Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch (A18 Pro) vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5)
Get the MacBook Air if you can stretch to it. Unless it's for study, browsing and documents — then the MacBook Neo does the job for much less.
Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch (A18 Pro)
The cheapest MacBook is still a proper MacBook: sturdy aluminium, a sharp screen and fast enough for study and everyday work. Only 8GB of memory, and no backlit keyboard.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5)
The laptop most people should buy: fast, silent and light, with all-day battery and 512GB of storage to start.
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The Air has twice the memory, a backlit keyboard, Touch ID and longer battery life, and will stay quick for longer. The Neo has the same sturdy build and a good screen, and is plenty for everyday work.
- —It's for school or university.
- —You browse, write and video-call.
- —You want a Mac for as little as possible.
- —You keep lots of apps and tabs open.
- —You edit photos or video.
- —You want it to last many years.
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +Sturdy aluminium, light at 1.23kg
- +Sharp, bright 13-inch screen
- +Fast for study and everyday work
- −Only 8GB of memory, which can slow heavy multitasking.
- −The keyboard isn't backlit.
- −One USB-C port is much slower than the other.
- −No Touch ID on the 256GB model.
- +Silent, fanless and fast
- +About 15 hours of battery in tests
- +16GB memory and 512GB to start
- −60Hz screen, so scrolling isn't as smooth as on a MacBook Pro.
- −The notch cuts into the top of the screen.
- −Memory and storage can't be upgraded later.
- −It slows down under long heavy loads, as it has no fan.
Ready to choose?
- Is the MacBook Neo worth it?
- Is the MacBook Air 13 (M5) worth it?
- MacBook Air 13 (M5) vs MacBook Air 15 (M5)
- Best macbooks
How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: TechRadar, Expert Reviews, manufacturer specifications.