MacBook Air vs Pro, and the MacBook Neo: which one should you buy?
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Short answer
Apple now sells three MacBooks. The MacBook Neo (13.0 in, A18 Pro, 8 GB memory only, two USB-C ports) is the basic one. The MacBook Air (13.6 or 15.3 in, M5, 16 to 32 GB, two Thunderbolt 4 ports) suits most people. The MacBook Pro (14.2 or 16.2 in, M6, M5 Pro or M5 Max, up to 128 GB) adds a 1,000-nit 120 Hz screen, HDMI, an SD card slot and a third Thunderbolt port, and weighs 3.4 lb to 4.7 lb against the Air’s 2.7 lb to 3.3 lb. Buy the Air unless you can name the Pro feature you need.
Key takeaways
- Neo: 8 GB, one external display, USB 3 and USB 2 ports, 20 W charger. For web, documents and video.
- Air: 16 to 32 GB, two external displays, MagSafe, Wi-Fi 7. The default choice.
- Pro: 120 Hz XDR screen, HDMI and SD slot, up to 128 GB, larger batteries (72.4 and 100 Wh).
- The Neo and the 13-inch Air weigh the same, 2.7 lb, by Apple’s figures.
“Air or Pro” used to be the whole question. Since the MacBook Neo arrived in 2026 there is a third answer underneath both. This page compares the three from Apple’s own technical specifications. We don’t test laptops, so for measured speed and battery life see an independent lab such as RTINGS; what a specification page can settle is what each model has and can never have.
The three side by side
The smallest version of each line:
| MacBook Neo | MacBook Air 13 (M5) | MacBook Pro 14 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Everyday, clamshell, macOS | Thin and light, clamshell, macOS | Workstation, clamshell, macOS |
| Screen size | 13 in | 13.6 in | 14.2 in |
| Screen options | 2408 × 1506 IPS 500 nits | 2560 × 1664 IPS 500 nits | 3024 × 1964 Liquid Retina XDR 120 Hz 1000 nits |
| Width × depth | 11.71 × 8.12 in (29.7 × 20.6 cm) | 11.97 × 8.46 in (30.4 × 21.5 cm) | 12.31 × 8.71 in (31.3 × 22.1 cm) |
| Thickness | 0.5 in | 0.44 in | 0.61 in |
| Weight (starting) | 2.7 lb | 2.7 lb | 3.4 lb |
| Processors | Apple A18 Pro | Apple M5 | Apple M6; Apple M5 Pro; Apple M5 Max |
| Graphics (maker's maximum power) | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated |
| Memory | Unified (in the chip), up to 8 GB | Unified (in the chip), up to 32 GB | Unified (in the chip), up to 128 GB |
| SSD slots | – | – | – |
| Battery | 36.5 Wh | 53.8 Wh | 72.4 Wh |
| Charging | USB-C, 20 W | MagSafe 3, 70 W | MagSafe 3, 96 W |
| USB-C ports | 2 × USB-C | 2 × USB-C, with Thunderbolt 4 | 3 × USB-C, with Thunderbolt 5 |
| USB-A ports | None | None | None |
| HDMI | None | None | Yes |
| Ethernet (RJ45) | None | None | None |
| Card reader | None | None | SD |
| Numeric keypad | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Keyboard backlight | – | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Fingerprint reader | On some models | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Touchscreen | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Wi-Fi (best offered) | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Mobile data (WWAN) | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Check price | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
The Air and Pro each come in a larger size with the same features: see MacBook Air 13 vs 15; the 16-inch Pro is in the table further down.
MacBook Neo: where the limits are
The Neo uses the A18 Pro chip and comes with 8 GB of memory, with no other option on Apple’s specification page, and 256 or 512 GB of storage. Its other limits:
- Ports: two USB-C, but only one is USB 3 (10 Gb/s, with DisplayPort); the other is USB 2 (480 Mb/s). No Thunderbolt, no MagSafe.
- External display: one, up to 4K at 60 Hz.
- Screen: 13.0 in, 2408 × 1506, 500 nits, sRGB color (the Air covers the wider P3 range).
- Touch ID comes only with the 512 GB model.
- Battery: 36.5 Wh; Apple claims up to 16 hours of video streaming.
- Wi-Fi 6E, where the Air and Pro have Wi-Fi 7.
It weighs the same as the 13-inch Air (2.7 lb) and is slightly smaller: 11.71 in × 8.12 in against 11.97 in × 8.46 in. It is thicker, at 0.5 in against 0.44 in.
MacBook Air: the default
The Air’s M5 chip, 16 GB starting memory and two Thunderbolt 4 ports remove the Neo’s limits without adding weight. It drives two external displays, charges by MagSafe 3 (leaving both ports free) and has a 12MP Center Stage camera. What it lacks next to the Pro is on the next list.
