Comment: The MacBook Neo is not a new 12-inch MacBook

Between 2015 and 2019, Apple had the virtually ideal portable Mac in its lineup: the 12-inch MacBook was incredibly compact, allowed work even in budget airlines or the tightest train compartments, and weighed almost nothing (specifically: less than an iPad with Magic Keyboard). Admittedly, the keyboard was annoyingly manufactured using Jony Ive's butterfly hell technology. And the built-in Intel mobile chips without fans were by no means suited for video editing tasks or 3D games. But as an everyday surfing, video-watching, and text machine, the 12-inch MacBook was unbeatable. I myself used the machine for this and was surprisingly satisfied with it for a long time.

The Renaissance Did Not Happen

When Apple launched its Apple Silicon chips starting in 2020, I immediately thought that a renaissance of the ultra-portable was imminent. That would also be ideal: the M-SoCs consume little and are fast, stay cool, and allow for the most compact designs, as can be seen, for example, on the iPad Pro. However, Apple didn't even consider reviving the 12-inch MacBook. When the news came in the summer of 2025 that Apple was working on an entry-level notebook again, many fans of the old Intel compact Mac thought their time had finally come. And now, this week, it was indeed time: Apple is releasing the Neo, a newly designed notebook. But not an ultra-portable; this is more about the price than anything else. Because Apple has apparently decided to roll up the laptop market from the bottom, something few would have expected from the company.

However, the look, despite the colors – shades: silver, citrus, pink, and indigo – is not actually new. Looking at the Neo in detail, one quickly realizes that Apple has partially recycled the design of the 13-inch MacBook Air. At 1.23 kg, the new device coincidentally weighs the same; the 12-inch MacBook weighed only 920 grams. The rest of the form factor is also significantly bulkier: in terms of length and width, the Neo is only minimally smaller than the Air; in thickness, it increases slightly, which is likely due to the side-mounted speakers. Thanks to the A18 Pro, it should leave any old Intel Mac in the dust – and probably even M1 Macs. Unlike the MacBook Air, the display has no notch (which I consider an advantage); otherwise, the two devices could easily be confused.

The Price Is Hot

Not the price: With two tariff levels, which differ in SSD size and the inclusion of a fingerprint sensor (256 vs. 512 GByte, no Touch-ID vs. Touch-ID), the Mac selection has never been easier. In Europe, Apple's prices, including VAT, are 699 and 799 euros, and in the US (without VAT), they are 599 and 699 US dollars. If you want to buy a MacBook Air M5, you'll pay at least 1199 euros; the cheapest retail price for the old MacBook Air M4 with 256 GByte is currently around 880 euros.

A commentary by Ben Schwan

Mac & i editor Ben Schwan has been writing about technology topics since 1994 and now focuses primarily on Apple devices. He likes the design of Mac, iPhone, and iPad and believes that Apple often delivers the most user-friendly products. However, he doesn't think the hardware and software world from Cupertino is always perfect.

In other words, with the MacBook Neo, Apple is delivering what is essentially the ultimate entry-level Mac for people who manage a lot of data in the cloud and are comfortable with the fact that only 8 GByte of RAM are installed. It is simultaneously the smallest notebook in the portfolio (not in terms of weight; see above). The dream of a fast ultra-portable with sufficient features, however, remains unfulfilled, even though it seems so easy to fulfill thanks to Apple Silicon and all other skills in Apple's hardware engineering. Does Apple rather want to see this target group with the iPad? Only those in Cupertino know for sure. I, for one, will soon be getting behind the Neo and trying it out in everyday life at least once. Let's hope the person in front of me in economy class doesn't recline their seat too far.

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