MacBook Neo or MacBook Air? Which one should you buy?

Apple radically reshaped the Mac family in March 2026. On the one hand, the affordable MacBook Neo that has been awaited for years, and on the other hand, the MacBook Air series updated with the new generation M5 chip. Deciding between the two seems easy at first glance, but when Turkish prices and old generation models still sold on the market come into play, the picture becomes quite complicated. We discuss all the options in this buying guide.

Türkiye prices: The table clearly reveals

Let’s look at the numbers first, because this time the numbers are really decisive. As of March 2026, current prices in the market are roughly as follows:

MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 13 inch, 8 GB): 37.999 TL (256 GB) and 42,999 TL (512 GB). With the education discount, the starting price drops to 31,999 TL.

MacBook Air M5, 13 inch (M5, 16 GB, 512 GB): On sale with a starting price of 67.999 TL. The 15 inch model starts from 79,999 TL.

MacBook Air M4, 13 inch (M4, 16 GB, 256 GB): Vatan Bilgisayar ve MediaMarkt It costs around 57,999 TL at authorized dealers such as. Hepsiburada for 51.999 TL sells.

MacBook Air M3, 13 inch (M3, 8 GB, 256 GB): According to price comparison sites such as Akakçe, it is around 35,000 TL in outlet and second-hand channels. New and guaranteed stocks are in the range of 38,000-53,000 TL.

This table reveals a very important fact: MacBook Neo is 9,000 TL cheaper than the M4 MacBook Air and 30,000 TL cheaper than the M5 Air. At the same time, choosing the Neo instead of buying a new warrantied M3 Air does not make a huge difference in terms of price.

MacBook Neo: Here are the restrictions

As for RAM, the picture is very clear: Neo comes with only 8 GB of combined memory and this cannot be increased. MacBook Air M4 and M5 are initially offered with 16 GB and can be configured up to 32 GB. For users who have a habit of keeping more than 20 browser tabs, Adobe applications and different software open at the same time, this difference can be a serious limitation in the long run.

Besides, the MacBook Neo offers only two USB-C ports and no MagSafe charging port. Moreover, it is worth noting that the two ports are not equal: One port is USB 3, the other is the slower USB 2. These more basic ports replace the Thunderbolt 4 connection that the MacBook Air made standard. With a starting storage capacity of 256 GB, it falls short of the MacBook Air M5’s 512 GB starting storage capacity. The 256 GB entry model also does not have Touch ID; This feature is only available in the 512 GB model priced at 42,999 TL.

However, Neo’s strengths cannot be ignored. Battery life that can reach 16 hours on a single charge, fanless silent design, weight under 1.2 kg and full support for all features of Apple Intelligence make this model truly attractive. In addition, with its four-color design, Neo offers a more unique aesthetic compared to the stylish but classic appearance of MacBook Air.

MacBook Air M4: Does it still make sense?

The M4 MacBook Air, which is still sold on the market, is generally offered at prices starting from around 50,000 TL as of March 2026. This price is at least 8,000 TL more expensive than the 512 GB MacBook Neo. What do you get for this difference? First of all, you get the M series chip architecture; A platform optimized for MacBook-specific workloads, with software optimizations accumulated since the M1. In addition, you get the MagSafe charging port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display as standard. The M4’s 10-core CPU and GPU combination is noticeably more powerful than the Neo’s A18 Pro in daily productivity tasks.

In fact, the M4 MacBook Air remains the most balanced option in this price range. Although the performance difference compared to the M5 is not felt in real use, the software ecosystem compatibility provided by the M series chip architecture creates a serious advantage compared to Neo. If your budget is in the 50,000-55,000 TL range and you want to benefit from all the advantages of Apple Silicon, M4 Air is a clear choice.

MacBook Air M3: Hard to recommend anymore

The M3 MacBook Air is still available in the market. Variants with 8 GB RAM sometimes appear to be around 35,000 TL in outlets and authorized dealers. However, to be honest, it has become difficult to recommend this model. There are two main problems. Firstly, the entry configuration of the M3 Air also comes with 8 GB of RAM. You’re on par with the MacBook Neo on the RAM side, but the Neo offers a newer platform and a lower price. Secondly, the lifespan of the M3 Air is rapidly shrinking in terms of battery life and software update. However, it should also be noted that the M3 Air offers the M series chip ecosystem and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity; in this respect it has a certain advantage over Neo. As a result, a new warrantied M3 Air becomes a very poor option compared to the Neo unless it offers a price advantage.

Who Should Buy What?

MacBook Neo: If your budget is in the 38,000-43,000 TL band, you want full support for Apple Intelligence, and your daily needs are limited to tasks such as web, document, video watching and light photo processing, Neo is a strong choice. With its starting price of 31,999 TL for students and those using education discounts, Neo is an almost unique opportunity to enter the Mac ecosystem.

MacBook Air M4: You want a more powerful platform than MacBook Neo, but you don’t want to pay 68,000 TL for the M5. You want to take full advantage of the M series chip and have connectivity options such as MagSafe charging and Thunderbolt 4. In this case, for approximately 50,000 TL, the M4 Air looks more solid as a long-term investment.

MacBook Air M5: If your budget is 68,000 TL and above, M5 Air offers the most comprehensive fanless Mac laptop experience on the market right now. The increase in initial storage to 512 GB, Wi-Fi 7 support and the new generation M5 chip justify this price. The natural choice for professionals and those who prioritize performance.

M3 MacBook Air: If a new M3 Air with limited stock in the market and with Apple Türkiye warranty falls below 38,000 TL and 8 GB RAM will be enough for you, it can be considered. However, if these conditions do not occur, Neo becomes a more logical choice compared to M3 Air.

Conclusion

MacBook Neo is one of the boldest pricing moves Apple has made in Mac history. With 37,999 TL, the Mac family becomes truly affordable. But the lack of MagSafe, limited Thunderbolt connectivity, and the A18 Pro’s more limited performance ceiling compared to M-series chips don’t make the Neo an ideal choice for every user. Although the price is a bit heavy, the M4 MacBook Air offers a safer investment in terms of platform maturity and connection diversity. M5 Air is the most complete experience but the highest price. Where you stand depends entirely on your budget and actual usage habits.