Five hundred bucks. That’s the price difference between the MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air. Having spent a lot of time testing and using both laptops in the MacBook lineup, I can say that there’s a clear demographic for both of these devices.

As a longtime laptop tester, my goal here is twofold. I want to make sure that you buy the right MacBook, and I also want to make sure you don’t overpay or underbuy. Deciding isn’t actually as difficult as you might think. Don’t think you want a MacBook after all? Don’t forget to check out our guides to the Best Windows Laptops, the Best Chromebooks, or the Best Linux Laptops.

The Easy Way to Decide

Photograph: Luke Larsen

There’s one easy question to answer if you’re stuck between the Neo and the Air. Is this for a job that you will use full-time? Because if you’re sitting in front of this laptop for eight hours a day, don’t bother considering the MacBook Neo. You’ll likely be tempted by the price, but it’s compromises are just too many. Trust me.

On the other hand, if you answered “No” to that question, you can likely save some cash by buying the MacBook Neo without being bothered by some of its deficiencies. For example, a lot of people have a work PC or laptop at the office, but then need something for weeknights, weekends, or to travel with. It also works perfectly for a student, whether in high school or college.

I know that’s an oversimplified way of thinking about it, but it’s a good place to start.

Design, Size, and Aesthetics

There’s a small difference in size, but it isn’t as significant as you might assume. The MacBook Neo’s screen is 13 inches, measured diagonally, which is over half an inch smaller than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air. As someone who frequently works on a MacBook Air, I found it pretty easy to switch to the slightly smaller Neo. You can also upgrade to the 15-inch MacBook Air, which gives you a significantly bigger canvas to work on. But that also costs an extra $200. In terms of portability, the MacBook Air is 0.44 inches versus the 0.50 inches of the Neo. Again, not a huge difference—especially since they’re identical in weight.

The MacBook Neo does depart from the MacBook formula in terms of design in a few key ways. It’s a bit more playful than other MacBooks, using rounder edges, white keycaps, and some more brighter color options. They’re nowhere near as daring as the iMac colors, but you get to choose between Silver, Blush, Citrus, and Indigo. Silver and Blush are more subtle, while Citrus and Indigo are the bolder options. My favorite aspect of the MacBook Neo is the lack of a notch, though. Don’t get me wrong: I want thin bezels on my laptop like everyone else, but I’ve always found the notch to be an ugly solution.