MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air: Which laptop should you get?
It's been a big week for Apple, as it announced not only a new budget phone but also a more affordable laptop with the MacBook Neo.
A day earlier, the tech giant also unveiled the new MacBook Air with the M5 chip and the refreshed MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max processors.
With all the laptop releases, you may be wondering: Which MacBook is best for you: the Neo or the Air?
Processing prowess
Without a doubt, the 2026 MacBook Air is the more powerful of the two, as it's equipped with the M5 chip, starts with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD storage. The M5 features a 10-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, which makes it four times faster than the previous MacBook Air with M4. This machine can tackle tasks like daily browsing, AI generation, and even editing photos and videos.
On the other hand, the MacBook Neo carries an A18 Pro chip—the same processor used in the iPhone 16 Pro—with a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU. It has 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. Apple says this can take on tasks like browsing the web, creating documents, streaming content, editing photos, and AI generation.
Both models are fanless and run completely silent, which may mean they may struggle with heavy, intensive tasks like video rendering. The two models also support Apple Intelligence.
Spec battle
The MacBook Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display (no notch) that outputs 500 nits of brightness. Meanwhile, the MacBook Air is a bit bigger with a 13.6-inch notched Liquid Retina screen that also delivers 500 nits of brightness. However, there's a 15-inch version of the Air for those who want more screen real estate. Built with an aluminum body, both 13-inch models weigh the same at 1.23 kg.
A 1080p camera takes care of calls in the Neo, while a 12MP Center Stage camera does the job for the Air. For sound, there are two speakers on the side of the MacBook Neo with support for Spatial Audio. The Air edges this out as it has a four-speaker sound system.
Apart from the cameras, the two devices also differ with their keyboard and trackpad. While the one on the Neo is also a Magic Keyboard, it doesn't have a backlight. The Touch ID is also only available on the 512GB model. Meanwhile, the trackpad on the Neo isn't a multi-touch one, not a force touch pad like the Air's.
Port configuration is different, too. While the MacBook Air has one MagSafe and two Thunderbolt ports, the Neo only has two regular USB-C ports. Both have a 3.5mm headphone jack, but the MacBook Air's supports high-impedance headphones for better listening.
Lastly, the MacBook Air promises up to 15 hours of battery life when web browsing and 18 hours of video streaming, while the MacBook Neo boasts 11 hours of web browsing and 16 hours of streaming.
Price
The MacBook Neo is the cheaper model of the two, as it makes compromises with some of the specs. The 256GB model starts at P39,990. It comes in fun colors of silver, blush, citrus, and indigo.
Meanwhile, the 13-inch MacBook Air starts at P72,990 in colors of sky blue, silver, starlight, and midnight.
The verdict
While both models are geared toward students, the MacBook Neo is the more wallet-friendly of the two. If tasks include basic web browsing, emails, word processing, data organization, the MacBook Neo can handle them well enough. But if you're looking for a more powerful machine as a daily driver—and you can't live with some of the compromises—stick with the MacBook Air.
