La Portable computing had been on a sort of autopilot for years.Laptops were becoming thinner, more powerful, and had better screens, but they weren't truly breaking the mold. Apple was no exception. The MacBook Air and Pro had established themselves as benchmarks, but they had also raised the entry price to the ecosystem to a point that excluded many people who simply needed a reliable laptop for everyday use.
With the MacBook Neo Apple decides to attack that gap head-onA €699 laptop that doesn't aim to dethrone the MacBook Pro or compete in terms of power with the latest Air, but rather to offer the essential Mac experience at a much more accessible price. After thoroughly analyzing everything published about this machine and comparing it with what we already know about Apple Silicon and macOS, the feeling is clear: it's not a second-rate Mac, it's a Mac designed precisely for the majority.
A design with a lot of personality at an unexpected price.
The first thing that surprises about the MacBook Neo is not a benchmark, but the fact that Apple has launched a €699 laptop in the midst of the Apple Silicon era. With its aluminum chassis and that level of finish, it seemed for years that the company wasn't interested in covering this segment, despite having the technological capacity to do so. The existence of this model is almost a declaration of intent: now that they have mastered their chip architecture, they can fine-tune the product precisely where they want in terms of performance, cost, and efficiency.
The Neo weighs around It weighs 1,2 – 1,23 kilos and has a thickness of approximately 1,27 cmIt's not the lightest laptop on the market, but it feels solid, rigid, and very well-built. Picking it up by a corner or taking it out of your backpack gives that typical "block of aluminum" feel that Apple has been perfecting for years. If you're coming from a similarly priced plastic laptop, the leap in feel and sturdiness is enormous.
In hand, the Neo is somewhat more compact and a tad thicker than a recent MacBook Air, but It strikes a very balanced point between portability and tabletop comfort.It fits easily in almost any backpack, and it's not a nuisance even when carrying it around all day or hopping from train to train, cafe, classroom or office.
The most striking detail is, without a doubt, the range of colorsThe citrus hue (that intense lime green) is much more striking in person than in photos, to the point that more than one person will ask what model it is when they see it on the table. It recaptures some of that playful spirit of the iMac G3 or the colorful iBooks, where design wasn't just about functionality but also about character. For those who prefer something more understated, there are options like blue or silver that are still very refined but less flashy.
That design goes beyond aesthetics. aluminum unibody chassisthe well-finished edges and the absence of creaking By manipulating the lid, the Neo stands far above what we usually see in this price range in the Windows world. It is, quite simply, another MacBook in the family, not a "cheap Mac" that makes glaring compromises on materials.
Liquid Retina display and above-average audiovisual experience
Turning on the Neo for the first time makes it clear that Apple hasn't exactly cut corners on the screen.It features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2408 x 1506 pixels and a maximum brightness of 500 nits. In practice, this pixel density is more than sufficient for working for many hours with text without experiencing the typical jagged edges or eye strain found on more basic screens.
During long sessions of writing, browsing, or reviewing documents, the The letters are sharp, the contrast is very well measured And the whites don't tend towards either aggressive blue tones or dull tones. The factory calibration is very good, and although it lacks extras like DCI-P3 or True Tone, for the user this device is aimed at, the perceived quality is clearly superior to almost everything else in that price range.
Outdoors or in brightly lit indoors, the 500 nits allows for quite comfortable workThere's no advanced HDR or 120Hz ProMotion, but the panel's brightness and uniformity make videos, web pages, and photos enjoyable without feeling like you're using a low-end model. It's more than adequate for studying, office work, watching series, or occasional photo editing.
In terms of audiovisuals, the Neo also excels in sound. The laptop integrates a two-speaker system compatible with spatial audio and Dolby Atmos For a laptop of this thickness and price range, it performs surprisingly well. The sound doesn't seem to emanate from just a point below the keyboard, but rather extends slightly into the space in front of the screen, with clear dialogue and a certain depth to effects and music.
