MacBook Neo reviews share our view that this is an incredible buy
Published: (March 10, 2026 at 09:47 AM EDT)
6 min read
Source: 9to5Mac
Source: 9to5Mac
Our editor‑in‑chief Chance Miller has been testing the [MacBook Neo](https://9to5mac.com/guides/macbook-neo/) for just under a week, and **his review described it** as “a truly great [Mac](https://9to5mac.com/guides/mac/) at an unbelievable price.” Other reviewers clearly share his view. While there are of course compromises, everyone agrees that this machine leaves all of the Windows competition in the dust…
> *[Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/macbook-neo-review-apple-puts-every-600-windows-pc-to-shame-130000878.html?src=rss)* says that the Neo “puts every $600 Windows PC to shame.”
I really don’t know how Apple did it. The MacBook Neo is a $600 laptop that doesn’t feel like an afterthought—a curse that has befallen so many cheap Windows notebooks. Sure, it has a slower A‑series processor and it’s limited to 8 GB of RAM, but it still feels as deeply considered as Apple’s most premium hardware. Its screen, trackpad, and overall usability are so far ahead of the competition that every Windows PC maker, including Microsoft, should be ashamed.
> *[Stuff](https://www.stuff.tv/review/apple-macbook-neo-review/)* echoed that contrast, adding that this is “the Mac most people need.”
The look and feel is probably the biggest triumph—it has the same aluminium finish you’d expect from a MacBook Air, and many would be hard‑pressed to tell the difference between a silver Neo and a silver Air. There’s certainly no PC out there that is as good‑looking…
The positives **outweigh** the negatives significantly. Just as the entry‑level iPad is the iPad most people need, this is the Mac most people need. Most of us just want to answer emails, write scripts, work out a budget. If that’s you, you’re about to bag a bargain.
> *[CNN](https://edition.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/apple-macbook-neo)* said it was “the most exciting piece of tech tested in years.”
> “The MacBook Neo is the most exciting piece of tech I’ve tested in years, with the potential to be the best MacBook for everyone who doesn’t already own one… A dozen tabs in Chrome or Safari stayed responsive as I jumped around Drafts, Slack, Todoist, Photos and Messages while Music blasted Charli XCX’s ‘365’ in the background… The most amazing thing about the MacBook Neo is how great it is for audio and video, something I never expected to say about a $599 laptop… For everyone who is looking for a great 13‑inch laptop that doesn’t make you think as hard about your budget or financing options, the MacBook Neo is the one for you.”
> *[The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/tech/891741/apple-macbook-neo-a18-pro-review)* finds it hard to believe it’s powered by an iPhone chip.
> “The Neo’s hardware simultaneously embarrasses an entire class of affordable (and even far pricier) Windows laptops, as well as just about any Chromebook. And the thing runs on an iPhone chip… I’ve tested much more expensive Windows laptops that make major compromises on their screen, speaker, keyboard, trackpad or webcam quality—and the fact that the Neo has no major flaws is a big deal… The Neo is the new default recommendation for students and laptop newcomers who want something easy to use with minimal fuss.”
> *[CNET](https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/apple-macbook-neo-review/)* says it’s the perfect first laptop for students, though it does recommend upgrading to the model with Touch ID if budget permits.
> “It’s by far the most affordable MacBook, yet it still offers the same premium design and durability as Apple’s pricier MacBooks. It’s also lightweight and compact, making it easy to take to school, and comes in three fun colors (plus standard silver). The Neo costs the same as the cheapest iPhone and lets parents set their kids up with a phone‑and‑laptop combo that works well together, costing only $100 more than the cheapest MacBook Air. Unless your kid is a budding filmmaker or building their first LLM, they don’t need the power of an Air or MacBook Pro.”
> “As cute and colorful as it is, the $599 MacBook Neo is more than just a laptop for kids. It’s also equipped to get college students through four years of school, and it makes a great laptop for anyone who wants an extra machine for kicking back on the couch at night to browse the web, watch a show or movie, perform light photo edits, and type with all ten fingers on a keyboard rather than two thumbs on an iPhone.”
> *[Macworld](https://www.macworld.com/article/3081612/macbook-neo-a18-pro-review.html)* agrees it’s the perfect first Mac, but also an excellent second Mac for many existing users.
> “The MacBook Neo is a terrific Mac for a first‑timer. It’s a great way for a newcomer to realize what the Mac is all about. Dedicated Mac users stay for the macOS experience because we find the UI and its operability much more satisfying than other platforms. Until now we were willing to pay a little more for it; now it’s a lot easier for people to find out what the Mac is all about. To all you newcomers, welcome to Macintosh… I can see many Mac users getting a MacBook Neo as a secondary at their disposal. For example, it can be the laptop you take on vacation instead of your MacBook Air or Pro, which are more expensive to replace.”
Finally, *[Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/apple-macbook-neo-review-can-a-mac-get-by-with-an-iphones-processor-inside/)* posted the most skeptical review I’ve seen, suggesting that a **refurbished M1 MacBook Air** could be a better buy, but concluding that the Neo will work for many.
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All of that **s** (the excerpt ends here).MacBook Neo – A Good First Mac
I really like the MacBook Neo for its target audience. It could be a good first Mac for people who have only owned an iPhone and/or iPad; it could be a first laptop for any kid or cash‑strapped college student, especially with the $100 educational discount; and it could be a reasonably good upgrade for all the beat‑up, rickety, out‑of‑support 2010‑to‑2019‑vintage non‑Retina Intel MacBook Airs that I still see with some regularity in coffee shops and on trains.
The hardware is cut down, right up to the edge of what we’d consider acceptable in some cases. But Apple has landed on the right side of the line most of the time, cutting features without messing up anything essential.
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