Give your team the phones they actually want to use — from the latest iPhones to Samsung, Google Pixel, and Fairphone devices. One monthly payment, no upfront costs, and complete flexibility to upgrade or scale. Built for security, manageability, and modern work.
These three foldables all promise the same headline trick: a bigger screen that folds away. However, they’re built on different foundations.
The iPhone Duo runs Apple’s A20 Pro and iOS, the Fold8 runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Android with Samsung’s Galaxy AI layered on top, and the Pixel runs Google’s own Tensor G6 with Gemini Intelligence built in.
That single choice of platform shapes everything that follows: which AI assistant does the heavy lifting and how well it fits alongside the rest of your fleet.
When leased through HardSoft, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 starts from around £12.77 plus VAT per week, the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold from £13.14 plus VAT per week, and the Apple iPhone Duo from £13.17 plus VAT per week.
With only a small difference between the advertised starting prices, platform compatibility and role suitability are likely to matter more than price for many organisations.
At a Glance: iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 vs Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Apple iPhone Duo
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Processor
A20 Pro chip
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Google Tensor G6
Dimensions when unfolded(H x W x D)
4.6-inch x 6.5-inch x 0.2-inch
4.9-inch x 6.4-inch x 0.2-inch
6.1-inch x 5.9-inch x 0.2-inch
Dimensions when folded (H x W x D)
4.6-inch x 3.3-inch x 0.4-inch
4.9-inch x 3.2-inch x 0.4-inch
6.1-inch x 3.0-inchx 0.4-inch
Weight
254g
201g
239g
Storage
256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB
256GB / 512GB / 1TB
256GB / 512GB / 1TB
Inner Display
7.6-inch OLED screen
7.6-inch AMOLED 2Xscreen
8.0-inch Super Actua Flex screen
Outer Display
5.4-inch OLED screen
5.5-inch AMOLED 2X screen
6.5-inch Super Actua screen
Authentication
Touch ID
Fingerprint and face unlock
Fingerprint and face unlock
AI Capability
Apple Intelligence and Siri AI
Galaxy AI
Gemini
Leasing from (plus VAT per week)
£13.17
£12.77
£13.14
iPhone Duo: The First Foldable for Apple-First Teams
The iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable iPhone, and for people who want the working space of a smaller iPad without carrying a second device, it’s a genuine two-in-one.
Performance. The A20 Pro pairs a 6-core CPU with a 7-core GPU and dual 16-core Neural Engine, backed by vapour cooling to keep things steady through sustained work. Siri AI can pull information from emails and notes and act inside supported apps (features and languages vary).
Memory. Storage starts at 256GB, rising to 512GB, 1TB and 2TB. 256GB is plenty if company files live in the cloud; go for 512GB or more if your people keep large project files offline, or if the phone needs to last a longer lease.
Connectivity. The Duo is eSIM only, which makes activating and managing plans simpler but rules out a physical SIM. USB-C is on board, and Emergency SOS and Roadside Assistance via satellite add reassurance for anyone working away from the office.
Display, battery and build. Opened, the 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, this means more room for side-by-side apps and a wider on-screen keyboard. Grade 5 titanium, a protected hinge and a scratch-resistant inner finish add durability, and it’s water resistant too.
The dual-battery system reaches 50% charge in around 20 minutes with a compatible charger, and runs up to 31 hours of video on the inner display or 44 hours on the outer one. It’s worth remembering that the bigger screen costs more battery, so the outer display is the better call when runtime matters more than workspace.
The iPhone Duo can also sit partially folded in Seated Mode, turning one half into a built-in stand for video calls, presentations or watching content hands-free.
Note one trade-off: Touch ID is the only biometric sign-in — there’s no Face ID, so teams expecting it should factor that in.
At 201g, the Fold8 is unusually light for a foldable phone. It is built to stay comfortable in someone’s pocket or hand throughout a full working day, not just for the odd meeting.
Performance. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is built to keep demanding apps and Galaxy AI tools running smoothly, so multitasking and busy workloads don’t cause it to lag.
Memory. 12GB of memory comes as standard, with 256GB, 512GB or 1TB storage options. That’s a generous starting point for a phone and gives it the headroom to stay responsive over a longer lease.
