Apple MacBook Neo 4 / 5 Very good ZDNET's key takeaways Pros: It succeeds as an entry-level MacBook, has great battery life, and performs well within its intended use case.
Cons: Modest hardware has real limitations, competitive PCs and Chromebooks still exist, and its longevity and durability are big question marks. $699 at Amazon $699 at B&H Photo-Video more buying choices
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
When Apple announced the MacBook Neo -- the new, affordable, 13-inch laptop running on an iPhone chip -- it prefaced the announcement by saying it was redefining what a MacBook could be. Once known for its performance and exclusivity, the MacBook Pro now has a far more affordable alternative, starting at $599.
But Macs weren't always thought of this way. The iconic iMacs of the 2000s and Macintosh computers before that -- although not cheap -- lacked the same "luxury tech" connotations. The Neo speaks to a design ambition largely absent from the MacBook over the last several years: accessibility.
Also: Apple might launch a new class of 'Ultra' devices in 2026 - including a foldable iPhone
In a way, accessibility is harder to address than simply pushing hardware to its limits. But Apple's mature technology portfolio -- combined with decades of design insights into the MacBook form -- has resulted in a laptop that leverages both.
The Neo is nothing if not a successful balancing act between usability and exclusivity, and its addition to the market is a turning point for Apple, but more importantly -- its Windows and Chromebook competitors.
The MacBook experience... almost
The MacBook Neo feels a lot like a MacBook Air from a couple of years ago. The A18 Pro chip in the Neo is a six-core CPU, five-core GPU system with 60GB/s memory bandwidth, and one less GPU core than the iPhone 16 Pro. Paired with the 8GB of unified memory, you've got enough horsepower for everyday tasks, but that's about it.
... continue reading