MacBook Air M2 with 16GB RAM available at Rs 65,000: Is it a better buy than the MacBook Neo?

Apple M2 MacBook Air

• MacBook Air M2 price cut brings it down to Rs 69,000 in India
• MacBook Air M2 and MacBook Neo now priced similarly
• Neo extends software support; Air M2 adds MagSafe, Touch ID

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Apple’s 2022 MacBook Air M2 has received a price cut from retailers in India, bringing its effective price down to Rs 69,000. The reduction places the laptop directly in competition with Apple’s newly launched MacBook Neo, which starts at Rs 69,900 in the country.

The price overlap means buyers considering a MacBook in the entry segment now have two options at nearly the same cost. While the MacBook Air M2 runs Apple’s M-series silicon designed for macOS, the MacBook Neo introduces the A18 Pro chip to the Mac lineup. And, that makes a difficult choice for buyers. Fret not, here's what you need to know before making the decision.

Let's start with the MacBook Air M2 price cut:

The new pricing significantly changes the value proposition of Apple’s thin-and-light laptop lineup.

Processor and performance comparison

The MacBook Air M2 uses Apple’s M2 processor, which includes an eight-core CPU and an eight-core GPU. The base model comes with 16GB unified memory and 256GB SSD storage. The M2 architecture is designed for macOS workloads such as photo editing, video editing and running desktop applications.

The MacBook Neo runs the A18 Pro processor. Apple introduced this chip with the iPhone 16 Pro series before bringing it to macOS. The chip features a six-core CPU, a five-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine designed for Apple Intelligence tasks in macOS Tahoe.

Both laptops use fanless designs, meaning they rely on passive cooling.

Display and design comparison

The MacBook Air M2 features a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with a notch for the camera. The laptop weighs 1.24kg and is available in Midnight, Starlight, Space Grey and Silver.

The MacBook Neo includes a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2408 × 1506 pixels and brightness of 500 nits. It weighs 1.23kg. Apple offers the Neo in Silver, Blush, Citrus and Indigo colours.

Ports and battery

Connectivity differs between the two models.

The MacBook Air M2 includes a MagSafe 3 charging port, two Thunderbolt ports and a headphone jack. Apple rates the battery life at up to 18 hours. The device supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3.

The MacBook Neo does not include MagSafe charging. Users must charge the laptop using one of its USB-C ports. Apple claims up to 16 hours of battery life. The Neo supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6. And, the USB port is capped at USB 2. Forget about the Thunderbolt.

Keyboard and multimedia

The MacBook Air M2 base model includes Touch ID for biometric authentication. It features a four-speaker audio system and a 1080p FaceTime HD camera.

The base MacBook Neo replaces Touch ID with a lock key on the Magic Keyboard. Users need to purchase the 512GB storage model to get the fingerprint sensor. The Neo includes two side-firing speakers, dual microphones with directional beamforming and a 1080p FaceTime HD camera.

Software support

The MacBook Air M2 launched in 2022 and currently runs macOS Tahoe. Apple typically provides macOS updates for several years, but the M2 Air is already multiple generations old. And will reach to the end of life cycle soon. Leaving it without any major software support or security update.

The MacBook Neo ships with macOS Tahoe out of the box and supports Apple Intelligence features powered by the A18 Pro Neural Engine. Because it is a newer model in Apple’s lineup, it is expected to receive macOS updates for a longer period compared to the older M2 Air.

And, this should be a deal breaker for buyers.

Which one should you buy?

The MacBook Air M2 is suited for users who want Apple’s M-series architecture for macOS workloads such as editing software, coding tools and creative applications. It also offers MagSafe charging, longer battery life and Touch ID on the base model.

The MacBook Neo targets students and office users who want a lower-cost Mac laptop with Apple Intelligence support and the A18 Pro processor. Apple also positions the Neo as an alternative to Windows laptops and Chromebooks, with education pricing starting at Rs 59,900.