iPad or MacBook Neo? Comparing three $600 Apple computers

Apple now has three laptops priced around $600. The MacBook Neo, iPad Air, and bare iPad paired with Apple’s Magic Keyboard Folio each fit the bill. They offer very different financial information, however, so here’s how they compare.

The MacBook Neo is a traditional laptop

Apple’s new MacBook Neo is hard to beat if you’re just looking for a traditional laptop with a reliable trackpad and keyboard.

For $599, the MacBook Neo offers 256GB of storage, 8GB of RAM, and a 13-inch display with a native resolution of 2408×1506 by 219 pixels per inch. All powered by Apple’s A18 Pro chip.

There are two USB-C ports for transferring data while charging. One supports USB 3 speed (up to 10Gb/s) and DisplayPort for driving a 4K display at 60Hz. One has USB 2 speeds (up to 480Mb/s).

The MacBook Neo has a 1080p HD webcam, but lacks Apple’s 12MP Center Stage with Desk View features.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that it runs macOS, Apple’s desktop operating system, not iPadOS.

Depending on your needs, that may be a plus, especially since the Mac can run some iPad apps, but the MacBook Neo is strictly a laptop. It doesn’t have a touchscreen, and it can’t convert to a tablet.

The M4 iPad Air is an all-in-one tablet for the same price

And at $599, Apple’s new M4 iPad Air is a touchscreen tablet. You will need to spend more money on a trackpad/keyboard case.

The 11-inch display is small with a pixel resolution of 2360×1640 at 264 ppi and a uniform brightness of 500 nits, and supports P3 wide color and True Tone unlike the MacBook Neo.

The new Windows operating system iPadOS 26 dramatically closes the gap between the iPad operating system and macOS.

Apple’s M4 chip is the same processor used in many Mac laptops and desktop computers, and it’s faster than the A18 Pro chip inside the MacBook Neo.

The $599 iPad Air M4 has 128GB of storage, which is half of what the MacBook Neo offers at the same price, but it has more memory with 12GB of RAM compared to just 8GB.

The iPad Air also has a 12MP Center Stage front camera, a 12MP wide-angle rear camera with 4K video capture, and is compatible with the Apple Pencil.

The iPad Air also comes with Touch ID for $599, something that costs $100 on the MacBook Neo. It features one USB-C port for charging, DisplayPort, and data transfer at USB 3 speeds (up to 10Gb/s).

The iPad Air can support a single external display with a resolution of up to 6K at 60Hz.

You can add the iPad Air Magic Keyboard for a trackpad, keyboard, and the ability to charge while transferring data, but that will bring the total cost from $599 to $868.

The iPad Air gets up to 10 hours of battery life compared to 16 hours on the MacBook Neo.

A16 iPad + Magic Keyboard Folio costs $598

If you’re willing to stay under $600 without add-ons, there’s one solution that offers the flexibility of a tablet while still offering a trackpad and keyboard.

Apple’s base model iPad and Magic Keyboard Folio come in at $598.

Performance-wise, it’s a very weak candidate with Apple’s A16 chip compared to the A18 Pro in the MacBook Neo and the M4 in the iPad Air. An iPad plus trackpad/keyboard case combo under $600 gives you 128GB of storage. Apple doesn’t advertise the memory, but we do know that the A16 iPad has 6GB of RAM compared to 8GB with the MacBook Neo and 12GB with the iPad Air.

Still, you’re looking at an 11-inch touchscreen display with a 2360×1640 pixel resolution at 264 ppi, True Tone support, and 500 nits brightness.

It has a 12MP Center Stage front-facing camera, and a 12MP wide-angle rear camera with 4K video capture.

Apple A16 iPad has one USB-C port for charging, DisplayPort, and data transfer at USB 2 speed (up to 480Mb/s). This $598 package includes the Magic Keyboard Folio, but does not include a second charging port during data transfer.

Like the MacBook Neo, the A16 iPad supports a single external display with a resolution of up to 4K at 60Hz.

Three $600 computers with different capabilities

Which $600 Apple computer is best for you?

The MacBook Neo is a solid choice if you just want a solid laptop without the fuss of keyboard cases.

The iPad Air offers a lot of functionality and flexibility, but the price goes up if you need a trackpad and keyboard.

The A16 iPad with Magic Keyboard Folio offers a combination of both laptop and tablet worlds while staying under budget, as long as compromising on overall performance isn’t a deal breaker.