The introduction of the MacBook Neo has given Apple’s range a new entry-level entry. For years, the MacBook Air was Apple’s most affordable laptop, but that has now changed.
The MacBook Neo is aimed at Apple users who want a laptop for everyday tasks, such as web browsing, document editing, photo and video editing, and even casual gaming with support for ray tracing. In this article, we highlight some notable and interesting details about the new MacBook Neo.
13-inch Liquid Retina display
The screen of the MacBook Neo is a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, equipped with LED backlighting and IPS technology. It has a native resolution of 2408 x 1506 pixels at 219 ppi and a brightness of 500 nits, but lacks some advanced features such as the notch, 120Hz ProMotion, P3 color reproduction or True Tone. In standard conditions, the screen is most comparable to the last generation Intel MacBook Air from 2020.
iPhone chip in a Mac
The MacBook Neo is equipped with the A18 Pro chip which was introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro. You would think that an iPhone processor in a Mac is special, but this is not very strange. The A-series is cheaper for Apple to produce and its performance is comparable to the original M1 chip.
The A18 Pro scores 3,409 in single-core and 8,844 in multi-core on Geekbench 6, better than the M1 (2,323/8,186) and almost as good as the M2 (2,587/9,644). It also outperforms cheap Intel N100 chips in Windows laptops, ideal for basic tasks. In addition, ray tracing ensures that the GPU functions better in games, among other things. Apple Intelligence and AI tasks run smoothly thanks to the 16-core Neural Engine.
8 GB central memory
Since Apple Silicon, Apple does not use the term RAM, but central memory. This is the working memory that the CPU, GPU and other components can access simultaneously without copying data between separate memory banks, which greatly increases performance and energy efficiency.
It’s important to note that the MacBook Neo only has 8GB of RAM, while many believe that 16GB is the bare minimum for good performance on any macOS computer. With the Neo it is not possible to expand the central memory, which is the case with all other Macs. Still, 8GB is plenty for the tasks this MacBook was designed for, such as web browsing, document editing, and basic photo and video editing.
Touch ID not standard
The MacBook Neo is equipped with Touch ID, a fingerprint scanner that allows you to unlock your Mac and verify your identity. However, the €699 entry-level model has not about Touch ID, but features one lock key. Do you want the fingerprint scanner? Then you pay €100 extrabut you also receive double the amount of storage: 512 GB instead of 256 GB.
Trackpad without force touch
The MacBook Neo uses the Multi-Touch trackpad, which ensures extremely precise cursor movements and supports Multi-Touch gestures. Unlike other MacBooks, this version is not equipped with Force Touch.
A Force Touch trackpad on a MacBook is a pressure-sensitive trackpad that does not contain a physical spring. Instead, it senses pressure levels via sensors and electromagnets, and provides haptic feedback via a taptic engine, which mimics a realistic click feel for more precise interactions.
Two different USB-C ports
The MacBook Neo has two USB-C ports, but it’s worth noting that they are different. The Neo features one USB 3 port up to 10 Gb/s (USB-C) with support for charging, accessories and DisplayPort (external display), and a USB 2 port up to 480 Mb/s (USB-C) with support for charging and accessories. When you connect an external display to the USB 2 port, a message will appear on the screen telling you to switch ports.
Spatial audio with two speakers
Have you noticed the two speakers on the side of the MacBook Neo? These speakers support Spatial Audio when playing music or video with Dolby Atmos through the built-in speakers. In addition, the Neo is equipped with a mini-jack connection and two beam-forming microphones. These microphones offer Voice Isolation and Broad Spectrum modes for clearer voice during audio and video calls.
FaceTime HD camera
To further reduce costs, the MacBook Neo includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, which allows you to make high-quality video calls and record video in 1080p HD. Still, this is significantly less than the 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support, which has a wider viewing angle and uses center point to keep the subject in the frame.
Other Mac features that are missing
There are several options, features and capabilities that have been standard on a Mac for years, but are currently not available on the MacBook Neo. Below you will find an overview of what you should miss on the latest MacBook Neo compared to the MacBook Air.
- Keyboard lighting
- True Tone: Automatically adjust screen brightness and color temperature
- MagSafe: charging with a magnetic cable
- Spatial Audio and Dynamic Head Tracking with supported AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max
- Bluetooth 6, but no WiFi 7 (uses WiFi 6E)
- Fast charging
Conclusion MacBook Neo
The new MacBook Neo is an affordable entry-level Mac starting at €699 (or €599 for education), perfect for students and everyday use such as browsing, studying and light tasks. With the good A18 Pro chip, a 13-inch Liquid Retina display and a battery life of up to 16 hours, it offers enough performance for simple workflows.
It has 8 GB of RAM and options for 256 or 512 GB of storage, and is available in colors such as Silver, Blush, Citrus and Indigo. This makes it an ideal first MacBook in the Apple ecosystem, with macOS Tahoe and support for Apple Intelligence.
If you want to get more out of your Mac, the MacBook Air is a better option. It has a more powerful processor, more RAM and premium features. However, if you only want to use your MacBook for internet-related tasks, the Neo is perfect for you.
Price and availability
The MacBook Neo has a starting price of €699 and positions itself as the entry-level option for education and daily use. The new colorful MacBook is available for purchase from today and will be available from March 11 delivered.
The entry-level MacBook Neo is available as standard with an A18 Pro chip, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD storage. Do you also want Touch ID? Then you pay €799 for an A18 Pro chip, 8 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD storage.
You will soon be able to buy the MacBook Neo, among other things MediaMarkt, Coolblue, Amazon, Azerty, InformatiqueYorcom or Bol.com. Are you going to sell your old MacBook? Nowadays you can also do this via our sales page.