Apple's $599 MacBook Neo laptop, which costs $499 for education purposes, has been criticised for its lack of performance compared to older MacBook Air-level performance. The MacBook Neo is an entry to the MacOS ecosystem and offers fast UI responsiveness and software load times, suitable for most low-stakes daily computing tasks. However, it also lacks features like a second-hand M2 MacBook Air for as low as $700, which compromises a lack of warranty or performance guarantees. The price of the MacBook Neo, starting at $599, is the most basic, stripped-down MacBook you can buy from the Apple store. The company's A18 chip promises fast UI response and software loading times, but recommended investing in a machine with more computing power for tasks such as 3D rendering, heavy video editing, animation, pro-level audio editing, or engineering. The lack of spatial audio with head tracking is also noted. The MacMac's price is discounted at $499.