New MacBook Neo or a Refurbished MacBook Air: Which Offers the Best Value?

Traditionally, the MacBook Air has always been the entry-level model for those looking for a light, fast laptop for everyday use. But Apple would not be Apple if it were not constantly working on improving and optimising its products. With the introduction of the MacBook Neo, launching on 11 March 2026, Apple is adding a completely new entry-level line to its existing range. Alongside the well-known Apple MacBook series, the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, there will now be a model focused on affordability without losing the typical Apple experience.

Table of Contents

• What is the MacBook Neo?
• A MacBook with an iPhone chip
• Drawbacks of the MacBook Neo
• MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air
• Refurbished MacBook Air: premium Apple quality for less
• Conclusion

What is the MacBook Neo?

The MacBook Neo is the new entry-level model within the MacBook family. Apple positions this laptop below the MacBook Air, with a starting price of €699. This makes it the most affordable new Apple laptop available at the moment.

The main features of the MacBook Neo are:

• 13-inch display
• Aluminium design in four light, cheerful colours
• Two USB-C ports
• Battery life of up to 16 hours
• Powered by the A18 Pro chip
• Starting price from €699

In terms of design, Apple remains true to its minimalist style. The aluminium casing feels sturdy and premium, while the colourful variants give the model a fresh appearance. As a result, the Neo appears to be aimed mainly at students, first-time professionals, and home users looking for an accessible MacBook.

A MacBook with an iPhone chip

One of the most striking features of the MacBook Neo is its processor. Instead of a traditional Mac chip, Apple uses the A18 Pro chip — the same chip that powers the processor in the iPhone 16 Pro.

This step shows just how powerful Apple’s mobile chips have become. The A18 Pro chip is known for:

• highly energy-efficient performance
• strong AI processing capabilities
• fast graphics performance for everyday use

Drawbacks of the MacBook Neo

Although the MacBook Neo is relatively affordable for an Apple laptop, several compromises are noticeable. A number of features that have been standard on other MacBooks for years are missing or more limited. Below are the main drawbacks at a glance.

• Limited connectivity
  The laptop only has two USB-C ports. The left port supports fast data transfer up to 10 Gbit/s and can connect to a 4K display, while the right port only operates at USB 2.0 speeds. Because one of these ports is also needed for charging — as the MagSafe connector is absent — you will often be left with just a single available port.
• No haptic trackpad and no keyboard backlight
  Unlike other MacBooks, the Neo does not include a haptic trackpad. This means you have to physically press the trackpad to click, rather than feeling a simulated click from a vibration motor. The keyboard also lacks backlighting, a feature that is common on many laptops in this price range.
• Performance mainly suited for light use
  The MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip (also used in the iPhone 16 Pro) combined with 8 GB of non-upgradeable memory. Performance is roughly comparable to Apple’s first M1 chip. It is perfectly adequate for everyday tasks such as browsing, emailing and watching videos, but heavy multitasking can noticeably slow the system down.
• Basic entry-level configuration
  The base model, priced at around €700, comes with 256 GB of storage and no fingerprint scanner. For about €100 more, you get 512 GB of storage and Touch ID, which allows you to log in quickly and make payments with Apple Pay in the Safari browser.
• Display and battery slightly behind other MacBooks
  The 13-inch display has a resolution of 2408 × 1506 pixels and a brightness of 500 nits, but it only supports the sRGB colour space rather than the wider P3 colour range found on other MacBooks. The 36.5 Wh battery delivers around 12 hours of light use, which is less than the 15 to 16 hours often achieved by other MacBook models.

MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air

The MacBook Neo comes close to the MacBook Air, but there are some clear differences.

Similarities:

• Thin and lightweight design
• Aluminium casing
• Long battery life
• 13-inch size
• USB-C connectivity

Key differences:

Refurbished MacBook Air: premium Apple quality for less

So far, we have mainly discussed the MacBook Neo in comparison with a new MacBook Air, where there is naturally a clear price difference. However, if you look at a refurbished MacBook Air, that difference immediately becomes much smaller.

With a refurbished model, you enjoy all the advantages of a new MacBook Air, premium design, powerful performance and long battery life, but at a much more attractive price. In fact, within our range we offer several refurbished MacBook Air models for under €649. This means that for less money than a new MacBook Neo, you could already get a more powerful MacBook Air.

On top of that, at iUsed you receive a standard three-year warranty, whereas Apple only provides a one-year warranty for professional customers and two years for private customers.

The benefits:

• more powerful M-series processor
• premium design
• Apple quality at a lower price
• professionally checked and refurbished

  View our refurbished MacBook Air range under €649

Conclusion

The MacBook Neo (2026) is an interesting addition to Apple’s line-up. With a 13-inch design and the powerful A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro processor, Apple offers an accessible entry option for Mac users. However, the comparison also shows that a good, refurbished MacBook can often offer even better value for money. Whatever kind of Apple experience you are looking for, there is always a model that suits your needs.