MacBook Neo vs. M5 MacBook Air: All the trade-offs you'll make to save $500

"Apple is looking to gain a foothold in the more budget-friendly end of the laptop market with the MacBook Neo. The system starts at $599, which is darn inexpensive for an Apple laptop - it even has the same starting price as the M4 iPad Air. As such, the MacBook Neo should help Apple compete with cheap Windows laptops and Chromebooks."

"Apple is really lowering the cost of entry for those looking to pick up a new MacBook here. The base MacBook Neo costs $500 less than the cheapest M5 MacBook Air, which is now officially Apple's midrange laptop. Of course, there are a lot of tradeoffs you'll make by opting for a MacBook Neo instead of a MacBook Air."

"The Neo has an arguably more eye-catching array of colorways with silver, blush (a light pink), citrus (light yellow) and indigo options. The Air comes in a more muted batch of sky blue, silver, starlight (a sort of champagne) and midnight (a very dark blue). The weight of the two laptops is identical at 2.7 pounds and the differences in the dimensions are negligible."

"Alas, the Neo does not have a MagSafe port, so you'll need to use one of its two USB-C ports (it has one USB-C 2 port and a USB-C 3 port) for charging. The MBA has two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports to go with its MagSafe connector. The MacBook Neo comes with a 20W power adapter. The MBA includes a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter."

Apple introduces the MacBook Neo, a budget-friendly laptop starting at $599, designed to compete in the affordable laptop market alongside Windows laptops and Chromebooks. The Neo costs $500 less than the base M5 MacBook Air, making it Apple's most accessible MacBook option. Educational pricing starts at $499. The Neo and MacBook Air share identical weight at 2.7 pounds and both retain headphone jacks. However, the Neo lacks MagSafe charging, requiring USB-C ports instead, and includes a 20W power adapter compared to the Air's 40W adapter. The Neo offers vibrant color options including blush, citrus, and indigo, while the Air features more muted tones. Significant tradeoffs exist between the two models regarding ports and charging capabilities.

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