Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch Laptop with A18 Pro chip: Built for AI and Apple Intelligence, Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera; Indigo

Apple MacBook Neo Review: Pretty Colors Can't Hide Basic Specs

Key Features

• THE MOST COLOURFUL MACBOOK LINEUP EVER — Choose from Silver, Blush, Citrus or Indigo — each with a colour-coordinated keyboard to complete the look. And with a durable aluminium design, MacBook Neo is built to go wherever you go.
• POWER FOR EVERYDAY TASKS — Ready the moment you open it, MacBook Neo with the A18 Pro chip delivers the performance and AI capabilities you need to get things done, whether you’re editing family photos, powering through spreadsheets, using AI to summarise class notes or playing the latest Apple Arcade game.
• UP TO 16 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE3 — With all-day battery life, MacBook Neo is equipped to go the distance for everyday users and students — from early-morning classes to late-night study sessions.
• A BRILLIANT 13-INCH DISPLAY — Feast your eyes on the gorgeous Liquid Retina display. A 2408x1506 resolution, up to 500 nits of brightness and support for one billion colours provide vivid images and crisp text.
• LOOK AND SOUND GREAT — MacBook Neo comes with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a dual-mic array to enhance your voice for crystal-clear calls, and two side-firing speakers for immersive sound with Spatial Audio.
• BUILT FOR AI — Apple silicon, and every major component that powers it, is designed to efficiently run on-device AI activities. And Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself and get things done effortlessly with groundbreaking privacy protections at every step.
• MACOS RUNS APPS FAST — All your go-to apps run lightning fast in macOS, including built-in apps like FaceTime4 and Messages.
• IF YOU LOVE IPHONE, YOU’LL LOVE MAC — Mac works like magic with your other Apple devices. View and control what’s on your iPhone from your Mac with iPhone Mirroring.5 Copy something on iPhone and paste it on Mac. Send texts with Messages from your Mac, or use your Mac to answer FaceTime calls.
• PRIVACY AND SECURITY — Built-in antivirus protection and free software updates help keep your MacBook Neo running smoothly and securely. FileVault encrypts your files so others can’t access them. Find My can help you locate your lost or stolen Mac. The MacBook Neo model with Lock Key lets you wake and lock your screen and power your Mac on and off. The model with Touch ID uses your fingerprint to unlock your Mac, authorise payments and sign in to apps and sites.
• POWER ADAPTERS — Please be aware: MacBook Neo comes with a USB C charging cable, but does not include a power adapter. A USB C power adapter or other USB PD power source that can provide 20W or higher is required to charge this device. For optimal charging, Apple recommends pairing this Mac with the Apple 20W USB C Power Adapter.

That A18 Pro Chip Delivers Where It Counts

The A18 Pro silicon is the real star here, not the colour options. Apple's positioned this as their AI-focused chip, and it shows in day-to-day performance. The machine boots instantly, handles multiple Safari tabs without breaking a sweat, and powers through basic photo editing in a way that would make similarly-priced Windows laptops weep.

Apple Intelligence integration feels seamless when it works, though I suspect most users won't notice the AI enhancements initially. The real benefit is in system responsiveness — everything from launching apps to switching between tasks happens with that characteristic Mac fluidity. For spreadsheet work, note-taking, and general productivity tasks, the A18 Pro has more than enough grunt.

The Display Impresses, The RAM Disappoints

That 13-inch Liquid Retina display genuinely looks superb. The 2408x1506 resolution delivers sharp text, whilst the 500 nits brightness and billion-colour support make everything from Netflix to photo editing look vibrant. It's a proper step up from budget Windows laptops in this price range.

But then we get to the elephant in the room: 8GB of unified memory in 2024 feels stingy. Apple argues their memory architecture is more efficient than traditional RAM, and there's truth to that. But I've seen enough user reports of sluggishness when running multiple demanding apps simultaneously. If you're the type to have Photoshop, multiple browser windows, and a video call running concurrently, you'll notice the limitations.

Battery Life Lives Up to Apple's Claims

The 16-hour battery rating isn't marketing fluff — real-world usage comes remarkably close to Apple's claims. Light productivity tasks, web browsing, and media consumption easily push into double-digit hours. Even with more demanding workloads, you're looking at a full work or study day without hunting for a charger. The efficiency of Apple silicon continues to impress here.

Build Quality Meets Expectations

The aluminium construction feels premium, as you'd expect from Apple. The colour-matched keyboards are a nice touch, though I suspect the novelty wears off quickly for most users. More importantly, the overall build quality maintains Apple's standards — this feels like a laptop that'll survive the daily grind of student life or commuting.

The 1080p FaceTime camera represents a meaningful upgrade over older MacBooks, though it's hardly groundbreaking in 2024. Video calls look crisp enough, and the dual-mic array does a decent job of isolating your voice from background noise.

Storage Becomes the Limiting Factor

Here's where Apple's penny-pinching really shows: 256GB of storage disappears faster than you'd expect. After macOS and essential apps, you're left with around 200GB for your files, photos, and projects. That's tight for anyone who doesn't live entirely in the cloud. The lack of expandable storage means you're stuck with external drives or expensive iCloud subscriptions.