MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air: Which One Should You Buy?

Five hundred rupees. There is so much difference in price between MacBook Neo and MacBook Air. After spending a lot of time testing and using both laptops in the MacBook lineup, I can say that there is a clear demographic for both of these devices.

As a longtime laptop tester, my goal here is twofold. I want to make sure you buy the right MacBook, and I also want to make sure you don’t overpay or buy under. Making the decision is actually not as hard as you might think. Don’t you think you might want a MacBook after all? Don’t forget to check out our guides to the best Windows laptops, best Chromebooks, or best Linux laptops.

easy way to take decisions

Photograph: Luke Larson

If you’re stuck between the Neo and the Air there’s an easy question to answer. Is it for a job that you will use full-time? Because if you’re sitting in front of this laptop for eight hours a day, don’t bother thinking about the MacBook Neo. You’ll probably be tempted by the price, but there are plenty of compromises. Trust me.

On the other hand, if you answered “no” to that question, you can save some cash by purchasing a MacBook Neo without bothering with some of its shortcomings. For example, many people have a PC or laptop for work in the office, but then they need something for weekends, weekends or travel. It also works perfectly for any student, whether in high school or college.

I know this is an oversimplified way to think about it, but it’s a good place to start.

Design, size and aesthetics

There is a slight difference in size, but it is not as significant as you might assume. The MacBook Neo’s screen is 13 inches measured diagonally, which is half an inch smaller than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air. As someone who often works on a MacBook Air, I found it much easier to switch to the slightly smaller Neo. You can also upgrade to a 15-inch MacBook Air, which gives you a much larger canvas to work on. But it also costs an additional $200. In terms of portability, the MacBook Air is 0.44 inches compared to the Neo’s 0.50 inches. Again, there’s not a huge difference—especially since they’re similar in weight.

In terms of design, the MacBook Neo departs from the MacBook formula in a few key ways. It’s a bit more playful than other MacBooks, using rounder edges, white keycaps and some brighter color options. They’re nowhere near as adventurous as the iMac colors, but you get to choose between silver, blush, citrus, and indigo. Silver and blush are more subtle, while citrus and indigo are bolder choices. However, my favorite aspect of the MacBook Neo is the lack of a notch. Don’t get me wrong: I want thinner bezels on my laptop just like everyone else, but I’ve always found the notch to be an ugly solution.