Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more
From the £1,600 Mac Pro to the £3,199 Vision Pro headset, Apple is renowned for its pricey products.
But the tech giant has delighted fans with a brand new MacBook, which comes with a surprisingly low price tag.
The MacBook Neo costs just £599, making it around half the price of Apple’s more high–end laptops.
At such a reasonable cost, you might think the device would take a hit with features.
Thankfully, this isn’t the case, with the MacBook Neo boasting a host of impressive tools, including Apple Intelligence, 16–hour battery life, and an A18 Pro chip.
The Daily Mail’s Science & Technology Editor, Shivali Best, put the MacBook Neo through its paces – here’s why it’s the perfect option for cash–strapped students.
The Daily Mail’s Science & Technology Editor, Shivali Best, put the MacBook Neo through its paces – here’s why it’s the perfect option for cash–strapped students
MacBook Neo
Apple MacBook Neo
Product Specs
- Storage256GB, 512GB
- Display13″ Liquid Retina
- Ram8GB
- ProcessorApple A18 Pro
- Battery life16 hours
- Ports2x USB–C and headphone jack
- Resolution2408–by–1506
What we love
-
PriceHalf the cost of other Apple MacBook models
-
Perfect for light workBest suited for basic tasks
-
DisplayCrisp 13–inch Liquid Retina display
-
WeightJust 1.23kg
Our verdict
The MacBook Neo is hands-down the best ‘budget’ laptop on the market.
The A18 chip makes everyday tasks from browsing the web to typing documents a breeze, while the 8GB of memory is plenty for most people.
At 0.5 inch x 11.71 inch x 8.12 inch and weighing just 2.7lbs, it’s the perfect size to slip into a bag – ideal if you’re a student who’s always on the go.
I do think it’s worth splashing out the £100 extra for the version with Touch ID, particularly if you use your laptop to access things like online banking.
Overall, the MacBook Neo is the ideal option for cash-strapped students looking for an everyday laptop that won’t break the bank.
How we test
We test all laptops in the same way, putting them through a series of tests designed to assess their performance, ease of use, design and value for money.
All of the products we review get the same treatment, so you’re able to make an informed purchase on your next big purchase.
The MacBook Neo is hands-down the best ‘budget’ laptop on the market. The A18 chip makes everyday tasks from browsing the web to typing documents a breeze, while the 8GB of memory is plenty for most people
MacBook Neo review
Performance
When Apple first announced that the MacBook Neo had an A18 chip, alarm bells went off for many tech geeks.
First introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro, this chipset usually features in Apple’s smartphones, while the recent MacBooks have had M5 chips.
However, after a few days with the MacBook Neo, any of my initial fears about the A18 chip have vanished.
Whether you’re browsing the web, streaming TV programmes or movies, or typing a document, the MacBook Neo copes with most tasks with ease.
Sure, if you’re planning to run high–end games, you might want to opt for a MacBook running on M5, but for most everyday tasks, the A18 is more than capable.
Of course, for students rushing in and out of lectures, one of the main concerns will be battery.
Thankfully, there’s absolutely no need to lug a charger around with you.
During my tests, I found a single charge in the morning was enough to keep the MacBook Neo running for the entire day – with Apple claiming you can actually squeeze out 16 hours of normal use.
One of the tools I think will be an absolute gamechanger for students is Apple’s suite of AI tools, called Apple Intelligence. With a click of a button you can summarise blocks of text, proofread copy, and even solve mathematical equations
For seminars held over Zoom or Google Meet, the video and sound quality on the MacBook Neo are also excellent, thanks to the 1080p HD camera and dual mics.
If you simply want to play music on your MacBook Neo, the dual side–firing speakers also deliver fantastic sound.
In a comparison between my work laptop (an HP Elitebook) and the MacBook Neo, it’s safe to say the sound quality is in a completely different league!
One of the tools I think will be an absolute game-changer for students is Apple’s suite of AI tools, called Apple Intelligence.
With a click of a button, you can summarise blocks of text, proofread copy, and even solve mathematical equations.
Best of all, Apple Intelligence runs on–device, so if you don’t have access to the internet, you can still use the AI tools.
Design
Apple is known for its stunning design, and the MacBook Neo is no different. The laptop is crafted from aluminium and comes in four stunning colours: blush, indigo, silver, and citrus
Apple is known for its stunning design, and the MacBook Neo is no different.
The laptop is crafted from aluminium and comes in four stunning colours: blush, indigo, silver, and citrus.
I opted for the blush and can confirm it’s the perfect shade of pink – not too in your face, and certainly won’t give you a headache.
One of the classiest touches is the subtle colour–matching of the keyboard, which is a slightly paler shade of pink, rather than a bright white.
It might sound trivial, but I also really like that you can open the MacBook Neo one–handed, in contrast with other brands which require two hands to prise open.
At 0.5 inch x 11.71 inch x 8.12 inch and weighing just 2.7lbs, it’s the perfect size to slip into a bag – ideal if you’re a student who’s always on the go.
One thing that is missing on the basic version is Touch ID, which is only available on the 512GB version, which costs £699.
While logging in and out of the laptop itself with a password isn’t too much of a faff, you will probably miss Touch ID if you usually use it to access things like online banking.
For the extra £100 (which also gives you the extra storage), I’d say it’s worth splashing out.
Value for money
I’m going to say it – this is the best value laptop on the market.
At £599, it’s a fraction of the price of Apple’s more high–end MacBooks, yet has many of the same features.
Unless you’re planning to do any heavy video–editing or gaming, you won’t notice that there’s an A18 chip, while the 8GB of memory is enough for basic use.
What’s more, if you’re a student, you can get £100 off, meaning you can get your hands on the MacBook Neo for just £499 – an absolute bargain!
Why trust us?
Shivali Best is the Science & Technology Editor at the Daily Mail and has been testing products and writing reviews for nine years.
She completed a Master’s degree in Science Journalism at City University London in 2014 and previously worked at The Mirror as Deputy Science & Technology Editor.
THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF APPLE
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1, 1976, as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market.
Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation’s new Macintosh in California on February 6, 1984
1981: Jobs became chairman.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.
1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.
1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.
Steve Jobs, then-chief executive officer of Apple, with the iPhone
2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.
2007: Apple unveils the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was unveiled.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.
2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones – the 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California, with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner’s face.
Jobs at an Apple event at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California
2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers.
2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.
2020: In March, Apple closes all its brick-and-mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus.
2021: In an online virtual event in April, CEO Tim Cook declares Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year, the iPhone 13 was announced.
2022: In September, the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash, as well as an improved camera system.
2023: Apple brings back its ‘Home Pod’ after the first generation was discontinued. The ‘Home Pod’ can be seen as an alternative to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home, as it is powered by voice commands.
2024: Apple makes its first steps into artificial intelligence with the release of Apple Intelligence. The features are not all released at once, with many delayed until the following year.
