Following Apple’s announcement of the MacBook Neo, two contrasting opinions have emerged in the tech community. The MacBook Neo, with its vibrant colors and attractive price, has sparked debates: it could either shake up the Windows laptop market or be deemed an inadequate device with only 8GB of RAM.
Having had hands-on experience with it, I maintain my initial view: if I had a sub-$1,000 Windows laptop, I’d be anxious. The MacBook Neo introduces the premium qualities of a MacBook—Liquid Retina Display, an intuitive macOS, and a sleek aluminum design—into the budget laptop category.
While some critics focus on the Neo’s 8GB RAM, it exceeded my expectations during testing. Priced from $599 starting March 11, with a $699 option featuring Touch ID and 512GB storage, I’m confident Apple will sell millions. With the $499 education discount, this laptop stands unmatched.
What is the MacBook Neo, and who is it for?
The MacBook Neo is Apple’s first true budget laptop attempt and its first MacBook without an M-series chip since 2020. By increasing prices on newer MacBook Air and Pro models, Apple carved space for the Neo. It’s not for professionals requiring high performance for tasks like photo or video editing or 3D modeling; those users need the Air or Pro with the latest M5 chips.
Rather, the MacBook Neo is ideal as a first laptop, perfect for high school or college students who might transition to an Air or Pro later. Additionally, it can serve as a “party laptop,” a secondary device for entertainment and casual use, substituting the typical Chromebook.
Apple excels in design, and the MacBook Neo, available in silver, indigo, citrus, and blush, reflects this. The blush is a subtle pink, but citrus and indigo truly stand out. The color-matched keys to the aluminum finish add to its appeal.
The Neo, priced at $599, competes with the $699 Acer Aspire 16 AI, beating it with better build quality and features like Dolby Atmos speakers, all while being more affordable.
MacBook Neo: Performance and battery
The Neo uses an A18 Pro chip—appropriate for everyday tasks despite the seemingly low 8GB RAM. Apple’s M-series chips have been overpowered for average users since the original M1. The Neo’s benchmarks are impressive, with a Geekbench multi-core score akin to the M1 MacBook Air and a higher single-core score than many other laptops, proving its capability for everyday tasks.
However, the Neo has limitations, such as lacking Thunderbolt 4 ports and slower transfer speeds. Its A18 Pro configuration includes a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. It struggles with large file transfers, a task M-series MacBooks handle smoothly.
The battery lasts up to 16 hours of streaming, and our tests showed about 14 hours and 50 minutes. It’s adequate for a full day of classes or travel.
The MacBook Neo’s display is a standout with Liquid Retina technology, providing excellent color and clarity. Its improved speaker system includes side-firing speakers, ideal for entertainment.
MacBook Neo: What’s missing?
To achieve a lower price, some features are omitted: no 12MP Center Stage Camera, True Tone, fast-charging, Thunderbolt 4 ports, or multiple external display support. The $599 version has limited storage and lacks Touch ID, but these concessions seem minor for the price.
Final thoughts: Is the MacBook Neo worth it?
The Neo, despite some compromises, performs well for its price and target audience. Integrating seamlessly with Apple devices, it offers significant value over similarly priced Windows laptops or Chromebooks. Given its potential popularity, stock shortages might occur.
Overall, the MacBook Neo is a compelling option in the budget laptop market, especially for first-time buyers or as a secondary device for more casual use.