After months of rumours, Apple has finally introduced its most affordable laptop, MacBook Neo. The device starts at INR 69,900, while students can buy it at INR 59,900.
MacBook Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with 2408 x 1506 resolution, 500 nits brightness, and support for 1 billion colours. This is better than most Windows laptops in this price segment. The aluminium build also gives it a more premium feel compared to many plastic-body laptops in this segment.
The laptop runs on Apple’s A18 Pro chip. Apple claims it is up to 50 percent faster in everyday tasks than bestselling PCs with Intel Core Ultra 5 chips. It also claims up to 3 times faster performance in on-device AI workloads. While these claims sound impressive, real-world performance will depend on optimisation and workload. For browsing, office work, photo editing, and light creative tasks, the chip should be more than enough. However, users who need heavy video editing or advanced 3D work may still prefer higher-end MacBook models or powerful Windows machines with dedicated GPUs.
MacBook Neo is fanless, so it runs silently. Many Windows laptops in this price range still use active cooling, which can become noisy under load. Apple also promises up to 16 hours of battery life. If this holds true in real usage, it will clearly outperform most Windows competitors, which usually offer between 6 to 8 hours depending on usage.
The laptop runs on macOS Tahoe and supports Apple Intelligence features. For users already using an iPhone, features like Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and iPhone Mirroring can improve productivity. This tight ecosystem integration is something Windows laptops cannot fully replicate unless paired with Android devices and Microsoft services.
The device includes a 1080p FaceTime camera, dual microphones with beamforming, and dual speakers with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. These features make it suitable for online classes, work from home, and content streaming.
The Magic Keyboard and large trackpad are expected to offer a better typing and navigation experience compared to many mid-range Windows laptops.
MacBook Neo offers two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, Wi Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 6. However, the limited number of ports may be a concern for users who connect multiple accessories. Many Windows laptops in this segment still provide USB-A and HDMI ports without needing adapters.
At Rs. 69,900, the laptop directly competes with premium Windows ultrabooks from brands like HP, Dell, Lenovo, and ASUS. In terms of display quality, build, battery life, and ecosystem integration, MacBook Neo looks strong. However, Windows laptops may still offer better flexibility, more ports, upgrade options, and sometimes higher RAM and storage at similar prices.
This laptop makes sense for students, writers, office users, bloggers, small business owners, and casual creators. For gamers and users who depend on specific Windows software, a Windows laptop may still be the safer choice.
