MacBook Neo vs. iPad Air: How I'm choosing between Apple's $599 laptop and tablet

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Close Home Tech Computing Laptops MacBook Neo vs. iPad Air: How I'm choosing between Apple's $599 laptop and tablet Apple's latest MacBook Neo costs the same as the 11-inch iPad Air M4, so which one should you buy? I broke down the key reasons.

Written by Kyle Kucharski, EditorEditor May 4, 2026 at 10:57 a.m. PT

iPad Air M4 vs MacBook Neo — Maria Diaz and Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

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With the introduction of the MacBook Neo this spring, Apple added a fresh entry-level option to its hardware lineup. Before, if you didn't want to commit to a new MacBook Air or Pro, you were relegated to the iPad, which offers a significantly different user experience. (Or you could buy a discounted MacBook that's a year or two old.)

Also: MacBook Neo review: My biggest concern with Apple's near-perfect budget laptop

But all that has changed. The new MacBook Neo starts at $599 -- the same price as the latest affordable iPad Air M4 with 128GB of storage, bringing the MacBook experience to an accessible price point. This puts these two devices on equal footing, but they're very different in terms of usability. Which one is a better fit for you? Let's break it down.

Specifications

	iPad Air M4 (11-inch)	MacBook Neo
Display	11-inch Liquid Retina display, 500 nits brightness, 264 ppi	13-inch Liquid Retina display, 500 nits brightness
Weight	1.03 pounds (465 grams)	2.7 pounds (1.23 kg)
Processor	Apple M4	Apple A18 Pro
RAM/Storage	12GB of memory with 128GB-1TB storage	8GB of memory, 256GB-512GB storage
Battery	Up to 10 hours of web surfing and watching video on Wi-Fi, 9 hours on 5G	Up to 11 hours of web surfing, 16 hours video streaming
Camera	Landscape 12MP Center Stage camera, 12MP wide camera, 4K video	1080p FaceTime HD camera, HD video recording
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, 5G	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6
Price	Starting at $599	Starting at $599

You should buy the iPad Air M4 if...

Buy the iPad Air M4 (11-inch)

$519.99 at Amazon

1. You want the touchscreen experience

It might seem obvious, but the iPad is fundamentally different than a MacBook as a touch device. iPadOS is optimized for touch or use with an Apple Pencil, and as such, offers a more tactile, intuitive form of interaction.

iPads are so popular because they don't really feel like "computers" -- the ability to tap, drag, and zoom with your fingers directly is like working with a physical object. This makes them great for younger kids, older folks, or anyone with visual impairments.

Read the review: iPad Air M4

For artists who want the tactile experience and don't need the MacBook Pro's processing power, the iPad Air offers a much more accessible middle ground, with a vivid display and stylus support for sketching, illustrating, and iterating on designs.

2. You're an artist or creator

The iPad Air M4 features a 12MP Center Stage camera, 4K video recording at up to 30 fps, and a better display, making it better for creators who want to shoot photos or videos. The smaller, thinner frame is way more conducive to shooting content, and stylus support makes for fast, intuitive image editing.

Additionally, the M4 processor in the iPad Air has 12GB of unified memory to work with, alongside an eight-core CPU and nine-core GPU (compared to a six-core and five-core in the Neo), bringing significantly more processing power to the table.

3. You want a better display

The MacBook Neo opened up a new entry point into the MacBook line, but its display is not as flashy as those on the MacBook Air or Pro. The iPad is a much better option for anyone who wants a brilliant display, but doesn't need the top-of-the-line processing power in the MacBook Pro.

Also: MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air: I compared Apple's new laptops, and here's my winner

The gorgeous tandem OLED display on the iPad has 264 pixels per inch and an optional nano-texture display, offering a brighter, more vivid image. This benefits artists, but it's also a better choice for streaming movies, as video content looks crisper and more realistic.

You should buy the MacBook Neo if...

Apple MacBook Neo in silver — Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

Buy the MacBook Neo

$560.49 at Amazon

1. You want the MacBook experience

The Neo delivers a satisfying MacBook experience, though there are some trade-offs. I've written about this at length, but Apple did a great job balancing build and features, retaining the best features from more powerful MacBooks, but keeping the cost low with more modest hardware.

For example, you don't get backlighting on the Neo's keyboard, but the keys still feel functional. The Neo's trackpad is not haptic, but it is still better than many other Windows PC in the price range.

Also: After using MacBook Neo, it's clear Windows needs to rethink its PC strategy (and fast)

The result is a laptop that feels almost identical to a MacBook Air or Pro on the surface -- its only limitation being its processing power. If you're using it for what it's designed for -- everyday tasks, working out of the browser, and using Apple's iPhone integrations -- it feels great.

2. You want a device for work

On that note, if you're looking for something to use for work-related tasks, the Neo is a better option. It runs the same operating system as a MacBook Pro, with a keyboard and mouse that offer better functionality for work-related tasks. Although you can certainly get a keyboard for the iPad Air and connect it to a wide range of accessories, MacOS is simply better for productivity tasks, while iPadOS shines with creative tasks, tablet gaming, and media.

3. You want the more price-efficient option

Both the MacBook Neo and iPad Pro start at $599, but the Neo is a little more cost-effective. If the iPad Air M4 is a high-performing niche device, the Neo is more entry-level but also more versatile. The Neo has trade-offs as mentioned, but for the majority of users who want a MacBook for non-demanding workloads, it's going to feel nearly identical to a higher-specced Mac.

Writer's choice

I've used both products, and personally, I prefer the Neo. It's a little more of a generalist device, but the pros (low cost, bang for buck) heavily outweigh the cons (lower-end hardware). Compared to other Windows PCs at a similar price point, the Neo offers a very competitive experience, especially if you're an iPhone user, as it comes with the full suite of iPhone integrations, like Continuity and Phone Mirroring.

Also: Microsoft was right about the future of PCs - it just took the MacBook Neo to prove it

If you're an artist or creator committed to a device for those workflows, the iPad Air M4 is a better choice. But for essentially everyone else, the Neo is a better option. Even though the iPad is better for younger kids, the Neo is a commendable entry point into the MacBook ecosystem that scales up to some of the most powerful consumer laptops on the market today.