Apple's recently introduced MacBook Neo is a value notebook that uses Apple's A18 Pro processor, a processor first used in 2024's iPhone 16 Pro. In part because of the use of that processor, it is the lowest-priced Apple notebook in decades. However, because the processor comes from an iPhone, Apple offers no RAM configurability on the Neo, and that is its biggest limitation: it is only available with 8 GB of RAM at a time when other macOS notebooks start at 16 GB.
A different approach
In addition to using the A18 Pro processor, Apple has gone to great lengths to reduce cost on the Neo compared to other macOS notebooks—creating their own "minimum viable notebook." There is no MagSafe power adapter, and power is provided only through one of the two USB-C ports. The keyboard is not backlit, and the trackpad is an older design that does not support Force Touch, which Apple debuted over a decade ago. At an even 13 inches, the display is 20% smaller than any other Apple notebook display and does not support Wide Color (P3), as found in all other Apple notebook displays. The camera, speakers, and microphones are not on par with those of any other current Apple notebook. Finally, Apple rates the Neo's battery at 68% of the capacity of the one in the 13-inch MacBook Air.
This new product line looks different than any previous MacBook, and it is—the first new notebook case design from Apple in over three years. Comparing the new Neo to the also recently introduced M5 MacBook Air 13-inch is instructive. With its smaller display (13.0-inch versus 13.6-inch), the Neo is slightly thicker and marginally narrower and deeper, with the same weight. Neos are available in the classic Silver, but Apple has added three new notebook colors—Blush, Citrus, and Indigo.
Testing
A MacBook Neo was tested against expectations for previous macOS-based Value notebooks in use at the University. The particular system tested includes an Apple A18 Pro processor with a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU, 8 GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD, and macOS 26.x Tahoe.
Installed and tested third-party software includes Microsoft Office (including Teams), Box Drive, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Slack, Webex, Zoom, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox. Systems management and security software tested includes BigFix, CrowdStrike, CrashPlan, and GlobalProtect. ISC did not test Adobe Creative Cloud because the Neo does not meet Adobe's recommended RAM requirements for that suite.
The general quality of the Neo's Retina-class (2408 x 1506) 13.0-inch display is above average, though it is the smallest Apple notebook display in almost a decade. With its 1080p camera, the MacBook Neo is effective for video conferencing. The display's video quality is quite good, and the two speakers deliver decent sound for a notebook.
Overall, the Neo's performance is acceptable for most common tasks. Battery life is as expected, ranging from a high of ten hours in light office use to a low of between three and four hours in heavy video conferencing use.
Recommendations
The MacBook Neo is not suitable for most of Penn's macOS constituents. Rather, the MacBook Air—in either 13-inch or 15-inch versions—remains the default choice. However, at the extreme low end of the value notebook range, the Neo is appropriate—with the explicit understanding that ISC can guarantee no more than a three-year useful life cycle. Potential buyers of the Neo must understand that the current tight memory situation will never improve—operating systems, middleware, and applications all grow over time.
ISC sees the MacBook Neo as a useful downmarket extension to Apple's notebook product line. The MacBook Neo is approved for general University use under the Value portion of the Notebook Purchasing Guide.
Published on 4/10/2026