Listening to music on Apple Music or watching a movie, the They have some body without being exaggeratedVoices are very clear, and the maximum volume is sufficient for an average-sized room. And there's a curious design detail: the audio outputs are located on the sides of the chassis, so if you close the lid and use the Mac connected to an external monitor, the sound continues to flow without being blocked by the screen—something that doesn't happen with all Macs.
Keyboard, trackpad and webcam: calculated cuts where it hurts the least
El The MacBook Neo's Magic Keyboard maintains the same key profile It's better than the most expensive Macs: good key travel, stability, and that firmness that makes you want to type for hours. The typing feel is very similar to that of a modern MacBook Air, and anyone who types a lot will notice a huge improvement if they're coming from the spongy or imprecise keyboards of other, cheaper laptops.
However, here are some of the compromises Apple has made to lower the price. The keys are not backlitSo, on a night flight or in a very dark room, you might miss having some light. It's a noticeable reduction, but for Neo's target audience, it's not a big deal, and it helps keep costs down without ruining the overall experience.
Another omission in the base model is the absence of Touch ID. Instead, We have a simple lock key.Biometric unlocking is only available on higher-end models, which is debatable because the fingerprint sensor is a well-earned and inexpensive component for Apple. Even so, if you already use an Apple Watch, the Mac's automatic unlocking when you open the lid works so well that the impact is significantly reduced.
The trackpad, meanwhile, It maintains a generous size and exemplary precisionBut instead of using a haptic feedback system that simulates clicking through vibration, it uses a traditional mechanical mechanism. This means that it physically depresses when pressed, but you can click virtually anywhere, and multi-touch gestures (scrolling, zooming, switching desktops) respond with the same speed we've come to expect from macOS.
The top frame of the screen houses a 1080p FaceTime HD cameraIt's not Apple's most advanced TV, nor does it have features like Center Stage, but it takes advantage of the system's image processing to deliver a clean picture with pleasing colors and quite decent noise control indoors. It comes with a dual-microphone beamforming system that captures voice clearly for online classes or work meetings without needing external microphones.
Ports, charger, and the fine print of the price
On the sides of the MacBook Neo we find two USB-C ports (one USB 3 and one USB 2) and a 3,5mm headphone jack. There's no sign of Thunderbolt or an arsenal of connections, but again, Apple has calibrated what the average user really needs: connecting a 4K monitor, charging the device, plug in an SSD or a simple hub and little else.
The difference between the two USB-C ports is important: USB 3 is intended for external displays and peripherals that require more bandwidthWhile USB 2 is reserved for lightweight accessories or charging, for the vast majority of users who will be working with office applications, a web browser, occasional storage, and perhaps an external display, this combination is more than sufficient. Apple has chosen to excel in the basics and rely on those who need more ports to opt for a more robust system. small USB-C hub.
In the box, at least in Europe, Apple includes just the USB-C cable, but not the power adapterThis decision is linked to electronic waste regulations, but it's also a way to keep the retail price as low as possible. Many users already have 20W or higher USB-C chargers at home for iPhones, iPads, or other devices, which work perfectly with the Neo thanks to its very low power consumption.
If you're coming from a budget Windows laptop, you might miss having more "large" ports, but the truth is that much of the competition that offers more connectivity does so at the expense of worse screens, mediocre batteries, or far inferior trackpadsApple has chosen to shine in the basics and rely on those who need more ports to use a small USB-C hub.
A18 Pro chip (and A family): just the right amount of power, outstanding efficiency
The heart of the MacBook Neo is the A18 Pro chip, a variant of the same technology that Apple uses in the iPhone 16 ProIt's important to clear up a common misconception here: having an "iPhone chip" doesn't mean it has a limited or second-rate architecture compared to the M series in Macs. The technological development of the A and M series is the same, and they share much of their core architecture and manufacturing processes.
