ENS

Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

Type
Review
Level
2 / A2
Published
Title
Is MacBook Neo a Good Buy?
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/reviews/2026-03-23-is-macbook-neo-a-good-buy/

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: True or False, Review Breakdown

Language: Vocab Match

Use It: Discussion Builder, Sentence Unscramble, Discussion Questions

Answers

(1) How often do you use a computer?

(2) What do you usually do with computers?

Apple's MacBook Neo in four colors
MacBook Neo comes in four colors

Vocab List

budget (n.) — The money you can spend.
recommend (v.) — To say something is good to buy or use.
£600 (n.) — "Six hundred pounds" in British money.
stand out (v.) — To be easy to notice as better.
repair (v.) — To fix something that is broken.
weak point (n.) — A part that is not very good.
battery life (n.) — How long a battery works before charging.
touchpad (n.) — The flat area you move with your finger on a laptop.
Reading

Apple has a new low-cost laptop, the MacBook Neo. It is a 13-inch computer with a metal body and four colors. The big question is simple: is this the best laptop near £600?

The Neo feels strong and well made, like a more expensive model. The lid opens easily, and the body does not bend or make noise. It is also easier to open and repair than most MacBooks. These points make it stand out in this price range.

There are some weak points. The keyboard feels good, but it has no backlight. The speakers are clear for calls and podcasts, but are not as good for music. Battery life is also shorter than a MacBook Air in tests.

Still, it works well for daily use, study, and office tasks. The webcam is good, and the touchpad works well. At £599, or £499 for students, it is a very strong choice. If you want a small laptop on a budget, this one is easy to recommend.

Is MacBook Neo a Good Buy?

Level 2 Review Source: expertreviews.co.uk
Warm-up → or → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

Apple's MacBook Neo in four colors
MacBook Neo comes in four colors

Apple has a new low-cost laptop, the MacBook Neo. It is a 13-inch computer with a metal body and four colors. The big question is simple: is this the best laptop near £600?

The Neo feels strong and well made, like a more expensive model. The lid opens easily, and the body does not bend or make noise. It is also easier to open and repair than most MacBooks. These points make it stand out in this price range.

There are some weak points. The keyboard feels good, but it has no backlight. The speakers are clear for calls and podcasts, but are not as good for music. Battery life is also shorter than a MacBook Air in tests.

Still, it works well for daily use, study, and office tasks. The webcam is good, and the touchpad works well. At £599, or £499 for students, it is a very strong choice. If you want a small laptop on a budget, this one is easy to recommend.

Speaker: British Female  Duration: 1:24  YouTube

Listen Closely

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Apple has a new low-cost (1) , the MacBook Neo. It is a 13-inch computer with a metal body and four colors. The big question is simple: is this the best laptop near £600?

The Neo feels strong and well made, like a more expensive model. The lid opens easily, and the body does not bend or make noise. It is also easier to open and (2) than most MacBooks. These points make it stand out in this price range.

There are some weak points. The keyboard feels good, but it has no backlight. The speakers are clear for calls and podcasts, but are not as good for (3) . Battery life is also shorter than a MacBook Air in tests.

Still, it works well for daily use, study, and office tasks. The (4) is good, and the touchpad works well. At £599, or £499 for students, it is a very strong choice. If you want a small laptop on a (5) , this one is easy to recommend.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Loading listening activity...

Discussion Builder

  1. Q: Do you usually like Apple products? Why or why not?

    A:

  2. Q: Do you think £599 is a good price for a laptop?

    A:

  3. Q: Do you think these are serious problems: no keyboard backlight, shorter battery life, and bad speakers?

    A:
Use It

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Q: Do you usually like Apple products? Why or why not?

    A: I usually like Apple products, I do not always think they are the best choice.

    but / because / if / unless

    I usually like Apple products, but I do not always think they are the best choice.

  2. Q: Do you think £599 is a good price for a laptop?

    A: £599 seems like a fair price the laptop looks strong and useful.

    because / but / and

    £599 seems like a fair price because the laptop looks strong and useful.

  3. Q: Do you think these are serious problems: no keyboard backlight, shorter battery life, and bad speakers?

    A: No keyboard backlight is annoying, shorter battery life is a bigger problem for me.

    because / but / and

    No keyboard backlight is annoying, but shorter battery life is a bigger problem for me.

Sentence Unscramble

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. a laptop B. is too small C. I still need D. my phone E. for schoolwork. F. because

    I still need a laptop because my phone is too small for schoolwork.

  2. A. but B. only for C. and work. D. recommend it, E. basic study F. I would probably

    I would probably recommend it, but only for basic study and work.

Discussion Questions
  1. Do you usually like Apple products? Why or why not?
  2. Do you think £599 is a good price for a laptop?
  3. What laptop features are most important for you?
  4. Do people need laptops these days? Or is having a phone enough?
  5. Do you think these are serious problems: no keyboard backlight, shorter battery life, and bad speakers?
  6. Do you use speakers often, or do you use headphones?
  7. Would you recommend this laptop to a friend? Why?
  8. When you buy tech, do you choose low price or strong quality?

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you usually like Apple products? Why or why not?
  2. Do you think £599 is a good price for a laptop?
  3. What laptop features are most important for you?
  4. Do people need laptops these days? Or is having a phone enough?
  5. Do you think these are serious problems: no keyboard backlight, shorter battery life, and bad speakers?
  6. Do you use speakers often, or do you use headphones?
  7. Would you recommend this laptop to a friend? Why?
  8. When you buy tech, do you choose low price or strong quality?

Answers Is MacBook Neo a Good Buy? / Level 2

Listening: (1) laptop, (2) repair, (3) music, (4) webcam, (5) budget

True or False:

  1. True. The story says it is a 13-inch computer.
  2. False. The story says the keyboard feels good, but it has no backlight.
  3. False. The story says it is easy to recommend for people on a budget.

Review Breakdown:

What it is: a c

Good / bad points: e g h

Final opinion: f

Not in the review: b d

Vocabulary:

  1. Budget (n): The money you can spend.
  2. Repair (v): To fix something that is broken.
  3. Battery life (n): How long a battery works before charging.
  1. Recommend (v): To say something is good to buy or use.
  2. Weak point (n): A part that is not very good.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Opinion. 2) Reason. 3) Contrast.

  1. but
  2. because
  3. but

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. I still need a laptop because my phone is too small for schoolwork.
  2. I would probably recommend it, but only for basic study and work.

eslnewsstories.com