Connectivity. Support for both a physical SIM and eSIM; this is useful for teams who need the flexibility of a physical card as well as digital plans.
Display, battery and build. A 5.5-inch cover screen in a tall 10:16 shape for quick tasks, opening out to a 7.6-inch, 4:3 main display with an anti-reflective finish for working on documents or apps side by side. A dual layer of Flex Titanium reinforces the shock-absorbing layer beneath the folding screen, with an Armor Aluminium frame and Corning Gorilla Glass adding further protection. The battery runs up to 26 hours of video playback.
Security. Business data can be encrypted and stored on-device using Knox Vault and KEEP, and users can choose whether supported Galaxy AI tasks run on the device or in the cloud. That provides extra control when your team handles confidential client, customer or company information.
The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the pick for Google-first teams with Gemini and Google’s AI tools built in from the start, with the security credentials to back it up.
Performance. The all-new Google Tensor G6 provides up to 50% more TPU power, with around 20% better efficiency and roughly 15% faster app launching than the previous generation.
Memory. You get 16GB of memory as standard, plus the same choice of storage as the Galaxy Fold8: 256GB, 512GB or 1TB.
Connectivity. Like the iPhone Duo, the Google Fold is eSIM only, with satellite emergency services adding extra reassurance for people travelling or working away from reliable mobile coverage.
Display, battery and build. Open it up and you get an 8-inch Super Actua Flex OLED display. Tabletop mode lets you sit the phone partly folded on a desk, which is useful for hands-free video meetings. The battery is designed to run more than 24 hours of typical use and reaches 50% charge in around 30 minutes with a compatible wired charger.
Security. The Titan M3 security chip helps protect company information against digital attacks, and a built-in VPN adds protection when people connect away from the office. Call screening handles unknown callers before they interrupt the working day, and face unlock gives quick access to the phone.
For anyone leaning into the Apple ecosystem, the new Apple Watch Series 12 keeps notifications, health data and Apple Intelligence insights on the wrist, so your people aren’t unlocking the phone every few minutes. An Apple Pencil rounds it out, turning the unfolded Duo display into something you can actually annotate, sign or sketch on.
For Samsung Teams
Add a wireless keyboard and mouse and your people can work from any desk. Between meetings, a Galaxy Watch keeps calls, alerts and health tracking on the wrist.
For Google Teams
Google’s foldables suit people who spend the day between meetings and the road. A Pixel Watch handles quick replies, reminders and Gemini prompts, so the phone can stay in a pocket, while Pixel Buds give clean audio on calls and live translation when you’re working across languages.
Managing Phones at Scale with Mobile Device Management
Whichever foldable your team ends up with – or if it’s a mix of all three – managing them at scale is just as important as choosing them. That’s where Shepherd, HardSoft’s own Mobile Device Management (MDM) service, comes in. An MDM service gives your IT team one place to set up devices, install work apps, apply security rules and protect or wipe company data remotely if a phone is lost or stolen.
We have three solutions designed to fit your business:
For an Apple-only fleet built around the Duo, Shepherd for Mobile covers iPhones and iPads with device enrolment, app deployment and remote security controls built specifically for iOS.
If your business runs Macs and iPhones together, Shepherd for Apple extends that same management across macOS and iOS from one place.
For teams using a mixture of the iPhone Duo, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold,
Shepherd Fusion manages each operating system from a single dashboard, so IT isn’t juggling three different platforms to keep devices secure, updated and compliant.
Whichever foldable ends up in someone’s hand, Shepherd means it’s managed the same way as everything else in your fleet.
