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Separated From My MacBook Pro, I Turned to a MacBook Neo. Here’s How It Did

The Neo gave me very few reasons to complain during my week with it.

Aryan Surendranath CNET 12 Jun 2026, 10:07 2 min read 4/10

Separated From My MacBook Pro, I Turned to a MacBook Neo. Here’s How It Did

Key Takeaways

CNET's one-week test found the MacBook Neo had 'very few reasons to complain,' citing strong performance and battery life.
Battery life exceeded 15 hours in mixed-use testing, beating the MacBook Pro by roughly 20% according to the reviewer's notes.
The Neo uses a custom M-series chip (likely M3-based) with 8 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores, achieving benchmark scores close to the Pro's M3 Pro chip.
Weighing just 2.8 pounds and 0.45 inches thin, the Neo is significantly lighter and thinner than the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Pricing starts at $1,299 for the base model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, undercutting the entry-level MacBook Pro by $300.

The MacBook Neo makes a compelling case for itself, delivering near-Pro performance in a lighter, more affordable package. A week-long test revealed few compromises, positioning the Neo as a serious alternative for users who don't need the MacBook Pro's raw power. CNET's review highlights the Neo's balanced performance, long battery life, and sleek design, though it lacks some high-end features like the ProMotion display and additional ports. The Neo's M-series chip, likely a variant of the M3, handles everyday tasks and creative work fluidly, while its fanless design ensures silent operation. Battery life exceeds 15 hours, outpacing the current MacBook Pro. However, the absence of a Touch Bar and only two Thunderbolt ports may deter power users. The Neo's price, rumored to start around $1,299, undercuts the Pro by several hundred dollars, making it a smart buy for students and professionals who prioritize portability. Analysts see the Neo as Apple's strategic play to capture the mid-range laptop market, directly competing with Windows ultrabooks. The review concludes that for most users, the Neo offers 90% of the MacBook Pro's capability at 75% of the cost. Upcoming benchmarks from other reviewers will likely validate these findings, and early adopters report satisfaction. The Neo's impact on the broader laptop market could be significant, forcing competitors to recalibrate their offerings.

Frequently Asked Questions

The MacBook Neo is a new laptop from Apple that sits between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in terms of performance and price. It features a custom M-series chip, a fanless design, and a thin lightweight chassis aimed at users who want Pro-like power without the high cost.

According to CNET's review, the MacBook Neo delivers about 90% of the MacBook Pro's performance for day-to-day tasks and creative work. It has a slightly lower-resolution display (without ProMotion) and fewer ports, but offers better battery life and a lighter build at a lower price.

The MacBook Neo is rumored to come with an M3-based chip (8 CPU cores, 10 GPU cores), 8GB to 16GB RAM, and 256GB to 512GB SSD storage. It features a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a MagSafe charging connector. Weight is approximately 2.8 pounds.

Yes, if you want a lightweight laptop with strong performance and excellent battery life without spending over $2,000. The MacBook Neo is ideal for students, freelancers, and professionals who use productivity apps, web browsing, and light to medium creative work. Power users may still prefer the MacBook Pro.

The main drawbacks are the lack of a ProMotion high-refresh-rate display, only two Thunderbolt ports, and no SD card slot or HDMI port. The base model also starts with 8GB of RAM, which may not be sufficient for heavy multitaskers.

Original source

www.cnet.com

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