Apple MacBook Neo is “crushed” by Windows laptops of the same price range

[ Gearbest Technology News]On May 14, foreign media reported that a study commissioned by Microsoft from a market research organization showed that some Windows laptops are better than Apple’s MacBook Neo in multiple key specifications. The study evaluated four Windows laptops, among which the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3× starts at $549.99, directly competing with the MacBook Neo’s $499 to $599 pricing range.

Relevant data shows that IdeaPad Slim 3× is ahead of MacBook Neo in many aspects such as display size, processor performance, memory, interfaces, and Wi-Fi standards. The IdeaPad Slim 3× is equipped with a 15.3-inch screen, while the MacBook Neo is 13 inches; it is equipped with a Snapdragon X1 processor, which scored 90% higher than the MacBook Neo's A18 Pro processor in the Cinebench 2026 multi-core test; the base model is equipped with 16GB of memory, twice as much as the MacBook Neo 8GB. In addition, IdeaPad Slim 3× also provides fingerprint recognition, USB-A interface, SD card slot, HDMI interface, Wi-Fi 7, backlit keyboard and touch screen. Some of these features are missing on MacBook Neo or require upgrading to higher-priced models to obtain them.

In terms of battery life, tests show that the IdeaPad Slim 3× has a battery life of 16 hours and 29 minutes, which is better than the MacBook Neo’s 13 hours and 28 minutes. Lenovo accommodated a larger battery with a larger 15.3-inch body. In terms of storage, the IdeaPad Slim 3× base model is equipped with a 256GB SSD, which is the same as the MacBook Neo.

However, MacBook Neo still has advantages in some specifications. Its display has a resolution of 2408×1506 pixels and a brightness of 500 nits, while the IdeaPad Slim 3× has 1920×1200 pixels and 300 nits respectively; the MacBook Neo uses an all-aluminum alloy body, while the IdeaPad Slim 3× is made of an aluminum-plastic hybrid material; the MacBook Neo is equipped with a 1080p camera, which is better than the latter’s 720p camera.

Many reviewers pointed out that the MacBook Neo's trackpad and speakers perform better than similarly priced Windows notebooks, and the deep integration of the macOS system with the Apple ecosystem brings additional advantages.