If I was Microsoft and Google, I would be super worried right now. The MacBook Neo could be the laptop of the year — if not the decade — in terms of pure value. For just $599, users get pretty much everything they need from a notebook in terms of everyday performance and endurance in a thin, light and colorful design. All for $599.
Yes, there's trade-offs here. Like the lack of a backlit keyboard. And you need to pay extra for Touch ID. But overall I think there's going to be a ton of people gravitating towards this laptop, especially with the back to school crowd. Yup, this could definitely be one of the best laptops you can buy. Suddenly, Chromebooks and mid-range Windows laptops look a lot less attractive.
MacBook Neo: Specs
MacBook Neo (Base Model) |
|
|---|---|
Processor |
A18 Pro (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU) |
Display |
13-inch Liquid Retina (2408 x 1506) |
Memory |
8GB Unified Memory |
Storage |
256GB / 512GB SSD |
Battery Life |
Up to 16 hours |
Camera |
1080p FaceTime HD |
Weight |
2.7 pounds |
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6.0, 2x USB-C |
Colors |
Indigo, Blush, Citrus and Silver |
MacBook Neo: Price and release date
The MacBook Neo starts at just $599 for 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You can get Touch ID and 512GB for $699. Apple also offers the Neo for $499 for education customers.
You can pre-order the MacBook Neo now and the release date is March 11.
MacBook Neo: Design
The first thing you'll notices about the MacBook Neo is the build quality. There's no cheap plastic here. It's am aluminum design, and a solid one at that. It's also super light at just 2.7 pounds. You could easily slip this thing in a backpack and forget that it's there.
The other standout design feature are the color options. You can take your pick from Citrus, Blush, Indigo and Silver. And Apple took the extra step of matching the keyboard color with the rest of the design, as well as the wallpaper.
There's two USB-C ports on board, as well as a headphone jack, which is to be expected from a minimalist design.
MacBook Neo: Keyboard and touchpad
The keyboard on the MacBook Neo had a decent amount of travel when I tried typing on it, but there's a trade-off here. You don't get a backlight. I don't care that much because I'm a touch typist, but I would appreciate the light for the shortcut keys and when entering special characters.
The touchpad is spacious and just as responsive as the MacBook Air, so you should have no issues navigating macOS, pinching to zoom and more. This laptop is ergonomically sound. Just note that the touchpad is mechanical, so you don't get haptic feedback.
MacBook Neo: Display and audio
The MacBook Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display that looks pretty vibrant in person with wide viewing angles. You get 500 nits of brightness, which is the same as the MacBook Air, and the resolution is fairly sharp at 2408 x 1506 pixels.
Apple says that the Neo's display is brighter and sharper than most PC laptops in its price range, and that's true. The typical Windows laptop under $600 will have a 1080p display with only 250 nits of brightness.
The MacBook Neo also sports side-firing speakers with Dolby Atmos support. I haven't had a chance to check them out yet, so stay tuned.
MacBook Neo: Performance
Powered by an A18 Pro chip, the MacBook Neo should be able to handle everyday tasks with relative ease, whether you're surfing the web or watching videos on YouTube.
Apple claims that the A18 Pro is up to 50% faster than the bestselling PC with the latest Intel Core Ultra 5 chip and up to 3x faster for on-device AI workloads. You also get a 5-core GPU for playing games, but we'll have to see how well this system handles popular titles.
MacBook Neo: Battery life
The MacBook Neo is rated for up to 16 hours of battery life, which would blow away most Windows laptops and even Chromebooks in this price range.
We'll be putting this system through the Tom's Guide battery test to see how it fares.
MacBook Neo: Outlook
The MacBook Neo looks to be the most disruptive laptop since the original MacBook Air. It could set the standard for value-priced laptops and — assuming the performance is good enough — convince a lot of shoppers to ditch Windows and Chromebooks.
I have some questions about how well the A18 Pro chip will perform, and I wish Touch ID was standard, but overall the MacBook Neo could be the new low-cost laptop champ.
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