Leaked IdeaPad looks like a proper MacBook Neo rival but I don't think
Lenovo can beat Apple on price

Date:
Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:26:59 +0000

Description:
'Pretty sure it won't share the same build quality': Lenovo's new laptop with MacBook Neo vibes is leaked, but skeptics are worried it won't match Apple's quality.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Photos of a Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe laptop have been leaked It's clearly similar to Apple's MacBook Neo in terms of its overall appearance and striking colors That said, the Lenovo device offers a better port selection and hints suggest it'll be more powerful, so likely pricier but all of this is just theorizing Lenovo appears to be readying a rival to the MacBook Neo, based on leaked photos of the laptop
that have just surfaced.

Windows Latest got hold of the promo images of Lenovo's IdeaPad Vibe, publishing a bunch of them to give us a good look at the notebook (add your own seasoning around any such leak, but the material looks authentic enough). (Image credit: Windows Latest) Going by the trendy name, the 'Vibe' and the range of punchy colors (including a striking yellow, green and pink), it
seems clear enough that this is aimed squarely at the Neo's territory not to mention that it looks more than a little similar to Apple 's laptop. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: There are differences, of
course: you won't find a Copilot key on a MacBook (mind you, a good many people don't want to find it on their Windows laptop , either).

Lenovo has also pushed for more connectivity than the MacBook Neo, and that's the biggest difference we can see just looking at the photos. You may like Microsoft fires shots at MacBook Neo, but that battle is an uphill struggle Microsoft's unexpected MacBook Neo challenger might be a budget laptop you've never heard of before Dell announces the new XPS 13 as a budget-priced
MacBook Neo rival

There's a pair of USB-A ports on one side, and two USB-C connectors on the other, along with an HDMI port, headphone jack and a microSD slot. As a reminder, you only get two USB-C ports with the Neo, plus a headphone jack, a barebones allocation for connectivity (and that's before we even mention the older USB speeds the MacBook Neo uses). (Image credit: Windows Latest) The photos also show cooling vents on the underside of the IdeaPad Vibe, so there'll be a fan for cooling (the Neo is passively cooled, meaning there's
no fan). Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

There are thin bezels around the screen, and a tiny panel on top to house the webcam which also has a privacy shutter.

While the leak doesn't provide any specs, we do learn that based on the image file names, there will be one model with an AMD CPU, and one with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip although they both look identical. Analysis: competitive vibes (Image credit: Windows Latest) The MacBook Neo has certainly stirred things up in the world of Windows laptops. It did this by coming in at a
price point that surprised many (myself included), with Apple offering a lot of value with its new lowest-tier MacBook, which was very much recognized by buyers it started flying off the shelves. Part of the cost-cutting effort here was dropping the RAM to 8GB, as you may recall, but despite this the Neo still manages to provide enough pep to cover everyday computing duties . What to read next I cant believe Im saying this, but the MacBook Neos $100 price bump means budget Windows 11 laptops are now the better buy The best laptops of Computex 2026 The first Googlebook has been spotted but does anyone
really care?

Since then, we've seen a host of planned 8GB laptops that run Windows 11 , which was inevitable really, given the RAM crisis pushing up the price of memory (and storage, as well as other components) so much. The Neo also gave these machines a mainstream lead to follow, as it were.

An obvious sticking point, however, is Windows 11 's performance running on 8GB compared to macOS. Now, Microsoft is working on fixing Windows 11 so it's speedier with just 8GB , and I'd argue that the Neo is a big reason for this happening. Well, that and the RAM crisis, of course.

In short, the MacBook Neo has forced Windows laptop makers (and Microsoft )
to up their game, and Lenovo's effort here couldn't be a much clearer statement of echoing Apple's tactics with its budget laptop.

That said, the IdeaPad Vibe looks to be a more premium device than the Neo, with clues to that such as the privacy shutter, the much beefier port selection, as well as the overall sleek lines, and the active cooling. The latter means the Vibe will likely offer a good deal more performance grunt than the Neo, and it's surely going to be pricier as a result.

We don't get a hint of the price tag, but I'm betting that even after Apple's MacBook Neo price hike it's no longer quite as affordable as it was at
launch the Lenovo machine's going to be a fair bit more expensive. We shall see, but the price is the main concern here, along with the people on Reddit who have reservations about Lenovo's build quality compared to Apple's (which really nailed quality in a lower-priced laptop).

One Redditor is skeptical and observes: "Pretty sure it won't share the same build quality [as Apple]." Another adds : "IdeaPad 3 I had, had pretty bad hinges, lasts 1-2 year only."

The IdeaPad Vibe will obviously have to perform well enough on the build quality front if it does want to get in on the action and capitalize on the Neo's current popularity. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best laptops for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best laptops 1. Best overall: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 2. Best budget: Apple MacBook Neo 3. Best Windows 11 laptop Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch 4. Best thin and light: Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 5. Best Ultrabook Asus Zenbook S 16



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows-laptops/leaked-ideapad-looks-like- a-proper-macbook-neo-rival-but-i-dont-think-lenovo-can-beat-apple-on-price


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