In practice, the A18 Pro behaves like “an M4 with fewer cores and a strong focus on energy efficiency”The CPU combines six cores (two high-performance and four high-efficiency), a five-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine, all manufactured using a second-generation 3nm process. The result is clear: the Neo isn't aiming to break sustained performance records, but rather to respond quickly to everyday tasks while consuming very little power.
In synthetic tests like Geekbench 6, the model with 8 GB of memory yields scores around 3289 points in single-core and around 7930 in multi-coreIn real-world terms, this puts it slightly ahead of a MacBook Air with an M1 chip in single-core performance, and very close in multi-core and GPU workloads. It's not a monster for hours of 3D rendering, but it is a laptop that feels responsive when running the typical apps we all use.
Those who buy this Mac, in fact, tend to be in a profile of Slack, Safari or Chrome, office suite, messaging, some lightweight creative tool (Pixelmator, CapCut, occasional photo editing) and video consumption. In that scenario, the Neo is more than capable. The system remains fluid with several dozen tabs open, music playing, messaging apps active, and a photo editor working with batches of images without any issues.
To test it, workflows have been used that include Lightroom, Photoshop, and even moderate projects in Premiere Pro or Final Cut ProThe Neo takes longer to export a video or apply certain effects than a MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro chip, as expected, but the important thing is that it can do so without freezing or overheating. It's a passively cooled machine (without fans), so it's completely silent even under load.
8GB unified memory: less than it looks on paper
On paper, 8 GB of RAM may sound very limited If you're coming from a Windows PC. However, in Apple Silicon's architecture, unified memory works differently: CPU, GPU, and other components access the same block of memory without duplicating data, and macOS aggressively uses compression and intelligent management when things get tight.
During actual use, by frequently monitoring the Activity Monitor, it can be seen how When memory is full, the system compresses background processes. and it reorganizes what you're not actively using. This allows you to have several demanding apps open at once without the computer slowing down. Yes, if you open dozens of Chrome tabs, a heavy Lightroom session, and a complex video project simultaneously, you'll notice some stuttering, but that's an extreme scenario for this laptop's target audience.
It is important, however, to take the future into account. macOS's memory consumption increases with each version.And the progressive integration of more AI features running in the background (like an increasingly capable Spotlight) is also a plus. A recent example is that Spotlight uses around 170 MB of RAM in the background at all times. For someone with only a few apps open at once, this won't be a problem; for very intensive users, it might be worth considering an Air or a Pro with more memory.
In any case, for the type of use the Neo is intended for—studying, office work, browsing, light editing, some social media content— The 8 GB performs much better than it sounds in a brochure.It's just important to be aware of the limitations and not force it as if it were an 8K video workstation.
Everyday performance, gaming, and Apple Intelligence
Beyond the numbers, the value of Neo lies in the fact that It feels light and agile in everyday use.Opening Safari, launching apps, switching windows, scrolling through long documents, or exporting photos in batches is done with virtually instantaneous responsiveness. There's none of that "waiting for the computer" feeling that's still noticeable on many budget laptops.
In moderate creative tasks, the Neo flexes its muscles. Edit photo sessions in Pixelmator Pro or LightroomAdjusting exposure, color, and contrast, and exporting small series of images falls within its comfort zone. It's not the ideal machine for processing thousands of RAW files in a row, but it's perfectly suited for managing the workflow of an advanced amateur, communications students, or aspiring content creators.
With video, something similar. Assemble social media content in Final Cut Pro or CapCutWith cuts, music, and some basic effects, it's a smooth experience. Export times are longer than on a more powerful M-series Mac, but still reasonable for the price. For complex 4K projects with multiple layers and aggressive color correction, however, it makes sense to go for an Air or a Pro.
In games, the Neo is surprising considering that It is not intended as a gaming laptopApple Arcade titles like Oceanhorn 3 run with complete smoothness and a stable frame rate during long sessions. Even heavy hitters like Cyberpunk 2077 have been tested and found playable with significantly lower graphics settings. It's not the ideal scenario, but it demonstrates the hardware's capabilities thanks to Metal, Apple's highly optimized graphics API for its chips.