Calls and email alone rarely justify the additional cost of a foldable phone – save your budget
Sales, account management & field teams
Duo or Fold8
Side-by-side apps for CRM and email, wide keyboard for quotes on the move
Apple-first leadership & creatives
Duo
Apple Pencil annotation, Apple Watch and AirPods fit naturally into the same ecosystem
Android-first & lightweight carry
Fold8
201g keeps it wearable all day; physical SIM support for teams who still need it
Google-first & hybrid workers
Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Gemini Intelligence, tabletop mode for hands-free calls, strong on-device security
Confidential data & regulated roles
Pixel 11 Pro Fold or Fold8
Titan M3 plus built-in VPN, or Knox Vault with on-device/cloud AI choice
Battery-first, all-day field use
Duo (outer display) or Pixel 11 Pro Fold
44 hours on the Duo’s outer screen, 24+ hours typical use on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold
The Leasing Maths
The new foldable phones all carry premium price tags, and none of them come in under £1,000. If you’re considering equipping your team with these, that number adds up fast and eats into your budget quickly. That’s exactly where leasing helps.
Take the iPhone Duo: £1,999 upfront is a serious outlay, but with HardSoft leasing, that shrinks to £13.17 plus VAT per week. And we lease all three foldables, so your business has options depending on how your team actually works.
Why Lease with HardSoft
But with so many leasing companies out there, the question is: why HardSoft?
Beyond our MDM service, lifecycle support like Boomerang keeps devices moving smoothly through their working life
Which Product Should You Lease?
There is no universal winner. The best foldable phone for your business is the model that fits your existing technology platform, security policies and everyday workflows.
Choose the iPhone Duo for an Apple-led environment, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 for flexible Android productivity, or the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold for Google Workspace teams seeking deeper Gemini integration. With only a small difference between the advertised starting lease prices, role suitability, security and manageability should carry more weight than price alone.
There is only 40p per week between the cheapest and most expensive phone, or £20.80 across a full year. The comparison is based on the advertised starting configurations and current lease pricing. Prices, configurations and availability may change.
At that level, buying on price alone makes little sense. Match each phone to the team that will get the most from it, even if that means using different models across different departments.
Speak to our teamand we will help you build the right setup for your business.
FAQs
Foldable phones can be valuable for employees who regularly work across email, CRM platforms, documents, presentations and video meetings while away from a desk. A conventional smartphone may remain more cost-effective for roles focused mainly on calls, messaging and email.
All three devices may provide access to Microsoft 365 applications. The best option will depend on the organisation’s identity platform, security requirements, mobile device management arrangements and existing device ecosystem.
Compatible foldable phones can be managed through supported mobile device management platforms. Available controls may include application deployment, security policies, compliance monitoring, configuration management and remote wiping.
Leasing can reduce upfront expenditure and make device refresh costs more predictable. Businesses should compare the total contract cost, support arrangements, flexibility and end-of-term options rather than evaluating the weekly price alone.
For business buyers, that’s good news. The XPS range has always sat at the premium end of the Windows laptop market, being one of the first to offer premium features and edge-to-edge displays.
Now, the question is no longer whether the XPS is back. It’s which laptop belongs on your team’s desk.
If you’re weighing these up against a MacBook Pro for your team, here’s the short version: the XPS 14 and 16 are Dell’s most premium laptops, aimed at people doing demanding creative or technical work. They’re not the right call for a standard laptop refresh – but for the right role, they’re excellent.
Both are Copilot+ PCs, so your team gets access to Microsoft’s on-device AI features out of the box.
They’re also the thinnest and lightest XPS laptops Dell has made:
Here’s what your people would actually be getting, and who should be on the list for one.
Processors
Both run Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 3 “Panther Lake” chips, with a choice from: Core Ultra 5, 7, X7 or X9. We recommend X7 or X9 for anyone doing sustained, demanding work (e.g. development, video editing, CAD) where the extra cores and graphics keep things smooth for the length of the workload, not just in a quick burst.
Performance & Connectivity
Both laptops feature three USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, distributed across either side of the chassis, alongside a combined headphone and microphone jack. Dell also claims fast-charging capabilities, with the battery reaching up to 80% charge in around 40 minutes.
However for a premium laptop range, the lack of Thunderbolt 5 is likely to be a disappointment. While Thunderbolt 4 will be more than sufficient for most day-to-day business requirements, if your organisation is investing in premium devices with a long refresh cycle, you may question why Dell’s flagship XPS range has not adopted Thunderbolt 5.
With devices such as the Dell Pro Max 16 Plus and MacBook Pro (M5 Pro) already offering the latest connectivity standard, you may find these alternatives better aligned with your long-term future-proofing strategy.
