US man tests the $500 MacBook Neo and says he's 'shocked' by what he's found when comparing it to other laptops
Published on May 02, 2026 at 9:57 PM (UTC-4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on May 22, 2026 at 4:24 AM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The budget laptop on everyone’s minds is Apple’s $500 MacBook Neo, and this YouTuber said that he was ‘shocked’ by what he found when he compared it to other new laptops he bought.
Apple’s colorful new budget-friendly laptop has been making waves thanks to its surprisingly low price point and luxury branding.
But when one US-based YouTuber put it head-to-head with similarly priced budget machines, the results were far from straightforward.
After testing multiple devices, he found some results he didn’t quite expect.
The $500 MacBook Neo ‘shocked’ him
To put Apple’s new budget tech, the MacBook Neo laptop, to the test, Alex Ziskind compared it against several laptops in the same $500 to $600 range.
The MacBook Neo had some healthy competition in the form of the Acer Aspire 14 AI, Dell Inspiron 14, and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1, as well as an HP OmniBook 5 model.
By comparison, the MacBook Neo came with just 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage, which immediately puts it at a disadvantage in terms of raw specs.
When it came to heavy workloads like multi-core processing and large code compilations, the Neo struggled to keep up.
In one particularly demanding test, the MacBook Neo took significantly longer than its rivals, falling far behind laptops with more cores and higher processing power.
For users needing serious performance, Alex made it clear this wasn’t the machine to rely on.
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The strength that specs don’t show
Despite losing out in performance tests, the MacBook Neo still impressed Alex in other areas.
The YouTuber highlighted its premium build quality, calling it far more solid than the plastic-heavy competition.
It also excelled in single tasks, such as everyday browsing and lighter workloads, where it actually outperformed the other laptops.
Added to that its bright display, fancy trackpad, and smooth overall experience, and it started to make more sense for an everyday user
There were also lifestyle advantages, like how it would be great for resale, and it also integrates with other Apple products through AirDrop.
In the end, the YouTuber said he was ‘shocked’ not because the MacBook Neo dominated in performance, but because of how well it held its own in everyday life for the average person who can’t afford a very high-cost laptop.
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
