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Prices checked October 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: Windows on a budget Core 5 320 chip, and the base screen is a dimmer 300-nit 1920x1200 panel; Dell lists a non-backlit keyboard, like the Neo's.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Apple MacBook Neo 13" is the Dell 14S (Intel Core 5 320, 8GB/256GB), about $650 instead of $699 (save 7%). What you give up: Windows on a budget Core 5 320 chip, and the base screen is a dimmer 300-nit 1920x1200 panel; Dell lists a non-backlit keyboard, like the Neo's. The cheapest is the Apple iPad 11" (A16) at about $449. Prices checked October 2026.
Why it's a good swap Same 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage as the Neo in a 2.53 lb, 14-inch body with HDMI, two 10Gbps USB-C ports and four colors, per Dell.
You give up: Windows on a budget Core 5 320 chip, and the base screen is a dimmer 300-nit 1920x1200 panel; Dell lists a non-backlit keyboard, like the Neo's.
Why it's a good swap Apple's cheapest new device for browsing, video and notes, with Touch ID and up to 10 hours of battery, per Apple.
You give up: Runs iPadOS, not macOS, on a smaller 10.86-inch screen, and you need to add a keyboard to type like a laptop.
Why it's a good swap 14-inch 1920x1200 touchscreen and 8GB of memory, and Best Buy's listing includes a year of Google AI Pro.
You give up: ChromeOS can't run Mac or Windows apps, and it has half the Neo's storage (128GB).
Typical US prices, checked October 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Apple MacBook Neo 13"? It usually sells for about $699. Here are 3 cheaper swaps from $449: the Dell 14S (Intel Core 5 320, 8GB/256GB) is the closest match from another brand and the Apple iPad 11" (A16) is a cheaper option from Apple. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
The Apple MacBook Neo 13" is worth it if you want macOS on a light laptop for school, browsing and documents. Apple lists the A18 Pro chip, 8GB of memory, a 13-inch 2408 x 1506 display at 500 nits, up to 16 hours of video streaming and a weight of 2.7 lb, and its Apple Intelligence page lists the MacBook Neo as compatible. Notebookcheck measured an average of about 519 nits and found the fanless Neo silent, but warned that heavy multitasking fills its 8GB quickly.
If you mainly browse, watch video and take notes, the Apple iPad 11" (A16) ($449) has a 2360 x 1640 screen, Touch ID and up to 10 hours of battery, but it runs iPadOS, the keyboard Apple lists for it is the Magic Keyboard Folio, and it isn't on Apple's Apple Intelligence list. If you need Windows apps, the Dell 14S (Intel Core 5 320, 8GB/256GB) ($650) matches the Neo's memory and storage and adds HDMI and two 10Gbps USB-C ports. If your work lives in a browser, the HP 14" Chromebook Plus (Intel Core 3 N355, 8GB/128GB) ($599) has a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 touchscreen running ChromeOS.
Compared on their own pages: iPad alternatives · Magic Keyboard Folio alternatives
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Neo 13" | The original | $699 | – | – | View ↗ |
| Apple iPad 11" (A16) | Same brand, cheaper | $449 | $250 (36%) | Runs iPadOS, not macOS, on a smaller 10.86-inch screen, and you need to add a keyboard to type like a laptop. | View ↗ |
| HP 14" Chromebook Plus (Intel Core 3 N355, 8GB/128GB) | Budget pick | $599 | $100 (14%) | ChromeOS can't run Mac or Windows apps, and it has half the Neo's storage (128GB). | View ↗ |
| Dell 14S (Intel Core 5 320, 8GB/256GB) | Close match | $650 | $49 (7%) | Windows on a budget Core 5 320 chip, and the base screen is a dimmer 300-nit 1920x1200 panel; Dell lists a non-backlit keyboard, like the Neo's. | View ↗ |
Typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices and may have changed, so check the listing before you buy.
The Apple iPad 11" (A16), at about $449 (36% less). Apple's cheapest new device for browsing, video and notes, with Touch ID and up to 10 hours of battery, per Apple. The catch: Runs iPadOS, not macOS, on a smaller 10.86-inch screen, and you need to add a keyboard to type like a laptop.
The Dell 14S (Intel Core 5 320, 8GB/256GB), at about $650 (7% less). Same 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage as the Neo in a 2.53 lb, 14-inch body with HDMI, two 10Gbps USB-C ports and four colors, per Dell. The catch: Windows on a budget Core 5 320 chip, and the base screen is a dimmer 300-nit 1920x1200 panel; Dell lists a non-backlit keyboard, like the Neo's.
The Dell 14S ($650 at Dell) has the same 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage in a 2.53 lb, 14-inch body, but it runs Windows on Intel's Core 5 320 with a 300-nit screen. If you mostly work in a browser, the HP 14" Chromebook Plus ($599 regular at Best Buy) has a 14-inch touchscreen and 8GB of memory, with 128GB of storage.
There's no keyboard backlight: Notebookcheck's review calls that the Neo's biggest issue. Touch ID comes only on the 512GB model ($799); Apple's $699 model with 256GB has a Magic Keyboard without Touch ID.
For browsing, video and notes it can: Apple lists a 2360 x 1640 screen, Touch ID and up to 10 hours of battery on the iPad 11" (A16) for $449. It runs iPadOS instead of macOS, so Mac apps won't install, and you need to add a keyboard to type like on a laptop.
Yes, one. Apple lists support for one external display up to 4K at 60Hz through the USB 3 port, while the built-in screen keeps running at full resolution. The other USB-C port runs at USB 2 speed and handles charging and data.
Yes. Apple's Apple Intelligence page lists MacBook Neo (A18 Pro) as compatible. The Apple iPad 11" (A16) ($449) isn't on that list; Apple lists iPad mini (A17 Pro) and M1-or-later iPad Air and iPad Pro models instead.
No. Notebookcheck lists the Neo's 8GB of RAM and its SSD as soldered and not upgradeable, so choose your storage when you buy. Dell lists the 8GB in the Dell 14S (Intel Core 5 320, 8GB/256GB) ($650) as onboard, single-channel memory, and Notebookcheck says it can't be upgraded either.
Each swap links to amazon.com. Prices are typical US prices checked October 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Compared on their own pages: iPad Air alternatives · iPad Pro alternatives · iPad mini alternatives · iPad alternatives
Every swap is a product sold in the US that does the main job of the original. Close match is another brand with similar features, Same brand, cheaper is an older, smaller or renewed model from the same maker, and Budget pick is the cheapest thing that still does the job. On each page, Closest match is the close match nearest the original in price, and Lowest price is the cheapest swap. We compare published specs, retailer listings and reviews; we don't test products ourselves.
A cheaper product is cheaper for a reason. Each swap says what you give up, like weaker noise cancelling, a smaller screen or a shorter warranty, so you can decide if the savings are worth it.
Prices are typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, last checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices, which change often. When a price couldn't be confirmed, the page says “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a number.
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