Display
Both the XPS 14 & 16 are available with either a 2K InfinityEdge (non-touch) display or a premium 3.2K TandemOLED InfinityEdge touchscreen. The Tandem OLED upgrade is one of the standout features of the range; it uses two OLED emissive layers stacked on top of each other to improve brightness and deeper contracts, compared to traditional OLED displays. It also saves energy as each layer is working at a lower efficiency.
While Tandem OLED is not a new technology, having already appeared in devices such as Apple’s iPad Pros, its inclusion in the XPS range brings the technology to a wider audience of premium Windows users.
To put the display quality in perspective, Dell’s Tandem OLED offers a different experience to the Liquid Retina XDR display found in MacBook Pros.
Apple’s mini-LED technology remains the benchmark for sustained brightness, particularly in bright environments and HDR workflows. However, the XPS’s OLED panel provides deeper blacks and pixel-level contrast that many users associate with a more immersive and visually impressive viewing experience. The OLED panel also covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, the industry standard used in film and video production.
Security
Security-wise, both come with facial recognition (Windows Hello) for sign-in, but no fingerprint reader. If your business relies on fingerprint login for shared devices or specific security policies, that’s worth flagging to your IT team.
In contrast, Dell continues to offer fingerprint authentication on selected higher-spec configurations of the Dell Pro 16.
Keyboard
Both laptops feature a zero-lattice keyboard design with clearly defined, physical borders around the trackpad. This is a major improvement to the previous invisible trackpad.
Key Consideration
One of the standout features of the Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16 is their portability. Interestingly, the higher-spec XPS 16 configuration with the 3.2K Tandem OLED display weighs just 1.65kg, making it lighter than the lower-spec model at 1.74kg.
Dell XPS 14 vs Dell XPS 16: Key Differences Compared
Where Do the XPS 13 and XPS 16 Creator Edition Fit Into This Range?
We believe the Dell XPS 13 and the Creator Edition are designed to fill specific gaps in the XPS range. For people who love Dell and are looking for a more budget-friendly option or dedicated GPU processing power, these two laptops make a lot of sense.
However, if you’re an IT admin or business manager who isn’t particularly tied to the Dell ecosystem, we’d generally recommend focusing on the Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16. They represent the core of the range and are likely to be the best fit for most businesses. The XPS 13 and Creator Edition are both good laptops, but they’re aimed at more specific audiences rather than offering something completely new.
Honest Trade-Offs
This is the part worth being upfront about: the XPS 14 and 16 are expensive, and unless your team needs what the higher-spec configuration offers, that price is hard to justify. And the step up to the OLED display and X7/X9 processors is a real jump in cost – one you should only make for people whose work actually needs it.
Financing your XPS with Leasing
As laptops get more capable — AI features, better displays, faster chips — the price tag climbs with them. Leasing is how you stop that upfront number from being the thing that decides who gets a good machine and who doesn’t.
Imagine a video editor looking to get the Dell XPS 16 with the Tandem OLED touchscreen display, Intel Core X7 processor and 32GB of memory to support their large files and creative software without slowing down.
Spread across one of our leasing plans, that large upfront cost becomes a smaller monthly payment instead:
Take a look at our new Dell XPS range to help lower the cost of your productivity today.
Similarly, if the ports on the laptop feel limiting for the way your team works, we can recommend and price the right accessories too – a dock with extra HDMI and SD card support, for example – so you’re not working around a laptop’s limits at the desk.
Running a Dell-Only Team?
If your business runs 100% Dell, our Devices for Teams solution covers you from 50+ staff upwards, including the new XPS range.
The weight and slim design of the XPS 14 and 16 make them close to a one-size-fits-all option across a Dell fleet — and if something isn’t working out, or your business scales up or down, you can switch, add, or return devices rather than being locked into what you first ordered.
Devices for Teams also comes with around-the-clock support, from Silver through to Platinum plans, so you can pick the level of cover that actually matches your team’s needs.
Whether it’s one XPS for a new hire or a full team rollout, we’ll help you land on the right configuration, and the right lease, for what your people actually do all day.
