Apple MacBook Neo vs. $600 PC Laptops: A Comprehensive Comparison

Introduction and Contenders

In this video, Linus Tech Tips challenges the widespread claim that Apple has "destroyed" the $600 laptop market with its new MacBook Neo. To test this assertion, the team purchased three competing laptops in the same price range: a Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook at $599, an Acer Aspire (labeled "Premium" or "Light" depending on the listing) that typically retails for $689 but was on promotion for $599 (and has since dropped as low as $479), and a Dell 16 whose official price has fluctuated between $750 and over $900 due to RAM price volatility but was acquired on sale for $599. The inclusion of a Chromebook is deliberate because the MacBook Neo clearly targets educational users, making a browser-based competitor relevant. The Acer and Dell represent the typical Windows laptop experience at this budget point. The host acknowledges that PC manufacturers frequently discount below MSRP, unlike Apple, so buying on sale is not considered unfair. The comparison proceeds across several categories, awarding a gold star to the standout winner and a silver star to an honorable mention in each, culminating in a total stars tally to determine an overall winner.

Aesthetics, Construction, and Materials

The MacBook Neo immediately impresses with its unibody construction, premium feel, and a one-finger hinge that allows effortless deployment. Every surface feels refined and high-quality, exactly what one would not expect from a $600 machine. The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i, in contrast, offers a functional but unremarkable design; its hinge does not allow single-handed opening, and the overall build feels plasticky with nothing that "blows your socks off." The Acer Aspire, despite being the largest at 15.6 inches, features a plastic build with only a single piece of metal that does little to compensate for the cheap touch surfaces. The Dell 16 fares better with a metal top and bottom, giving it superior rigidity compared to the other PCs, but it is not a unibody design and lacks the structural integrity of the Neo. The host begrudgingly awards the silver star to the Dell and the gold to the MacBook Neo, emphasizing that the Neo's tactile quality sets a new standard for the price point. The practical implication is that while PC competitors can match certain specifications on paper, the physical feel and durability of the MacBook Neo are unmatched, which directly affects daily user satisfaction and device longevity.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The keyboard and trackpad comparison reveals a significant discrepancy between the machines. The Lenovo Chromebook offers a decent typing experience with some deck flex near the top, but the trackpad is merely acceptable. The Acer Aspire's keyboard is described as a "spongy piece of junk"—functional but unappealing to most users, with noticeable deck flex that activates easily, making the user feel not only key travel but also the sponginess of the surface underneath. The trackpad has an unusually high amount of friction. The Dell 16, despite being theoretically a higher-class product, suffers from a loose, cheap, and rattly chassis when using the touchpad, producing an audible and tactile unpleasantness. The MacBook Neo's keyboard and trackpad are clearly superior, earning it the gold star. The host gives the silver star to the IdeaPad Flex, noting that the Chromebook's keyboard is actually better than the Windows machines, suggesting that the "Windows tax" (the cost of the Windows license) may force manufacturers to cut corners on input quality. The implication is that the input experience on the MacBook Neo is so refined that it can significantly improve productivity and comfort for users who type extensively, while PC buyers at this price may have to compromise.

I/O Ports and Webcam

In terms of connectivity, the MacBook Neo is surprisingly limited: it offers only two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. One of the USB-C ports supports only USB 2, not USB 3, due to Apple's use of an iPhone-based system-on-chip. This is a notable weakness for a device targeting education users who might need to connect peripherals. The Lenovo Chromebook provides two USB-C ports, a USB-A port, a microSD reader, and a headphone jack, but its webcam is unremarkable. The Acer Aspire is the I/O winner: it includes two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, a microSD slot, a surprising (but non-functional) SIM slot, a gigabit Ethernet port, and an HDMI port—though it uses a DC barrel jack for charging. Its webcam quality is poor, especially in backlit conditions. The Dell 16 offers a full-size SD card reader, two USB-A ports, one USB-C, HDMI, and a barrel jack, but the host confirms it can also charge over USB-C, which is a plus. The Dell's webcam is noticeably better than the others. The gold star goes to the Acer for its abundance of ports, and the silver goes to the Dell for its HDMI inclusion. The practical takeaway is that while the MacBook Neo excels in many areas, its limited I/O may require dongles for many users, especially in educational settings where HDMI projectors or USB-A devices are common. PC laptops offer greater flexibility out of the box.

Display Quality

The display is the component users interact with most, and the differences are stark. The Lenovo IdeaPad's screen is decent, with a glossy finish that enhances contrast and reasonably vibrant colors, though it maxes out at around 300 nits. The Acer Aspire, however, delivers a shockingly poor display: despite being advertised as an IPS panel, it appears to be a TN panel in practice, with terrible viewing angles and washed-out colors that are visible even through YouTube compression. The host is visibly appalled, calling it "absolutely garbage." The Dell 16 is decent—not the brightest, but its 16:10 aspect ratio is preferred for productivity, and it offers reasonable quality. However, it lacks a touchscreen, which the IdeaPad includes. The speakers on both the IdeaPad and Dell are poor, so the tiebreaker goes to the IdeaPad for the touchscreen. Meanwhile, the MacBook Neo's display is "just plain better"—significantly brighter, with better contrast and color reproduction, making it much more usable outdoors or near windows. The host notes that both the IdeaPad and Dell have twice as many efficiency cores as the MacBook Neo, hinting at performance trade-offs. The practical implication is that display quality is a critical differentiator: the MacBook Neo's screen elevates the user experience for reading, photo editing, and media consumption, while the Acer's display is a severe disappointment that no amount of specs can mask.

