The MacBook Neo Isn’t the Only Budget Mac Worth Buying.
Apple’s “affordable” MacBook is officially unveiled. The company unveiled the “MacBook Neo” at a non-livestreamed event on Wednesday , following a series of product announcements throughout the week. Despite the hype, there were no major surprises: rumors pointed to an affordable MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, available in a variety of vibrant colors. That’s essentially what we got: the Neo is powered by the A18 Pro—the same chip as the iPhone 16 Pro—and comes in Blush, Indigo, Citrus, and Silver.
The biggest surprise of the day was the price: $599, or $499 if you buy through the education store ( where anyone can buy ). It’s a bit unbelievable that in 2026 you can buy a new MacBook for just $500, especially considering the skyrocketing prices of computer components . In 2008, a MacBook cost $1,099 , which is just under $1,700 in today’s money. Today, that’s enough to buy three MacBook Neos, with some left over for accessories.
The MacBook Neo isn’t perfect.
If you’re in the market for a new MacBook, the Neo might seem like a particularly tempting option. But it’s far from the only Mac worth considering. Despite Apple’s high price tag, powerful Macs are now available at very reasonable prices—though not necessarily directly from the company. Apple will happily sell you a MacBook Air starting at $1,099 ($999 in the Education Store), which is significantly more expensive than the Neo. Instead, consider older Mac models from other retailers that carry them. It might seem counterintuitive, but you might actually be better off buying a model that wasn’t released this year, or even a used computer.
When the Neo was just a rumor, I recommended holding off on its release . Sure, the colors looked interesting and the price was great, but there are some serious downsides to consider—primarily the hardware. The A18 Pro is a powerful chip for the iPhone 16 Pro, but it hasn’t yet proven itself suitable for macOS. It’s an Apple-designed chip, so that’s an advantage, but it’s still not designed for Apple’s OS in the same way that the M-series chips are for Macs. Exact performance specs will only be known once testers get their hands on the Neo, but I suspect the A18 Pro won’t be ideal for macOS—hence the ultra-low price.
The Neo’s RAM capacity is also a drawback. Apple ships the Neo with only 8GB of memory, which is sufficient for most simple tasks, but insufficient for more complex or multitasking tasks. Advanced users attempting to push the Neo to its full potential will likely encounter issues when attempting to run too many programs (or too many browser tabs) simultaneously. However, Apple knows that many users rely on 8GB of RAM, as it was the baseline standard before the introduction of the M4 processor . Furthermore, the lower RAM capacity is a major factor in the low price.
Finally, there are some minor niggles. The keyboard, while color-matched to the case, isn’t backlit, and if you opt for the base model, you don’t get Touch ID. You’ll have to pay an extra $100 for it, though that also doubles the storage (512GB instead of 256GB). MagSafe, which has once again become standard on modern MacBooks, is missing, and the touchpad is mechanical rather than tactile—though that’s not necessarily better or worse.
None of these are critical flaws, and other MacBook models have similar issues. But that doesn’t mean the Neo is for everyone in this price range. Before you hit the pre-order button on Apple’s website, here are a few other options worth considering.
The MacBook Air with the M1 chip still deserves attention.
The MacBook Air with the M1 processor may go down in history as the best laptop Apple has ever made. Not because it’s the most powerful or has the most elegant design, but because this five-year-old MacBook still works perfectly. If you bought one in 2020, you probably still have it and have no compelling reason to upgrade.
Apple no longer makes the Air—in fact, the company only makes the version with the M5 processor, which was announced this week. But the M1 processor is still available at retailers like Amazon and Walmart, often at incredibly good prices. I’ll point you to two options as possible alternatives to the Neo. The first is the base Air model with the M1 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. That’s half the storage of the Neo, which can be a hassle, but the sacrifice will save you even more money. Right now , Walmart has a used model for just over $350. That’s hard to beat.
Here’s a better option: Amazon sells a MacBook Air with an M1 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $515. If you find a similar computer at that price, don’t miss out. Even if the A18 Pro outperforms the M1 chip in benchmarks, the 16GB of RAM will ensure long-lasting, fast performance. I highly recommend getting a MacBook with 16GB of RAM in 2026, so if you can find one at that price, go for it.
The MacBook Air M2 is an affordable and powerful laptop.
In the $600 to $650 price range, the MacBook Air with the M2 processor is a true beast. Of course, it features Apple’s second-generation M-series chip, and it boasts a modern MacBook design. The company hasn’t changed the look of its MacBook Airs much since the M2, meaning this model feels completely new. It also features a brighter and larger display than the M1 Air, as well as MagSafe charging.
Again, Apple no longer makes this model, so you’ll have to look for it on the used market and through third-party sellers. You can find models with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $600, like this one on Amazon . 16GB of RAM would be ideal, but it’s hard to find an M2 with that configuration at this price, as it typically pushes the price up to $800 . But that’s the tradeoff in this price range: you get a modern form factor and a newer chip for the sacrifice of RAM. The M2 with 8GB of RAM will likely outlast the A18 Pro with 8GB of RAM when it comes to macOS. We’ll have to wait for testing results to confirm, but I’d bet on a chip designed specifically for macOS.
The MacBook Neo is likely to be a great buy.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider the Neo. In fact, it might be the Mac you need. First, you’re getting a brand-new Mac—not used or refurbished—for $499, in color options never available on the M-series Mac. It also has some features the M1 or M2 MacBook Air lacks: the M1 has a 720p FaceTime camera, while the M2 and Neo have 1080p. The MacBook Neo supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6, standards neither the M1 nor M2 supports. If the Neo is right for you, I’m not trying to dissuade you.
Instead, I’d advise you to wait until we know more details. Apple opened pre-orders today, but don’t rush: stay tuned for benchmark results and real-world testing, and compare the A18 Pro to the M1 and M2 on macOS.