The headline changes are size and power. The 2026 XPS 14 and 16 are the thinnest and lightest XPS laptops Dell has made — the 14 weighs about the same as a 13″ MacBook Air, and the 16 about the same as the older Dell Premium 14. Under the hood, they move to Intel’s new Panther Lake processors, brighter and more colour-accurate displays, and Copilot+ AI features built in as standard.
Yes. The chassis is made from recycled, low-emissions aluminium, and the range is certified ENERGY STAR and registered EPEAT Gold with Climate+. Pair that with HardSoft’s carbon offset service on your lease, and it’s a genuinely sustainable choice for equipping your team — not just a badge on the box.
Better than you’d expect from a business laptop. Both models use a quad-speaker setup, tuned with Waves MaxxAudio and supporting Dolby Atmos, which adds up to clear, full sound rather than the thin, tinny audio a lot of laptops settle for. In practice, that means video calls come through clearer and anyone using the laptop for presentations or media doesn’t need to reach for headphones or a speaker as often.
Built to hold up to daily business use: a CNC-machined aluminium chassis for strength, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 over the display for scratch resistance. Over a three-year lease, that durability is what keeps repair and replacement costs down.
Samsung Galaxy Book6 Compared for Business: Book6 vs Book6 Pro vs Book6 Ultra
This guide compares the three Intel-powered Galaxy Book6 models — the Book6, Book6 Pro and Book6 Ultra — and helps you work out which one is right for your team.
Quick Summary
Samsung has become one of the most interesting Windows laptop brands for business, and the Galaxy Book6 range highlights why.
All three models share a processor generation but differ in screen, ports and headroom: the standard Book6 pairs an IPS panel with 16GB of RAM you can’t upgrade after purchase, the Pro doubles that ceiling to 32GB and adds Wi-Fi 7 and single-cable Thunderbolt 4 docking, and the Ultra adds an RTX GPU for teams requiring dedicated graphics (video, design and 3D work.)
Our pick: the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro 14” is the right device for most business teams. Enjoy a 1,000-nit AMOLED touchscreen and 30-hour battery at 1.24kg — leasing from £10.53 per week with a free dock!
What All Three Galaxy Book6 Models Share
Every Galaxy Book6 runs Intel’s latest Core Ultra (Series 3) “Panther Lake” silicon, with an NPU fast enough to qualify all three as Copilot+ PCs — 49 TOPS on the Book6, 50 TOPS on the Pro and Ultra.
On-device AI features run locally rather than sending your data off to the cloud. If your team handles sensitive information, that’s reassuring.
They also share the same dependable basics: a solid aluminium body, a comfortable full-size keyboard, a sharp webcam for video calls, and a fingerprint reader to log in. Plus, multi control lets you work across your phone and tablet from one keyboard.
Best for: admin, reception, field staff — anyone living in Outlook, Teams and a browser.
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 5 325 or Ultra 7 355, with 16GB RAM, a 512GB or 1TB SSD and Intel integrated graphics.
Display: a 14″ or 16″ anti-glare display that’s bright and easy on the eyes in an office. It’s a standard LCD, though — not the richer, more colourful AMOLED screen you get on the Pro.
Ports: 2× USB-C, 2× USB-A, HDMI, microSD, combo jack, Kensington slot and Gigabit Ethernet — one up on the Pro. That RJ45 is worth having for fixed-desk staff or sites with patchy Wi-Fi. Wireless is Wi-Fi 6E, not Wi-Fi 7.
Battery: 24 hours on Samsung’s video playback test. At 14.9mm and 1.74kg, it’s the chunkiest of the three despite being the least powerful.
Trackpad: a mechanical clickpad rather than the Pro’s haptic pad — stiffer near the top edge, less consistent across the surface.
The catch: 16GB is the ceiling, and memory can’t be upgraded after purchase.
Best for: almost everyone. Managers, consultants, developers, sales, finance, hybrid workers.
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 356H or Ultra X7 358H with Intel Arc graphics, 16GB or 32GB LPDDR5X RAM and a fast PCIe SSD. Samsung quotes 60% more CPU and 70% more GPU power than the last generation — enough for large datasets, heavy multitasking and light video work, without paying workstation prices.