Performance: CPU, Photoshop, and Gaming

Performance testing reveals a mixed picture. In a CPU benchmark (Supreme simulation), the MacBook Neo's outstanding single-thread performance makes it highly competitive despite having fewer cores. It finishes 75% faster than both the Lenovo and Acer, and the Dell is still running long after the Neo is done. The host criticizes AMD for the Dell's CPU, calling it "embarrassing"—it uses current-gen Zen 5 cores but lacks enough of them, wasting the 16GB of DDR5 RAM. In a Photoshop test, the Windows machines struggle: the Acer has difficulty even moving a picture, while the Lenovo Chromebook cannot run traditional Windows software—Chrome OS lacks support for many applications, which is why high-performance Chromebooks are rare. The MacBook Neo performs Photoshop tasks faster, though closing the app is notably slow. In gaming at 1080p low settings, the Chromebook is functionally unplayable and will soon lose Steam support entirely on Chrome OS. The MacBook Neo shows some playability but suffers from teleportation stuttering. The Dell, with its Radeon integrated graphics, delivers the best and most consistent gaming performance, earning the gold star for gaming, with the Neo taking silver. The practical implication is that the MacBook Neo's CPU is excellent for bursty, single-threaded tasks and everyday productivity, but for sustained multi-core workloads or gaming, the Dell (despite its weak CPU) provides a better experience thanks to its superior integrated graphics. The Lenovo Chromebook is severely limited by its OS, and the Acer's performance is simply inadequate.

Storage, Repairability, and Ecosystem

All four machines have easily accessible bottom screws, a welcome feature. The Dell and Acer use socketed memory and storage, allowing upgrades. The Lenovo uses soldered memory but has replaceable storage. The MacBook Neo solders everything—memory, storage, and CPU—meaning zero upgradeability. However, iFixit gave the Neo one of its best repairability scores ever, likely due to ease of disassembly for battery or screen replacement. The Acer Aspire and Lenovo IdeaPad both offer 256GB storage (matching the Neo's base), while the Dell and Lenovo Chromebook provide 512GB. The accessory ecosystem for Apple products is richer due to the narrow range of models, which can be an advantage for finding cases, skins, and peripherals. The host concludes that while the MacBook Neo is well-built and serviceable, its lack of upgradability is a long-term liability compared to the PC competitors that allow RAM and storage swaps. The practical implication is that users who anticipate needing more storage or memory in the future should favor the PC options, while those who value a polished out-of-box experience may prefer the Neo.

Battery Life and Idle Power Consumption

Although not formally tested with a star, the host highlights the MacBook Neo's outstanding idle power management as his favorite aspect of macOS. He has been daily-driving the Neo for a week and finds that its ability to sip power when not in active use is exceptional, far better than the Windows or Chrome OS competitors. This translates to excellent battery life for typical university or office use, where the laptop spends much time sleeping or on standby. The host notes that the Dell's battery life is also decent, but the Neo's efficiency is a clear advantage. The practical implication is that for students or professionals who need a laptop that lasts all day without frequent charging, the MacBook Neo's power management gives it a significant edge over similarly priced PCs.

Overall Conclusion and Winner

After tallying the stars across all categories, the final standings are: fourth place goes to the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook—a capable browser device but severely limited by Chrome OS. Third place is the Acer Aspire Premium—a laptop that "didn't win a lot, just slightly more than the Lenovo." Second place is the Dell 16, with two gold stars, two silver stars, and one "vomit green" star (awarded for its embarrassingly bad CPU performance that undermines its otherwise decent chassis and display). The overall winner is the MacBook Neo, which earns three gold stars, two silver stars, and only a "vomit green" chassis (the host's sarcastic dig at its limited I/O). The host acknowledges that the Neo's victory is clear but not without caveats: its performance is excellent for everyday tasks, its build quality is unmatched, its display is superb, and its battery life is outstanding. However, its limited ports, lack of upgradeability, and mediocre gaming performance mean it is not a perfect machine. The PC competitors offer better I/O, upgradeability, and in the Dell's case, better gaming. Still, for the typical $600 laptop buyer—often a student or casual user—the MacBook Neo provides an overall experience that the PC competition cannot match, making it the recommended choice despite its shortcomings. The video closes with a reminder that good deals exist on PC laptops, but the MacBook Neo sets a new benchmark for what a $600 laptop can be.