I put the MacBook Neo through the same tests as I did the MacBook Air M1 — I think the results will surprise you

The MacBook Neo keeps hitting right

21 Mar 2026, 18:00 · TechRadar

Features By Lance Ulanoff published 21 March 2026

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

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Few laptops have enjoyed the staying power of the MacBook Air M1. Six years ago, I called it "an astonishing breakthrough." It was the first Mac to feature Apple Silicon and the last Air to wear that iconic wedge design. As recently as last year, people were still buying this system for roughly $699 at Walmart.

As it finally shifts into refurb-only availability, the MacBook Air M1 remains the affordable Mac to beat, and now, with the MacBook Neo, that iconic Mac has met its match.

Like that system before it, the MacBook Neo breaks new ground for Apple. We've never seen an affordable MacBook like it. From the day-glo colors to the iPhone CPU (oh, hey, A18 Pro), the $599 / £599 / AU$899 MacBook Neo stands out among its peers, and has put the affordable laptop market (bargain basement Windows systems and Chromebooks) on notice.

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(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

While that comparison is obvious, I admit to some surprise that the most frequent question I got about the MacBook Neo is how it compares to the MacBook Air M1, not the M2 or even the recently unveiled MacBook Air M5 (an exceptional portable).

The more I thought about it, the more sense it made. I, too, remain a massive fan of that M1 model — from its classic design to the still excellent price/performance ratio. It's worth remembering, though, that the MacBook Air M1 started at $999, $400 more than you'll spend today for the MacBook Neo.

I still have the MacBook Air M1 I tested in 2020, and so I did what any rational tech reviewer would do: I compared it directly with the MacBook Neo by running the latter through virtually all the same tests.

TLDR: Despite a mobile processor, the MacBook Neo more than holds its own against the MacBook Air M1.

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