Display: A 14″ or 16″ AMOLED touchscreen — the same bright, punchy screen technology Samsung puts in its top phones. It’s sharp, colourful and glare-resistant, so it stays clear and readable on a train, in a sunny meeting room, or out at a client’s office.
Battery: 30 hours on Samsung’s video playback test. It’s light too — the 16″ is 11.9mm and 1.59kg, the 14″ 11.6mm and 1.24kg.
Cooling & trackpad: it runs cooler and quieter than the standard Book6, so the fan stays quiet on calls, and the trackpad is the smooth, pressure-sensitive kind that clicks evenly wherever you press.
Ports: 2× Thunderbolt 4, USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, a card reader and a combo jack, plus Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. HDMI 2.1 drives 8K at 60Hz or 5K at 120Hz, so one cable handles most meeting-room displays without an adapter — and Thunderbolt 4 carries displays, data, network and power to a dock over a single connection.
Both share the same processors, RAM options, AMOLED resolution and ports — so the choice is about how your people work.
Pick the 14″ for anyone on the move. At 1.24kg it’s the lighter travel machine, its battery stretches furthest, it’s cheaper to lease — and it comes with the free i-tec dock, so it turns into a full desk setup the moment it’s back at base.
Pick the 16″ for desk-based staff who value screen space. The larger panel suits spreadsheets, side-by-side windows and long document work, and it steps up to quad speakers (the 14″ runs dual) for clearer conference calls.
Best for: video editors, 3D and CAD users, data scientists, developers compiling large builds.
Processor & graphics: everything the Pro has, plus a powerful dedicated NVIDIA graphics card — the sort video editors and 3D designers rely on — with 32GB of memory and a 1TB drive as standard, on a 16″ AMOLED screen.
Cooling & charging: beefed-up cooling to handle the extra power, better speakers, and the fastest charging in the range — around 65% in half an hour.
Ports: the same as the Pro, with one addition — a full-size SD card slot that photographers and videographers will use every day.
Weight: still slim, but heavier at 1.89kg because of that RTX GPU. An Intel Arc variant drops that to 1.79kg.
The catch: unless your team genuinely edits 4K video, renders 3D or runs heavy AI work, that expensive graphics card mostly sits there unused. Ideal for a handful of specialists; overkill for a whole team.
Buying a fleet of Galaxy Book6 Pros outright is a five-figure capital hit before you’ve even configured a single device. Leasing turns that into a predictable weekly operating cost with no upfront outlay, and lease payments are typically fully tax-deductible — unlike a purchase, where you’re working through capital allowances.
It also solves the awkward question of what to do with ageing kit. Buy it, and it’s yours to deal with for years. Lease it, and there’s a clean way out at the end:
Flexi-Lease — our most popular option. Switch devices, cancel, or own the kit for £1 at the end of term (from just 12 months).
Pure Rental — around 30% cheaper. Switch, cancel, or return and refresh onto new hardware at expiry (after 3 or 5 years).
Devices for Teams — our most flexible option for 50+ users, ideal for fast-growing teams with headcount changes.
For most UK businesses, the Galaxy Book6 Pro is the right device. Professional performance, an outstanding display, Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 7, all-day battery and Windows 11 Pro security — in a machine light enough that people can work on the go. With the free dock on the 14″, it’s a complete desk-and-travel setup for £10.53 a week per user.
MacBook Neo vs Air: Performance, Value, and What Businesses Should Know
This guide compares the MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air M5 for business teams — what each one offers, the specs that actually matter at work, and how to match the right machine to the right role.
Quick Summary
These are Apple’s two most affordable laptops but they’re built on different foundations.
The Neo runs an A-series chip — the same A18 Pro found in the iPhone — while the Air runs Apple’s M5 silicon. That single difference shapes everything: memory, connectivity, and how each machine copes with a heavy day’s work.
On leasing, the Neo starts from around £3.72 +VAT per week and the Air from £6.91 — so the Neo is close to half the cost. But cost is only half the decision. The rest comes down to what your people actually do all day.
