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This might make you wonder if the MacBook Neo is underpowered. As a whole, I'm guessing not. For years now, I've been skeptical that most people are even using the full power of the latest Apple Silicon in the MacBook Air. The M5 has powerful graphics and top-of-the-line CPU performance, and that's largely wasted on people who exclusively operate out of just a handful of browser tabs. That's a very large demographic. If that's you, you'll likely enjoy using the MacBook Neo and not be bothered by the limitations. Pay attention to what apps you have open, and you'll be fine. The comparison that
The MacBook Neo Cuts (Most of) the Right Corners… Apple was making room in its lineup for the MacBook Neo to make its grand appearance, but the result is that the 2026 MacBook Air is stacked. It's probably overkill for a lot of people in terms of performance, especially with the improvements that the M5 brings over the M4. …
… Apple has removed the 1-TB option from the configuration list on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, meaning it now starts with 2 TB for $3,899. In 2026, Apple increased both the starting storage capacity and price across the entire MacBook line, down to the 13-inch MacBook Air . …
… That’s right—under the hood of the MacBook Neo is the A18 Pro, which also appears in the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max . It’s the most powerful mobile chip Apple has, but this is the first time it's appearing in a MacBook. …
… The 2026 iPad Air is the latest refresh in Apple’s iPad lineup , bringing the M4 chip into the mix. That is in line with the way Apple keeps the iPad one generation behind the MacBooks and iPad Pro. …
… Dropping the size from 32 inches to 27 inches allows Apple to achieve a ratio closer to what the MacBook Pros have. For reference, the screen of the 16-inch MacBook Pro has 2,554 dimming zones . …
… The MacBook Pro is not for everyone. It's for professional creatives and engineers that run heavy, taxing applications all day. There are a number of Windows alternatives to the MacBook Pro, such as the Asus ProArt P16 and Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i. …
… That one is based on the anticipated Nvidia RTX Spark chip, which is coming out later this year and will serve as the company's proper MacBook Pro alternative. …
… I say “almost” because the M5 Pro or M5 Max MacBook Pros exist. Those more powerful MacBook Pros primarily exist to speed up tasks like AI-enhanced video production or renders for professionals who don't have time to wait around. …
… Apple did increase storage configurations in the M5 models, however, so keep that in mind when comparing prices to the M4 generation. MacBook Pro M3 Pro or M3 Max : The refurbished M3 Pro MacBook Pro, with 18 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, is selling for a little more than the M2 Pro. …
… What makes the MacBook Neo special, however, is the lack of compromise around quality. It's a gorgeous piece of hardware, with fun colors, an excellent trackpad, a beautiful display, and that Apple “it” factor. …
