MacHabitsFor students and anyone buying a first Mac, the choice this autumn comes down to two laptops: the MacBook Neo, Apple’s low-cost MacBook built on the iPhone-class A18 Pro chip, and the M5 MacBook Air. The Neo costs hundreds less. The question is whether what you give up matters for how you’ll actually use it over the next four or five years.
The differences that matter
| MacBook Neo | MacBook Air (M5) | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | A18 Pro: 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU | M5: 10-core CPU, 8- or 10-core GPU |
| Memory | 8 GB, not upgradeable | 16 GB standard, up to 32 GB |
| Memory bandwidth | 60 GB/s | 153 GB/s |
| Storage | 256 GB or 512 GB | 512 GB and up |
| Display | 13-inch, 2408 × 1506, sRGB, no True Tone, no notch | 13.6- or 15.3-inch, P3 wide colour, True Tone, notch |
| Charging | USB-C | MagSafe and USB-C |
| Touch ID | 512 GB model only | All models |
| Weight | About 1.2 kg | About 1.2 kg (13-inch) |
At launch in March, the Neo started at $599 and the 13-inch Air at $1,099. Apple raised prices across much of its lineup in late June, and education pricing and retailer discounts change often, so check today’s prices where you live. The gap has stayed large.
Memory is the real decision
For writing, browsing, video calls, streaming and a few apps at once, the Neo is genuinely good, and its single-core speed isn’t far behind the M5. The limit is its 8 GB of memory, which you can never upgrade.
With 8 GB, macOS leans on swap once you keep dozens of browser tabs, a video call, a spreadsheet and a messaging app open together. It keeps working, but it slows down, and it will slow down more as apps grow over the laptop’s life. Apple Intelligence and other on-device AI features also run better with more memory. Our guide to 8 GB Macs on Golden Gate covers what that feels like in practice.
Buy the Neo if
- Your work is documents, research, email, browsing and video calls.
- Budget is the deciding factor, especially with education pricing.
- You want a light second laptop for travel that you won’t worry about.
- You can live without MagSafe and a wide-colour display.
If you choose the Neo, get the 512 GB model. It’s the only way to get Touch ID, and 256 GB fills up quickly once apps, photos and system updates settle in.
Buy the Air if
- You study design, photography, video, music production, engineering or computer science.
- You plan to keep the laptop five years or more.
- You work with many apps and tabs open at once.
- You want the larger 15-inch screen, or colour-accurate work.
For programming, 3D work or heavy video editing, consider an Air with 24 GB or a MacBook Pro instead. The M5 Pro MacBook Pro is often heavily discounted; see our October MacBook briefing.
Check your course software first
Before you buy either, check the software your course or school requires. Some specialist apps need more memory or specific features, and exam software has its own requirements; see Examplify and macOS 27. Remember that Golden Gate runs only Apple silicon apps natively, and Intel-only software stops working after macOS 27.
The short version
The MacBook Neo is a very good laptop for everyday study at a much lower price, as long as 8 GB of memory is enough for the next four or five years of your work. If you do creative or technical work, keep many apps open, or want the laptop to last, the M5 MacBook Air’s 16 GB and better display are worth the difference. If you pick the Neo, get the 512 GB model for Touch ID and space.