Disrupting the Matrix: The Hyperbole Free Review of the MacBook Neo
Earlier this year, Apple surprised the tech world by introducing MacBook Neo, a low-cost Mac notebook running on a repurposed mobile processor, the A18 Pro. Everyone had something to be surprised by: the price, the fun colors, and the use of an iPhone processor in a Mac. There were also some surprises about what Apple left out to hit a relatively low (for Apple) price point: low RAM and storage, lack of a backlit keyboard, and TouchID exclusively on higher-priced units only.
Then the early reviews hit, and people were wowed by the premium fit and finish of the device and the performance of the machine. While many remained skeptical, the overall reaction was overwhelmingly positive. In fact, the MacBook Neo became difficult to find.
I waited until I became concerned about potential price increases before making the jump, and boy am I glad I did, as Apple recently raised the prices by $100, diminishing a bit of the initial shine off the popularity and positivity surrounding the Mac.
I settled on the Citrus color as it was the most radical of the colors, but having seen all the colors in person, they all look phenomenal. As with most Macs in the aluminum enclosure era, the fit, finish, and feel of this Mac is phenomenal. It looks great and feels great. The keyboard is clicky and nice as hell, like most post-butterfly keyboard laptops. Yes, the lack of a backlit keyboard is a bit of a letdown, but quickly finding the home keys is a fine way to orient yourself, though if you’re new to the Mac, you may find yourself hunting for keys as you learn keyboard shortcuts that are second nature to seasoned Mac users.
Coming from a MacBook Pro, I missed some niceties such as the aforementioned backlit keyboard, brighter screen, connectivity options, and, for a short time, the physical trackpad felt bizarre to me, but overall, the MacBook Neo felt undeniably Mac. Using it for day-to-day uses, web surfing, email, chatting, social media, writing, reading, paying bills, organizing calendars, etc. all felt speedy and natural. Apple’s built-in apps and my beloved third-party apps, Fantastical, Alfred, Airmail, Amphetamine, Carrot, Cardhop, Notability, Notion, and Ulysses all ran like a dream.
Importing photos from a Camp Snap camera seemed a bit sluggish, and editing video from my iPhone 17 Pro Max stuttered just a bit, but overall the performance for my uses was more than satisfactory. I played a few games from Apple Arcade, and they all ran and looked great.
The MacBook Neo is an exceptional computer for most people at its original price. After the price increase, less so. If you’re new to Mac, you’ll likely find the whimsy of this little notebook to be a fun entry point to the Macintosh ecosystem. For seasoned Mac users, having fun colors in an intriguing package may reignite your love of the platform.
