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| LG UltraPC 16 weighs 1.6 kg (3.52 lbs.). |
It would be an understatement to say that the MacBook Neo has disrupted the affordable laptop market. With a high-end metal build, a 100% sRGB display, and solid performance, the MacBook Neo is a good value at $599 and a downright amazing one at $499 with the student discount.
Naturally, this has spooked Windows laptop OEMs who are now heavily discounting their laptops to stay relevant. The latest example of this is LG cutting the price of the LG UltraPC 16 to just $400 at Staples.
If you’ve been following the budget laptop wars, you know that LG isn’t usually the first name that comes to mind when you think of affordable ultrabooks. However, at this price point, the LG UltraPC 16 is forcing consumers to ask a hard question: *Why would I buy a base-spec MacBook Neo when I can get double the hardware for $200 less?*
A Spec Sheet That Puts the Neo to Shame
Launched in 2023, the LG UltraPC 16 is an affordable Windows laptop powered by a 6-core Ryzen 5 7530U AMD APU, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage. Right off the bat, the math is simple: the LG UltraPC has double the RAM and double the storage of the base MacBook Neo (which retails for $599 without the $100 student discount).
But the differences go far beyond just raw memory and storage figures.
For users who spend hours typing—whether that’s coding, writing essays, or handling spreadsheets—ergonomics matter. The LG UltraPC 16 also has a full-sized keyboard with backlighting, something which the MacBook Neo lacks. While Apple’s device is beautiful to look at, working in a dark dorm room or a late-night coffee shop is significantly easier with a backlit keyboard.
The Battery Life Gap is Massive
One of the biggest pain points for the MacBook Neo is its battery life. In a shocking move for Apple, the MacBook Neo shipped with a small 36.5 Wh cell. While Apple’s silicon is efficient, physics eventually catches up. Battery life is one of MacBook Neo’s weakest parts; it simply doesn’t last as long as we’ve come to expect from Apple MacBooks.
The LG UltraPC 16 takes a different approach, packing a massive 72 Wh battery.
In our review of the 2022 LG UltraPC 16 (which shares the same chassis and battery configuration as this 2023 model), we measured an excellent 17 hours of WLAN runtime. The MacBook Neo could only last for 12 hours and 51 minutes in the same test. That is a difference of over four hours of real-world usage. If you are a student running from class to class or a professional who forgets their charger at home, the LG is objectively the safer bet.
Ports: No Dongle Required
Finally, the LG UltraPC 16 incorporates a connectivity suite that actually respects the user. While the MacBook Neo forces you to buy dongles for basic connectivity, the LG arrives ready to work:
- Two Type-A ports
- One Type-C port
- One 3.5 mm audio jack
- An HDMI out
- A microSD card slot
So, if you want the maximum bang for your buck, the LG UltraPC 16 is clearly the better choice over the MacBook Neo. Not only are you getting more RAM, more storage, better battery life, and more ports, but you are getting it for $200 less. Naturally, this machine won't be silent in use as it has active cooling, meaning you will hear the fans spin up under heavy loads—a trade-off for that performance and price.
MacBook Neo Has Its Advantages
To be fair, Apple didn’t become the king of consumer electronics by accident. The MacBook Neo is a clearly better option if you value display quality and pure performance.
While the LG UltraPC 16 features a good 1200p IPS panel for a budget Windows laptop, the MacBook Neo punches above its weight with 500 nits of max brightness and 100% sRGB coverage. If you are a creative who needs color accuracy on a budget, the Neo’s screen is unmatched at this price tier.
Similarly, the Apple A18 Pro powering the MacBook Neo is much faster than the Ryzen 5 7530U in workloads like web browsing that prioritize per-thread performance. For video editing or heavy multitasking, the Apple chip feels snappier. The Ryzen 5 7530U is no slouch, however. It is more than fast enough for day-to-day office and college work.
The Verdict
The arrival of the MacBook Neo forced Windows manufacturers to stop resting on their laurels. But LG’s aggressive price cut on the UltraPC 16 proves that the Windows ecosystem can still win the value war.
For $400, you are getting a machine with a premium metal chassis, a 72Wh battery that lasts all day (and then some), double the RAM and storage of the entry-level MacBook, and ports that don't require an adapter.
If you are a creative professional who prioritizes screen brightness and single-core CPU speed above all else, the MacBook Neo remains a fantastic device. But for students, office workers, and anyone looking to stretch their dollar as far as it will go, the LG UltraPC 16 at this price is simply unbeatable.
Buy the LG UltraPC 16 for just $400 at Staples
Check the latest price on Amazon for the MacBook Neo
Related Reading: Apple MacBook Neo Review: The $599 Game-Changer