Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch

The Apple MacBook Neo is a fascinating pivot for Apple's laptop lineup, marking the first time a Mac has been powered by an iPhone-class processor—specifically the A18 Pro chip. Aimed squarely at budget-conscious buyers, students, and casual users, it starts at a much more accessible price point than traditional MacBooks, while undercutting the MacBook Air significantly. Sporting a familiar aluminium aesthetic available in vibrant finishes like Blush, Citrus, and Indigo, it packs a 13-inch Liquid Retina display and exceptional battery longevity into a lightweight, compact form factor.

Evaluating the MacBook Neo requires weighing its aggressive pricing against inevitable compromises. On the plus side, battery performance is phenomenal, easily lasting through a full workday, and the keyboard and trackpad punch well above their weight class. However, the decision to use a mobile chip brings limitations: the base 8GB of unified memory and 256GB storage are non-upgradeable, and skipping Touch ID on the base model is a frustrating omission. Furthermore, the port selection feels severely dated with the inclusion of a sluggish USB 2.0 port, the keyboard lacks backlighting, and charging speeds are painfully slow out of the box. For everyday web browsing, writing, and light tasks, it is an absolute bargain, but power users and heavy multitaskers should look higher up the ladder.