Apple’s two most affordable MacBooks have grown pricier, widening the gap between buying the basics and paying for more power.
Following Apple’s June 25, 2026, price increases, the MacBook Neo starts at $699, while the 13-inch MacBook Air M5 costs $1,299. For students, home users, and professionals, the $600 difference raises a question: Is the Air worth nearly twice the price?
The Neo offers an A18 Pro chip and 8GB of memory for everyday computing. The Air adds a faster M5 processor, twice the base memory and storage, and features missing from its cheaper sibling. Whether those upgrades justify the premium depends on how demanding your daily tasks are.
Where the extra $600 goes
Both laptops run macOS and support Apple Intelligence, but their hardware differs considerably.
According to Apple’s MacBook Neo specifications and MacBook Air M5 specifications, their entry-level configurations compare as follows:
| Feature | MacBook Neo | MacBook Air M5 (13-inch) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting US price | $699 | $1,299 |
| Processor | A18 Pro | M5 |
| CPU / GPU | 6-core / 5-core | 10-core / 8-core |
| Memory | 8GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 256GB SSD | 512GB SSD |
| Display | 13-inch Liquid Retina | 13.6-inch Liquid Retina |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Battery (video streaming) | Up to 16 hours | Up to 18 hours |
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD | 12MP Center Stage |
| Backlit keyboard | No | Yes |
| Touch ID | Higher configuration only | Standard |
| Ports | Two USB-C (USB 3 and USB 2), headphone jack | Two Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, headphone jack |
| External displays | One, up to 4K/60Hz | Up to two |
Prices reflect Apple’s US listings as of October 22, 2026. Battery figures are manufacturer estimates; retailer prices may vary.
In Tom’s Guide’s independent testing, the Neo scored 8,920 on Geekbench 6’s multicore test, compared with 17,067 for the 13-inch Air M5. The Air also completed a HandBrake video conversion in 5 minutes, 8 seconds, against 9 minutes, 57 seconds for the Neo.
Those advantages are more noticeable during demanding tasks than basic browsing or document editing. The Air’s 16GB of memory also gives it more room for multitasking, photo editing, and heavier applications.
Beyond performance, the Air offers faster ports, MagSafe charging, a backlit keyboard, and support for two external displays. Its P3 wide-color display and True Tone are useful additions for creative work.
In the same publication’s web-browsing battery test, the Air lasted 15 hours, 28 minutes, compared with 13 hours, 28 minutes for the Neo. Actual endurance depends on usage and settings.
Which MacBook offers better value?
How we compared: We examined Apple’s pricing, hardware specifications, connectivity, and battery claims alongside independently published performance tests and repairability findings. Recommendations reflect common workloads and overall value.
Choose the MacBook Neo for everyday computing. Browsing, online classes, documents, streaming, and light productivity rarely require the Air’s full capabilities. Buyers considering other platforms can also explore Windows laptops and Chromebook alternatives.
The $799 Neo configuration adds 512GB of storage and Touch ID, narrowing the gap with the entry-level Air to $500. At a similar starting price, the HP OmniBook 5 offers a Windows alternative with additional memory options and ports.
In iFixit’s MacBook Neo teardown, the laptop earned a repairability score of 6 out of 10, helped by easier battery access. Its memory and storage remain non-upgradeable, making the initial configuration important.
Choose the MacBook Air M5 for heavier workloads. Its stronger processor, additional memory, larger SSD, and connectivity make it better suited to creative projects and frequent multitasking. The Surface Laptop X2 Plus comparison also examines how the Air compares with a Windows alternative.
The Air is the more capable laptop, but the Neo is sufficient for many everyday tasks. Unless extra performance, memory, or connectivity is a regular necessity, keeping the additional $600 may be the smarter choice.
Read more: Buyers needing substantially more processing power can explore these business laptops for AI workloads, including options for demanding productivity and local AI development.