5 reasons to skip the MacBook Neo and buy an older MacBook Air instead

Apple launching a really affordable MacBook was something that many have been waiting for. The MacBook Neo has been announced with a starting price of $599, making it the most affordable entry in the MacBook lineup. At first glance, it sounds like a dream tool for students, casual users, and anyone looking for macOS without spending nearly a thousand dollars.

But when you dig into the details, it’s clear that Apple cut quite a few corners to hit that price. Some of these compromises make the older MacBook Air, especially the M4 model, a better long-term buy.

The A18 Pro chip is not a true laptop processor

One of the biggest talking points surrounding the MacBook Neo is its A18 Pro processor, which powers the older iPhone 16 Pros. While Apple’s mobile chips are incredibly powerful, they’re still designed primarily for smartphones and tablets, not full desktop workloads. Now, most MacBook Air users never push the limits of their M-series processor, but it can still serve as a decent workstation.

The IM-series is designed for MacBooks, so chips like the M4 offer better stable performance, more GPU power, and improved performance for heavy tasks like video editing, coding, or heavy multitasking. Replaced with Neo’s A18 Pro chip; it’s a good laptop for simple tasks like browsing, writing, and consuming multimedia content, but it can’t match the performance of a dedicated laptop processor.

So if you plan to keep your laptop for years (as most MacBook owners do), the M-series MacBook Air simply has more headroom for a variety of workloads.

The MacBook Neo cuts a lot of features

To hit that sweet $599 price tag, Apple has thrown in a surprising number of features. First, the base model does not include Touch ID, something that has been standard on all modern MacBooks. This feature is locked to the higher storage configuration, which is a tricky way for Apple to push consumers towards a more expensive model.

But that’s not all, there are many other compromises here:

• No Thunderbolt support
• No MagSafe charging
• Selecting a finite aperture
• Only 8GB of RAM with no upgrade option.

These may seem like small omissions individually, but taken together they make the Neo feel like a stripped-down entry-level laptop. Older MacBook Air models, even those from a few years ago, still offer the most complete laptop experience.

There is no keyboard backlight to test the odd skill

Another surprising cut is the lack of a keyboard backlight.

This is one of those things you never think about until we get going. Most laptops, including budget models, include this by default. So working in a dark room, on an airplane, or in a late night study becomes very difficult.

Apple laptops have long been known for their beautiful keyboards and usability, and removing such a basic feature feels like an unnecessary compromise. On the other hand, even older MacBook Air models have this feature working.

Don’t know where every single key, punctuation mark, or number is on the keyboard? Apple recently called that a a matter of skills.

Slow charging limits everyday convenience

Second, the MacBook Neo ships with a 20W charger, which is closer to smartphone charging speed than laptop charging. Meanwhile, MacBook Air models support fast charging and include MagSafe, making connectivity more convenient. Whether you’re peaking between classes or getting a quick charge before a meeting, fast charging can make a big difference.

Again, these are not things that hold the title, but the kind of quality of life factor that affects daily use the most.

Older MacBook Air models are still great deals

Perhaps the biggest reason for skipping the Neo is simple: MacBook Air conventions already exist.

The M3 or M4 may cost more up front, but you get:

• The most powerful M-series processor
• Better keyboard and charging
• Thunderbolt connection
• Long usable life
• The “perfect” MacBook experience

The MacBook Air lineup has long been considered one of the best laptops for most people because of its perfect balance of performance, battery life, portability, and design. And with the launch of the new M5 MacBook Air, older Air models will receive discounts that bring them dramatically closer to Neo territory. In other words, you pay less, but you get a better laptop. The MacBook Neo is disappointing considering how well Apple has handled another “low cost” device.

Final thoughts

The MacBook Neo is not a bad device. It is an attempt by Apple to bring macOS to a wider audience. For casual users who only need a device for basic browsing, email, and productivity, it will probably get the job done. But the deeper you look, the more obvious the cracks become.

Between the weak chip, missing features, non-backlit keyboard, and slow charging, the Neo starts to feel less like a budget laptop and more like a stripped-down Mac. Ironically, Apple has recently redefined the formula of “budget Apple device” with the iPhone 17e, proving that cheap products don’t have to feel compromised. Unfortunately, the MacBook Neo doesn’t follow that playbook.