The Neo is the most affordable Mac Apple has ever made, and for a large slice of any workforce it’s all the laptop they need.
Performance. The A18 Pro pairs a 6-core CPU with a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, with Apple Intelligence built in. It flies through the everyday: email, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, web-based CRMs, video calls and general multitasking. It’s a phone-class chip, so it’s not built for sustained heavy lifting — but most business roles never ask it to.
Memory. The Neo has 8GB of unified memory, with no option to add more now or later. That’s comfortable for someone living in a couple of apps and a handful of tabs. However, if you push it with dozens of tabs plus several apps at once, it starts to feel tight. See How Much RAM Should You Order in Your Next Mac? for why this matters over a multi-year lease.
Connectivity. Two USB-C ports (one fast 10Gbps, one basic USB 2.0), Wi-Fi 6E, and support for one external 4K display. There’s no Thunderbolt, so a busy dual-monitor dock is out of the box — though a USB-C dock solves most of that (more below).
Display, battery and build. A bright 13″ Liquid Retina screen (500 nits, a billion colours), up to 16 hours of battery, a silent fanless design, and four colours to choose from. Note two trade-offs: Touch ID is only on the 512GB model, and there’s no backlit keyboard or fast charging.
The Air is the default “everyday professional” Mac — noticeably more capable under the hood, and built to stay comfortable across a longer lease.
Performance. The M5 steps up to a 10-core CPU, up to a 10-core GPU, and more than twice the Neo’s memory bandwidth. That headroom is what keeps things smooth when the workload is sustained — heavy multitasking, larger datasets, creative apps, and anything that runs hard for long stretches without slowing down.
Memory. The Air starts at 16GB and configures up to 32GB. On Apple Silicon, memory is the single biggest factor in how well a machine ages, so this is the spec that most justifies the extra weekly cost for demanding roles — and the main reason not to under-spec someone you’re equipping for three years.
Connectivity.Thunderbolt 4 plus MagSafe charging, and support for multiple external displays. This is the practical difference for desk-based staff: full docking, faster peripherals, and a proper multi-monitor setup from a single connection.
Display, battery and build. A choice of 13.6″ or 15.3″ Liquid Retina — useful when someone wants more screen without moving up to a MacBook Pro — plus up to 18 hours of battery, a backlit keyboard, fast charging, and Touch ID as standard.
Both machines make great desk workstations with the right accessories — and you can easily add these to any lease with HardSoft.
A USB-C or Thunderbolt docking station turns a single laptop port into a full desk, complete with an external display, wired network, and charging.
For teams standardising on the Neo, we’ve packaged it up: the MacBook Neo Desktop Bundle pairs five 512GB Neos (with Touch ID) with Dell 24″ USB-C hub monitors and Alogic stands that lift the screen and help airflow on the fanless chassis. That’s five complete workstations for £39 +VAT per week (around £7.80 a desk).
Matching the Machine to the Role
Role
Best Fit
Why
Admin, operations & reception
Neo
Email, 365/Workspace, web CRMs — smooth, silent, cost-effective
Frontline, field & retail
Neo
Point-of-sale, scheduling, a browser — no headroom wasted
New starters & second devices
Neo
Fast, affordable and easy to deploy at scale
Sales, account management & leadership
Air
All-day calls, presentations and endless tabs fill 8GB fast
Marketing
Split
Neo for writers and social; Air for designers and heavier creative
Design, development & power users
Air (min.)
Adobe, IDEs, Docker and simulators need M5 and 16GB+
The Leasing Maths
Bought outright, the Neo (£699) and the Air (£1,299+) are £600 apart per person — a gap that grew after Apple’s June 2026 price rises. Spread across a lease, the gap is about £3.19 a week per device. Leasing makes the price gap small enough to choose each laptop for the job, not the price tag.
For a typical team, the Neo is the smart, cost-effective choice — admin, reception, frontline, retail and single-app roles, and with a dock or the Desktop Bundle it makes an excellent office workstation too.
For the people who multitask heavily, work docked across multiple monitors, or run creative and development tools, the Air’s M5 chip, 16GB+ memory and Thunderbolt aren’t a luxury — they’re what keeps those roles productive across the life of the lease.
