I’ve spent the last few years watching the Mac lineup evolve from the early M1 days to the powerhouse machines we have now. But yesterday’s double-drop from Apple feels like a genuine shift in strategy. You see, by launching the MacBook Neo alongside a beefier MacBook Air M5, Apple wants to tell you that not everyone needs top specs and the most raw power in their Macs. Yet they’ve managed to keep the premium tier strictly aspirational with this one.
Also read: Apple MacBook Neo is here and it costs less than an iPhone: India price and all details
While the rumours about Apple using an iPhone chip in a Mac sounded fascinating, it’s actually even more interesting to see that this is now a reality. The A18 Pro, an iPhone 16 Pro chip, inside a MacBook. And, of course, while the price gap between these two machines is wider than I expected, the trade-offs are specific enough that your choice will likely depend on whether you value a splash of colour over raw performance for your daily workload. Let’s dive in.
The MacBook Neo is clearly the star of the show, given the price tag. Starting at Rs 69,900, it’s the most accessible a new Mac has been in years. It’s thin, it is light at about 1.2 kg, and comes in these new shades like Citrus and Blush that actually look quite refreshing for a change compared to the usual silver and grey we usually get in Macs.
Under the hood, the MacBook Neo is powered by the 3nm A18 Pro. We have already seen this chip in the iPhone 16 Pro, and while it’s a beast for a phone, seeing it handle macOS Tahoe will be interesting. Mind you, this Neo machine is fanless and silent, just like the M-series powered MacBook Airs. However, Apple had to cut corners to hit that sweet sub-Rs 70,000 price.
Now, I haven’t tested either of the laptops yet, so my initial impressions are based on Apple’s press materials and the videos doing the rounds on YouTube. That said, my biggest ‘pro vs. con’ moment here is the keyboard on the MacBook Neo. The base model lacks a backlit keyboard. So, if you’re a student or a journalist like me who often works late into the night, that’s going to be a daily annoyance. For instance, as I am writing this article on my M1 Air, and I write a bunch of pieces like this, I’m currently lying on my bed, with the laptop propped on my lap. The room lights are off and the only thing guiding me to write is this backlit keyboard on my machine. So you see where I’m coming from.
Also, if you are not down with the ‘backlit keyboard’ situation, you also have to pay extra if you want Touch ID. It feels like a very ‘Apple’ way of reminding you that you’re on the budget tier.
Then there’s the MacBook Air M5, which has effectively moved upmarket. It now starts at Rs 1,19,900, but Apple has also made a solid move here and doubled the base storage to 512 GB. This is paired with 16 GB RAM as standard.
Now, the M5 chip is the real story for anyone doing more than just browsing or writing. The latest Air with the latest M5 chip features a new Neural Accelerator in every core, which Apple says makes AI tasks 4x faster than the M4 Air. Think of it in a way that when you edit photos or run complex workflows, that extra headroom is what keeps the machine from feeling sluggish.
Also, the inclusion of the N1 wireless chip is another sleeper hit. Getting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 in an Air is huge for connectivity too. It’s like, if you’ve ever sat in a crowded space trying to get a stable signal, you’ll appreciate this more than any CPU benchmark. Plus, you still get MagSafe charging, which, in my opinion, is the best insurance policy against someone tripping over your cable. Trust me on this, I’ve tripped on numerous occasions because of the long cable situation, and while nothing happened to me, my M1 Air has gotten a few dents and scuffs here and there. It doesn’t feel good, and that’s why I feel there’s nothing like MagSafe charging on a Mac.
Price in India: Neo starts at Rs 69,900 | Air M5 starts at Rs 1,19,900
Processor: Neo uses A18 Pro (from the iPhone 16 Pro) | Air uses the latest-gen M5 chip
Display: Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina | Air M5 offers 13.6 or 15.3-inch options
Base Storage: Neo starts at 256 GB | Air M5 now starts at 512 GB
Connectivity: Neo has Wi-Fi 6E and 2 x USB-C (USB 3 & USB 2) | Air M5 features Wi-Fi 7, MagSafe, and 2 x Thunderbolt 4 ports
Biometrics: Neo has optional Touch ID | Air M5 includes Touch ID as standard
If I were making the call today, the MacBook Neo feels like a great pick for students who just need to get through assignments and movies. It’s colourful, portable, and gets the job done for most people who won’t push the hardware. You see, understand this: while I’m looking to upgrade my M1 Air, primarily because 8 GB RAM doesn’t cut it for me anymore, there’s no denying the M1 chip is a capable chipset, even by 2026 standards. In fact, the A18 Pro almost scores as much as the M1 chip in multi-core performance benchmarks. So, I am expecting that even if your workflow involves some basic video editing work, it will hold up. I remember I used to do all of that when I was in college; I used to have a MacBook Pro at that time. I wish the Intel-powered MacBook Airs were half as good as the M1 Air; I would’ve bought them in a heartbeat instead of spending around Rs 2 lakh on a MacBook Pro in 2014.
Long story short, if you want a laptop for casual work like writing, watching videos, browsing and all that stuff, along with some light photo and video editing, I think the MacBook Neo is a solid entry point into the Apple ecosystem.
But if the Mac is your primary tool, I’d say the Air M5 is the one to save up for. In fact, this is the first time in a long time that I have a feeling I should probably retire my M1 Air now. Because the jump to 512 GB storage and 16 GB RAM as standard, combined with the faster M5 architecture and better connectivity, makes it a far more sensible investment for the next four or five years.
I’m hoping to get both into the Digit Test Labs soon to see how the A18 Pro actually handles load compared to the M5 on Mac hardware.
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