The MacBook Neo just came out — and it’s already making waves. Only $599 for an Apple laptop, what? That sounds almost unbelievable. And while everyone is marveling at the price tag, many people have another question on their minds: wouldn’t it be better to just get an iPad with a keyboard and skip paying for a “real laptop”? Let’s break it down honestly — no marketing hype or rose-colored glasses.
What to choose: a tablet or a laptop?
MacBook Neo — Differences from MacBook Air
The MacBook Neo is Apple’s new laptop with a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, an aluminum body, and an A18 Pro chip. Yes, the same one found in the iPhone 16 Pro. The starting price is $599 for the base model with 256 GB, and for $699 you can get the version with Touch ID and 512 GB.
| Model | Price | Storage | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Neo | $599 (69,990 rubles in Russia) | 256 GB | 8 GB |
| MacBook Neo (512 GB) | $699 (84,990 rubles in Russia) | 512 GB | 8 GB |
| MacBook Air | $1,099 (129,990 rubles in Russia) | 512 GB | 16 GB |
This is the most affordable laptop Apple has ever released. Students get an additional hundred dollars off. But why does it even exist? Apple is clearly targeting students and those eyeing Chromebooks or cheap Windows laptops. And now they have a real argument.
The laptop comes in four color options. Image: Apple
How Much Does a Cheap iPad Cost
It’s important not to get confused here. If you’re thinking about an iPad with a keyboard as a laptop replacement, we’re talking about the base iPad — an 11-inch tablet with an A16 chip that came out in March 2025.
This iPad costs $349 for the Wi-Fi version with 128 GB of storage. But without a keyboard, it’s just a tablet. And the official Magic Keyboard Folio — the only full-fledged keyboard with a trackpad for this iPad — costs $249, sometimes a bit more.
The iPad is colorful too. Image: Apple
Total: iPad + keyboard = $349 + $249 = $598. Exactly the same as the MacBook Neo.
At first glance, this battle looks like a tie. But the devil is in the details: the MacBook has twice the storage (256 vs. 128 GB), while the iPad has a touchscreen. And in general, you can hold the iPad in your hands, draw, take notes with a stylus.
If you want 256 GB on the iPad too — that’s already $449 for the tablet + $249 for the keyboard = $698. The MacBook Neo wins on price at that point, and the iPad only matches it on specs.
MacBook Neo Advantages
The new MacBook Neo runs macOS Tahoe, receives regular updates, and fully supports Apple Intelligence. In practice, this means:
Full-fledged software. On the MacBook, you can install any browser, code editor, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, and full versions of office apps. Without the limitations that exist on iOS.
Painless multitasking. Open 20 tabs in Chrome while simultaneously running Slack, Figma, and email — the MacBook can handle it. The iPad starts to struggle with that many tasks.
A proper file system. Download a file and find it exactly where you expect. On the iPad, this is still a quest to find downloads in the “Files” app.
Under the hood, the laptop has the iPhone’s A18 Pro processor, whose performance roughly matches the M1 — that’s the level of the MacBook Air from a few years ago, which is still enough for most everyday tasks. The only minor thing — the Neo has a keyboard without backlighting, even in the $699 version.
iPad Advantages
Don’t think that an iPad with a keyboard is “almost a laptop, only worse.” It has its own strengths, and they’re not trivial.
Touchscreen. The MacBook doesn’t have one at all. You can hold the iPad in your hands, draw, take notes with an Apple Pencil, and swipe through pages with your finger. For studying, note-taking, or creative work — that’s a huge plus.
A tablet without a keyboard. The Magic Keyboard Folio detaches in a second. And just like that, you have a lightweight tablet for reading or watching movies. The MacBook can’t do that.
Camera. The iPad has two cameras: a 12 MP main camera and a 12 MP front camera. The MacBook Neo only has a basic webcam for video calls.
Weight and portability. The iPad without the keyboard weighs less than 500 grams. The MacBook Neo weighs 1.2 kg. The difference is noticeable when you’re carrying it around all day.
Is It Worth Buying an iPad with a Keyboard
Honestly, iPadOS is already a perfectly fine operating system for most tasks. Browser, messengers, YouTube, email, notes, even simplified versions of office apps — everything works.
The problem is something else: the Magic Keyboard Folio is uncomfortable on your lap. It’s held by magnets and only stands on a hard surface — a desk, a windowsill, a tray. On a couch or on a train without a table, it literally falls over. The MacBook in this sense is a real laptop with a hinge that you can set up anywhere.
Light, compact, colorful. Image: 9to5mac.com
Another point: the iPad A16 doesn’t support Apple Intelligence — Apple’s AI features are only available starting with the A17 Pro chip. The MacBook Neo with the A18 Pro does support them.
Which iPad to Buy for School
This is where it’s worth pausing and being honest: an iPad with a keyboard looks incredibly attractive if you’re choosing a device for school or college.
Imagine heading to a lecture in the morning — you grab just the tablet, it’s light and fits in any backpack. In class, you take notes, photograph the whiteboard, and draw diagrams with a stylus right in a digital notebook. After class, you pull out the keyboard — and now you’re properly typing up an essay. In the evening, you detach the keyboard, flop onto the bed, and watch a show holding the iPad in your hands.
The MacBook can’t do that. It’s a laptop — you need to open it, set it on a surface, and you can’t hold it with both hands. For work, it’s ideal, but for student life — it’s a bit less flexible.
Here it mimics a laptop. Image: Apple
Another point for students — the camera. Photographing a classmate’s notes, shooting a quick video for a project, scanning a document — the iPad handles all of that just fine. The MacBook Neo simply isn’t designed for that.
So if you’re choosing a first device for a school or college student on a limited budget — don’t be too quick to write off the iPad. Sometimes flexibility matters more than power.
