel of affordability. When you think about the premium nature of the best MacBooks, this feels like a very un-Appley thing to do. But I think there are two reasons why the Cupertino crew are reportedly attacking this zone hard:

• Education: Chromebooks dominate schools, and they mean new generations are locked in with Google accounts from a young age. That’s a huge potential market of long-term future buyers for Apple to hit.
• Aim at refurbished: Apple keeps making new MacBooks, but to stem the high prices, people are looking to older and refurbished systems. As of early 2026, the M1 MacBook Air is the most purchased.

And it’s that second one that I’m most curious about. Normally selling for between $500-$600. It is clear based on the starting price of the Neo that Apple has its sights set squarely on this. But how do these two compare?

Well, we already have a pretty good idea. Not just because we’ve gone hands-on early with the Neo, but we’ve tested both chips in the past. Of course, this can be a bit like comparing apples and oranges — M1 is in a laptop shell with a higher level of power going to it, whereas the A18 Pro is running at a lower wattage crammed inside a phone.

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But what I can do is give you an early indication based on what you can expect. Let’s get into it.

MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air M1: Specs

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MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air M1: Fresh looks

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