Another key point is that the Neo is ready for Apple IntelligenceThe 16-core Neural Engine allows you to run several of the AI features Apple is integrating into macOS locally: summarizing documents, generating text, cleaning up objects in photos, and assisting with organization and advanced search tasks. For students or professionals starting to use these tools, having this capability in a laptop at this price point is a significant advantage.
Autonomy: many real hours away from the plug
Apple promises up to 16 hours of video playback With the MacBook Neo, this figure, as always, is achieved in a fairly ideal scenario. In real-world mixed use—browsing, office applications, messaging, some light editing, and music—the figures range between 8 and 10 hours of actual work, more than enough for a full day without having to worry about the charger.
In specific tests, local video playback for about 13 hours left the battery at around The remaining 50% with the screen at around 100 lux (approximately 40% brightness). These figures confirm what was expected: the A18 Pro is incredibly efficient and, combined with macOS optimization and the lack of fans, makes the Neo a laptop you can carry around all day without lugging around the power adapter.
Another detail is that the Neo It supports charging with virtually any 20W USB-C charger. or more, like those Apple includes with many of its mobile devices. Since the charger isn't included in the box, this minimizes the problem for those already within the Apple ecosystem or who have a decent USB-C charger at home.
This energy efficiency not only influences autonomy; it also makes the equipment stays cool and quiet On your lap, in bed, or on a café table. Without a fan, there's no background noise, and the heat it generates, except under very sustained loads, is discreet and well contained.
Who is the MacBook Neo suitable for, and when does it fall short?
After thoroughly reviewing everything that has been tested and reported about the MacBook Neo, it becomes quite clear. the user profile for which it makes the most senseIt's not designed for those who make a living editing heavy video, nor for those who spend their days rendering in 3D, nor for obsessive spec users who will measure every benchmark down to the millimeter.
The Neo shines when it falls into the hands of students who need reliable equipment for several yearsUsers who are buying their first Mac and want a user-friendly entry point to the ecosystem, professionals whose work is based on browsers, email, documents, video calls, office applications, some photo editing, and occasionally small pieces of video or web design.
It also fits very well with that generation that already does almost everything from their mobile phone They only use their laptop for specific tasks: writing papers, administrative procedures, online training, working with spreadsheets, or managing personal projects. For them, the "full Mac" experience—a high-quality screen, good battery life, integration with iPhone and AirPods, iCloud, AirDrop—at this price makes perfect sense.
However, it's not a recommended laptop for those who know that They're going to demand more short-term memoryThey need high-speed ports (Thunderbolt, multiple 6K monitors, ultra-fast external storage) or work intensively with local AI models, large 4K video libraries, or complex 3D scenes. It also doesn't make much sense if you already have a MacBook Air or Pro with a recent M chip: the upgrade would actually be a step backward.
It is important to keep in mind that, at some point, You're likely to run into one of their commitments.A very large file that takes a long time to transfer via USB 2, a night when you miss the backlit keyboard, the routine of typing your password if you're not using an Apple Watch, or a slight system lag when opening too many resource-intensive apps at once. When that happens, you'll also remember the money you saved compared to an Air, and for many, the balance will still clearly tip in favor of the Neo.
Overall, the MacBook Neo has rightfully earned its label as one of the best budget laptops currently availableEspecially if you value design, operating system consistency, and integration with other Apple devices more than having the most impressive spec sheet on the market.
The overall impression this team leaves is that of a A very well-balanced Mac, with its own character and an honest propositionIt doesn't boast excessive power or spectacular technologies in a single metric, but rather offers a comfortable, pleasant, and reliable laptop to accompany you every day. If you're looking for a dependable, lightweight computer with a good screen and surprisingly good sound for its price, and you're not obsessed with Geekbench scores, the MacBook Neo fits the bill as that discreet companion that, without making a fuss, ends up being the device you use most.