MacBook Pro: five things the Air doesn’t have
- The screen. Liquid Retina XDR: up to 1,000 nits sustained and 1,600 nits peak for HDR, with ProMotion up to 120 Hz. The Air’s screen is 500 nits, and Apple’s page gives no refresh rate for it.
- Ports. Three Thunderbolt ports (Thunderbolt 5 with M5 Pro and M5 Max, Thunderbolt 4 with M6), plus HDMI and an SDXC card slot.
- Memory. Up to 32 GB with M6, 64 GB with M5 Pro and 128 GB with M5 Max.
- Battery. 72.4 Wh in the 14-inch and 100 Wh in the 16-inch. Apple claims up to 24 hours of video streaming for the 14-inch with M6.
- More displays. Three external displays with M5 Pro, four with M5 Max.
The cost in the bag: the 14-inch Pro starts at 3.4 lb, 0.7 lb more than the 13-inch Air, and the 16-inch at 4.7 lb.
All five current MacBooks
| Laptop | Size | Weight (starting) | Screen | Width × depth | Thickness | Battery | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Neo Apple · 2026 | 13 in | 2.7 lb | 13 in | 11.71 × 8.12 in | 0.5 in | 36.5 Wh | Amazon |
| MacBook Air 13 (M5) Apple · 2026 | 13 in | 2.7 lb | 13.6 in | 11.97 × 8.46 in | 0.44 in | 53.8 Wh | Amazon |
| MacBook Air 15 (M5) Apple · 2026 | 15 in | 3.3 lb | 15.3 in | 13.4 × 9.35 in | 0.45 in | 66.5 Wh | Amazon |
| MacBook Pro 14 Apple · 2026 | 14 in | 3.4 lb | 14.2 in | 12.31 × 8.71 in | 0.61 in | 72.4 Wh | Amazon |
| MacBook Pro 16 Apple · 2026 | 16 in | 4.7 lb | 16.2 in | 14.01 × 9.77 in | 0.66 in | 100 Wh | Amazon |
| Laptop | Size | USB-C | USB-A | HDMI | Ethernet | Card reader | Charging | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 13 (M5) Apple · 2026 | 13 in | 2 × USB-C, with Thunderbolt 4 | 0 | None | None | None | MagSafe 3, 70 W | Amazon |
| MacBook Neo Apple · 2026 | 13 in | 2 × USB-C | 0 | None | None | None | USB-C, 20 W | Amazon |
| MacBook Pro 14 Apple · 2026 | 14 in | 3 × USB-C, with Thunderbolt 5 | 0 | Yes | None | SD | MagSafe 3, 96 W | Amazon |
| MacBook Air 15 (M5) Apple · 2026 | 15 in | 2 × USB-C, with Thunderbolt 4 | 0 | None | None | None | MagSafe 3, 70 W | Amazon |
| MacBook Pro 16 Apple · 2026 | 16 in | 3 × USB-C, with Thunderbolt 5 | 0 | Yes | None | SD | MagSafe 3, 140 W | Amazon |
Which MacBook to buy
- Web, email, documents, streaming, a student’s first laptop: MacBook Neo, if 8 GB and one fast port are enough for the years you’ll keep it. If unsure, the Air.
- Most work and study, light photo and video editing, travel: MacBook Air. Pick the size by how much you carry it.
- HDR video or photo work, bright rooms, cameras with SD cards, several monitors, memory-heavy software: MacBook Pro. Choose the chip by the memory you need, since it can’t be added later.
None of the five has an Ethernet port or a numeric keypad; if you need those built in, see laptops with an Ethernet port and laptops with a numeric keypad.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro?
The Pro has a brighter 120 Hz Liquid Retina XDR screen (1,000 nits sustained against the Air’s 500), an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, three Thunderbolt ports instead of two, more memory (up to 128 GB against 32 GB) and a larger battery. It is also 0.7 lb heavier at the smaller size.
Is the MacBook Neo good enough?
For browsing, documents and streaming, its specifications are enough. Its limits are fixed: 8 GB of memory with no larger option, one USB 3 port plus one USB 2 port, one external display up to 4K at 60 Hz, and an sRGB screen.
Which MacBook is the lightest?
The MacBook Neo and the 13-inch MacBook Air are both listed at 2.7 lb. The 15-inch Air is 3.3 lb, the 14-inch Pro 3.4 lb to 3.6 lb, and the 16-inch Pro 4.7 lb.
Can you upgrade the memory in a MacBook?
No. Memory in every current MacBook is part of the Apple chip and is fixed at purchase: 8 GB in the Neo, 16 to 32 GB in the Air, and up to 128 GB in the Pro with M5 Max.
Does the MacBook Air have HDMI?
No. The Air has two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, MagSafe 3 and a headphone jack. HDMI and the SD card slot are on the MacBook Pro only.
How many monitors can each MacBook run?
By Apple’s specifications: the Neo one external display, the Air two, the MacBook Pro with M6 two, with M5 Pro three and with M5 Max four.