This isn’t a light-use scenario either. We’ve moved our entire workflow to the Neo, from writing articles and scripts to editing short-form content on Premiere Pro. Essentially, everything our primary device handles daily, the Neo is now being pushed through the same routine.
Think of this as a starting point for anyone considering the device. A more detailed review, along with a video, will follow later this month once we’ve spent more time with it.
The variant we are using –
MacBook Neo is available in multiple configurations, but we are testing the base variant with 8GB of RAM & 256GB of internal storage. This variant is priced at Rs. 69,900.
What’s in the design?
The first thing that stands out about the MacBook Neo is how light and compact it feels in daily use. At around 1.2kg, it’s on par with the MacBook Air, but the slightly smaller footprint means we could actually carry more in our bag without feeling weighed down. One practical advantage we noticed immediately is charging. The Neo can be powered using a standard 20W iPhone charger, which means one less brick to carry around, something that makes a real difference if you’re moving around a lot.The color options are easily one of the Neo’s most distinctive elements. The unit we have is in Indigo, a metallic blue finish that stands out without being loud. It’s a clear departure from the usual muted tones of the MacBook lineup. Apple has also matched the keyboard to the laptop’s color scheme, using a lighter shade of blue, which adds to the overall character. It feels reminiscent of the more playful iMac designs from the past and gives the Neo a more approachable, less utilitarian look.
At the same time, while the Neo clearly looks and feels like a MacBook, you do notice the material differences when coming from a MacBook Pro. The finish feels more toned down, and it’s evident where some cost-cutting has taken place to hit this price point.
There are some clear compromises. The keyboard is not backlit, which is something we immediately missed. The unit we have also skips fingerprint unlock, which is reserved for a higher variant. Port selection is limited too. You get two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm jack, but only one of those supports faster USB 3 speeds, while the other is restricted to USB 2. There’s also no SD card slot, which is a step down from the MacBook Pro and something creators will notice quickly.
One area that remains very “MacBook” is the trackpad. It’s large for the size of the device and supports the full range of multi-touch gestures, making navigation smooth and familiar despite the Neo’s more affordable positioning.
The MacBook Neo’s display uses an IPS panel.
Webcam
The MacBook Neo comes with a 1080p webcam housed in the top bezel, and in day-to-day use, it holds up well. There are no advanced features here, no Face ID and no Center Stage tracking, but the image quality is sharp and well-balanced. In fact, it feels a step up from what we’ve seen on the M2 MacBook Air and is easily good enough for regular video calls and meetings.
That said, the absence of Center Stage is something we noticed more than expected. It’s one of those features you take for granted on devices like the MacBook Pro or even the iPhone, and not having it here does make video calls feel a bit more static.
On the audio front, the stereo speakers are decent but not particularly standout. They get the job done for calls, podcasts, or casual video watching, but they lack the depth and warmth you’d get from a MacBook Air. For anything more immersive, like movies or music, you’ll likely want to switch to headphones.
Display
So far, the MacBook Neo’s display holds up well for what it’s aiming to be. It uses an IPS panel, not OLED like some competitors, and you don’t get features like True Tone either. Color reproduction also isn’t at the level of a MacBook Air, but in isolation, the panel is sharp, bright, and largely color accurate.
Apple claims a peak brightness of 500 nits, and in use, that feels about right. It’s bright enough for most indoor and outdoor conditions, though very harsh sunlight can still be a challenge. The panel sticks to the sRGB color space, which means HDR content doesn’t look as punchy, but for general use, it does the job. The color accuracy is solid, too, which means basic photo and video edits won’t look off when viewed on other devices.
From a Pro user’s perspective, the differences are noticeable. Coming from a MacBook Pro, we missed the 120Hz refresh rate and the more consistent color output. Since our workflow involves video editing and color work, we did find ourselves double-checking output on an iPhone to ensure accuracy. That said, this is a fairly niche use case and not something most buyers in this segment would prioritise.
For content consumption, the experience is better balanced. The display paired with the speakers feels comparable to a standard iPad. It’s perfectly fine for watching videos, even with two people, though it doesn’t quite deliver the depth or richness you’d expect from higher-end machines.
We’ll have a better perspective on how the display holds up in varied lighting conditions once we travel with it next week and use it more extensively on the move.
Performance and battery life – The long jump
The most interesting part of the MacBook Neo is what powers it. Instead of an M-series chip, Apple is using the A18 Pro, the same class of processor seen in its iPhones. On paper, that might raise concerns, but for the most part, it holds up well in everyday use. Tasks like writing, browsing, video calls, and general multitasking feel smooth and responsive. For a large set of users, this level of performance will be more than enough.
Where things start to show strain is under heavier workloads. In our use so far, the Neo handles generic workflows comfortably, but when it came to output-heavy tasks, the gap became clear. Exporting a one-minute reel with basic music and transitions on Adobe Premiere Pro 2026 took around 5 minutes and 45 seconds on the Neo. The same project on our four-year-old MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro chip took about 1.5 minutes. Dropping the export to a medium bitrate brought the Neo’s time down to around 2.5 minutes, which is more manageable, but still behind.
A big part of this likely comes down to the 8GB RAM limitation. It’s fine for lighter tasks, but as soon as you start pushing timelines, exports, or multitasking heavier apps, you can feel the constraint. Since this isn’t user-upgradable, it’s something buyers need to consider upfront, especially if there’s any creative workload involved.
That said, there’s a possibility the experience improves within Apple’s own ecosystem. We’ve been told performance and efficiency are better on apps like Final Cut Pro, and that’s something we plan to test in the coming days.
On battery life, the Neo has been fairly reliable so far. We’ve managed close to 11 hours of continuous use without needing to plug it in, which covers a full workday comfortably. The only time we’ve seen noticeable drain is during heavier tasks like exports on Premiere Pro, where the battery dropped by around 3% per export on average across two high-bitrate renders. Outside of that, for general usage, the battery performance has been consistent and predictable, even if it doesn’t quite match the longevity of higher-end MacBook models.
Verdict…. So far
The MacBook Neo is one of those devices that makes sense almost immediately. Within the first few hours, it settles into your workflow without much friction. It’s light, compact, easy to carry, and for everyday tasks like writing, meetings, browsing, and general productivity, it doesn’t feel out of place at all. In fact, for a lot of people, this will be more than enough machine.
But coming from a MacBook Pro, the differences are hard to ignore. The missing backlit keyboard, limited ports, no fingerprint unlock on this unit, and a more basic display setup are things you notice quickly. And while performance holds up well for regular use, pushing it with heavier tasks like video exports exposes its limits pretty clearly.
At the same time, it’s also important to look at the Neo in context. This isn’t trying to replace a MacBook Pro. It’s clearly aimed at making the Mac experience more accessible, and in that sense, it largely delivers. The fact that it can handle most everyday workflows without breaking a sweat is what stands out the most.
What makes it interesting is what it represents. This sets a new baseline for what an entry-level MacBook can be, and that could have a larger impact on the category going forward.
This is just after 24 hours, though. We’ll have a clearer picture once we’ve spent more time with it, especially when we take it along for travel next week and push it further in real-world scenarios.
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