If you have not shopped for a laptop in a while, the Neo may not sound impressive at first. It has a 13-inch screen, 8GB of memory and just two USB-C ports. Years ago, that list might have been a dealbreaker. Today, it does not tell the whole story.

A 13-inch screen used to feel small because of lower-end specs. The Neo’s 13-inch Liquid Retina display has a 2408-by-1506 resolution, 500 nits of brightness (most budget PCs fall into the 250-300 range), and an anti-reflective coating, comparative to the Macbook Air. In other words, smaller does not necessarily mean harder to see anymore. I do recommend that you try it for yourself before you buy.

The Neo weighs 2.7 pounds, about half the weight of an average laptop, making it easier to tuck into a bag and carry from place to place. It averages around 13-½ hours of battery life, which takes you through a workday without recharging. Windows laptops in this price range typically last between six to nine hours.

However, it is limited to 8GB of RAM, which is half the standard entry point for most laptops. While that could be a red flag if taken at face value, consider  “memory efficiency,” a measurement that reflects how systems handle memory load while performing tasks. The reviewers at Tom’s Guide set up a test to compare the Neo to an Asus Windows 11 laptop. With 20 Google Chrome tabs open, with one running a YouTube video, streaming music and Adobe Photoshop open, the Neo consumed approximately 7.24 GB of total memory, while the Asus Windows laptop used 27.1 GB.

Further, we may soon see 8GB become the norm because of a growing RAM shortage as manufacturers shift production from consumer DRAM to HBM (High-Bandwidth Memory) for data centers. Market analysts, including TrendForce and IDC, predict that 8GB will become the new baseline for mid-range laptops through 2026 and 2027. Many laptop manufacturers, including Asus, Dell and Lenovo, are expected to downgrade their models back to 8GB.

As for the processor, Neo runs on Apple’s A18 processor, the same one used in the latest iPhone 16 Pro models. Apple says the A18 Pro chip in the Neo is up to 50% faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC laptop with Intel’s latest shipping Core Ultra 5. Any laptop at this price point will struggle with resource-heavy tasks like professional video editing while running the usual apps, but that’s not our typical computer user. You want a laptop that feels quick, starts up fast and handles the usual pile of tabs and apps without lagging, and Neo can meet those needs.

If you’re an iPhone user, there are additional benefits of adding a Neo to your device suite. A Mac and an iPhone can work together in ways that are surprisingly useful and require little to no setup on your part. You can answer texts and calls from your Mac, access photos as you take them and use Handoff to instantly pick up right where you left off in Safari or Mail on your Mac 

The Neo also stands out for its surprising repairability, a rarity for Apple laptops. iFixit dubbed it the most repairable MacBook in 14 years, highlighting its modular USB-C ports, a screwed-in battery and a construction that favors accessible screws over permanent adhesives. This translates into lower repair costs, prospects for a longer life due to the modular design and, if you’re handy, do-it-yourself repairs.

I’m interested in the Neo for a simple reason: My MacBook Pro is a lot to manage on a crowded flight, and I don’t love using it in the noisy, chaotic spaces where I often find myself working at events. The Neo seems like a better match for my situation, but I wouldn’t give up my imac at home.

Neo is a good option for a primary laptop if you use your laptop to browse, write, work on basic spreadsheets and watch videos. It’s especially attractive if you have an iPhone. And if you are looking for a secondary laptop, it’s definitely worth a look.

Leslie Meredith has been writing about technology for more than a decade. As a mom of four, value, usefulness and online safety take priority. Have a question? Email Leslie at asklesliemeredith@gmail.com.