So it’s rarely “Neo or Air” for the whole business. The best answer is usually both, matched to how each person works — and because leasing narrows the cost gap to a few pounds a week, that mix is easy to build and easy to adjust as your team changes.
Lease the Neo from under £4 a week, or the Air from under £7. Speak to our team to map the right setup for your business.
Google Pixel Phone Leasing for Secure Business Mobility
Leasing Google Pixel phones enables your business to equip teams with secure, reliable mobile devices through flexible IT leasing. Google Pixel Phone leasing supports day-to-day communication and productivity with clean Android software, regular security updates, and seamless integration with Google Workspace, helping your team stay connected and efficient across office and remote environments.
Samsung Galaxy Phone Leasing for Business Connectivity
Leasing Samsung Galaxy phones gives your business a flexible way to equip teams with modern mobile devices without upfront costs. Samsung Galaxy phone leasing helps you support communication, collaboration, and productivity across your workforce, whether in the office or on the move.
Samsung Galaxy BookLeasing for Modern Business Teams
Equip your team with high-performance laptops through Samsung Galaxy Book6 leasing, with no upfront costs and a streamlined way to stay up to date. Built for modern work, these devices combine Intel Core Ultra processors, vibrant AMOLED displays on select models, and lightweight designs suited to hybrid teams. IT leasing keeps your organisation agile while ensuring access to the latest Samsung hardware.
Flexible leasing for hybrid workforce productivity
Samsung’s GalaxyBook range offers a good balance of battery life and price for students, along with strong integration with Samsung phones and tablets. The lighter models are particularly well suited to carrying between classes, and the range’s consistent specs across models also make it easy for schools to roll out uniformly across entire classes or year groups.
What are the display benefits of the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro?
The Samsung GalaxyBook6 Pro features a high-resolution AMOLED touchscreen that delivers vibrant colours, deep contrast and exception detail. The large display provides plenty of screen space for productivity, while the adaptive refresh rate creates a smooth viewing experience.
What is the lifespan of a Samsung Laptop?
Samsung laptops typically last around 4-5 years with regular use, and up to 6-7 years with good care. For business users, replacing devices every 3-4 years often balances performance with cost-effectiveness, while also helping teams keep pace with new technology as software demands, security standards, and hardware capabilities continue to evolve.
Unlock powerful productivity with Microsoft. From Word and Excel to cloud-based collaboration in Outlook and OneDrive, Microsoft 365 brings together essential tools that help teams communicate, create and deliver work seamlessly.
Find the right Microsoft plan to simplify workflows and boost productivity.
Get the performance your team needs with Lenovo’s business range — ThinkBook, ThinkPad, desktops, and more. From equipping individual teams to standardising devices across your organisation, Lenovo offers a practical, cost‑effective solution that keeps your workforce productive and future‑ready. One simple monthly payment, no upfront costs, and the flexibility to upgrade as your business grows.
What is the difference between Lenovo ThinkPad and ThinkBook laptops?
ThinkPads are Lenovo’s premium business line, known for military-grade durability testing, strong security features and excellent keyboards. ThinkBooks are a more budget friendly business range with a sleeker consumer-style design, aimed at smaller business and cost-conscious buyers.
What is the lifespan of a Lenovo laptop?
Lenovo business laptops, particularly ThinkPads, typically last 5-7 years thanks to their durable build and long-term driver support. Consumer-grade Lenovo laptops tend to have a slightly shorter practical lifespan.
Are Lenovo ThinkPads good for remote and hybrid working?
Yes, ThinkPads are well suited to remote and hybrid work, offering strong battery life, robust security features and reliable build quality for use outside the office. Many also include enhanced webcams and noise-cancelling microphones for video calls.
What security features for Lenovo business laptops offer?
Lenovo business laptops typically include fingerprint readers, IR cameras for facial recognition, TPM chips, and Lenovo’s ThinkShield security suite for device and data protection. Many models also feature physical webcam shutters and optional privacy screens. HardSoft can also layer additional protection on top, such as endpoint security and phishing-simulation software when you lease your devices with us.
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