Updated 22 Oct 2026
Is the Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch (A18 Pro) worth it?
Yes — the best laptop for students and everyday use.
The A18 Pro chip, first used in the iPhone, is quick for browsing, documents, video calls and light photo editing, and the 13-inch screen is bright and accurate. It weighs 1.23kg and is easy to repair. But it has only 8GB of memory, which limits heavy multitasking, the keyboard isn't backlit, Touch ID comes only on the 512GB model, and one of its two USB-C ports is slow. Battery lasted about 12 to 13 hours in tests. Apple raised the price by £100 and $100 in June 2026.
98%of 47 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Sturdy aluminium, light at 1.23kg
- Sharp, bright 13-inch screen
- Fast for study and everyday work
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What owners say
Owners love the look and colours, how light it is and getting a Mac for less. Many bought it for study. Complaints are almost nonexistent so far.
Good to know
- 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.
From 47 buyer ratings at Currys, every complaint read by us, October 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Looks great, lovely coloursMentioned a lot
- Light and compactMentioned often
- Easy to set up and useMentioned often
- Ideal for studentsAlso mentioned
- Good value for a MacAlso mentioned
What they complain about
Hardly any: just 1 of 47 owners gave it 3 stars or fewer, and no complaint came up often enough to list.
Get it if…
- It's for school, university or everyday work.
- You want a Mac for as little as possible.
- You're replacing an old Intel MacBook or a cheap Windows laptop.
Skip it if…
- You edit video or keep lots of apps open: the Air has twice the memory.
- You often type in dim rooms: the keyboard isn't backlit.
More on the MacBook Neo
How we reached this verdict
Expert Reviews calls it the best budget laptop money can buy, praising the sturdy build and accurate screen, but found its battery (just under 12 hours in a video test) disappointing and misses a backlit keyboard. PCWorld's review (Editor's Choice) got 13 hours and says nothing about it feels cheap, but notes the slower second USB-C port and the missing True Tone. Both reviewed it at its launch price, before Apple's June 2026 rise.
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: Expert Reviews, PCWorld, Apple, TechRadar, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 22 Oct 2026How we decide