4 used MacBooks cheaper than the Neo in 2026

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Apple surprised customers and the Windows laptop market with the release of its $599 MacBook Neo in April. Featuring the company’s A18 Pro chip, which performs on par with the M1 and M2 processors, a premium aluminum finish, excellent battery life, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB/512GB storage options, Apple is redefining the budget laptop market. After all, a lower price shouldn’t mean users have to settle for a bad product.

While buyers might opt ​​for an older high-end model like the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, choosing Apple Silicon makes more sense. Unlike the latest Intel MacBook Pro, which will lose support when macOS 27 launches later this year, these new options will likely remain supported for years without requiring a massive investment. Still, if the MacBook Neo isn’t quite your cup of tea, there’s a huge market for used MacBooks in 2026 that are even more affordable and still very capable, like the M1 and M2 versions of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

There are a wide variety of MacBook Air M1 deals on eBay for the second-hand market, both used and refurbished. One of the highlights is the 8GB version with 512GB of storage for around $380. While prices can vary, that’s almost half the price someone would pay for a new 512GB MacBook Neo. While this MacBook Air still features the old design, meaning it doesn’t have a notch, MagSafe support, or an improved webcam, it was responsible for some of the best battery life on a laptop in such a thin form factor.

The M1 chip continues to get the job done in 2026 as well, as it’s still useful for browsing the web, doing light editing, and helping people work on presentations, school assignments, and more. Still, it’s important for customers to make sure they’re getting exactly the model they want, as refurbished/used laptops may come with or without a proper charge, and with some signs of use, that you might expect with a used computer. That said, paying less than $400 on a MacBook Air, which offers a better screen and battery than the Neo, may be an attractive alternative.

There is also the 16-inch version of the MacBook Pro M1 Pro. I own a 14-inch MacBook Pro M1 Pro, and it’s been my daily driver for four years and I have no complaints. Unlike the M1 versions of the MacBook Air and Pro, Apple is offering a redesign in the M1 Pro variants. So not only can users benefit from a beautiful mini LED display, but they can also benefit from Apple’s industrial design, MagSafe support, incredible speakers, and excellent battery life. As of today, the MacBook Pro M1 Pro can handle multiple apps open at the same time, video editing and everything else without slowing down.

The 16-inch version also means air can flow better with this machine, and users can find it for around $670, which is lower than the price of the 512GB MacBook Neo. The previously mentioned 16-inch MacBook Pro M1 Pro has 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, which is double the amount of RAM available on the MacBook Neo, but also a faster SSD. Customers will also get a better screen, better battery life, and a more capable processor – all huge benefits that would make anyone seriously consider buying this laptop instead of the Neo.

Another great option that’s cheaper than the MacBook Neo is a $590 MacBook Air with the M2 chip. Although the configurations are similar to the Neo (8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage), it still has a better screen, a more capable processor and better battery life. When Apple announced the MacBook Air M2, it followed the redesign introduced with the MacBook Pro M1 Pro and M1 Max models with a larger 13.6-inch Retina display, 1080p FaceTime HD camera, better speakers, and up to 18 hours of battery life.

This MacBook is smaller than its predecessor, but is still MagSafe compatible, has two Thunderbolt ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Touch ID support. When the company launched this laptop, Apple said the MacBook Air M2 was already 40% faster than the M1 when it came to intensive workloads like editing in Final Cut Pro, and 20% faster at applying filters and effects in Adobe Photoshop. That said, getting the MacBook Air M2, even used, can be a much stronger deal than the MacBook Neo, because you’re actually getting a more capable computer, with more premium looks and features, but for about the same price. In terms of longevity, both laptops should last the same amount of time, as the A18 Pro and M2 are somewhat similar.

Finally, there is the M1 MacBook Pro. Just like the MacBook Air M1, this laptop still features the old design. While Apple has fixed many of the issues available with this Intel counterpart, like the faulty butterfly keyboard and replaced the old chip with its own silicon, this MacBook doesn’t have a mini LED display, MagSafe port, or other tweaks available with the M1 Pro variants.

Still, what makes the M1 MacBook Pro available on eBay a good deal, besides the Touch Bar, is that it comes with 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM for $599, the price of the MacBook Neo. This MacBook Pro is also a more attractive upgrade than the M1 MacBook Air thanks to its internal fan, as the M1 chip inside this computer can run faster thanks to its proper cooling system.

Even if you can’t find this exact model, any M1 MacBook Pro, even with lower internal specs, can be a great upgrade over the MacBook Neo, as the Pro line generally offers more benefits than other lines. That said, this one may be the best option for those who want a high-performance computer with a ton of internal space, as the MacBook Neo can only be upgraded up to 512GB of storage.