Welcome to the era of "Mac for everyone"! Apple has surprised us. Launch of the MacBook Neo This makes it the cheapest laptop in the company's history, with a price difference of up to $500 over the Air. But, as you know, Apple doesn't give away anything for free; this huge saving comes with a long list of compromises that might make you think twice. Is the new device just an iPhone with a big screen and a keyboard, or is it the bargain we've been waiting for? Let's delve deeper and find out where that $500 went.
Design and screen: the size is the same, but the essence is different.
At first glance, you might think the two devices are twins, as they share the same weight (1.23 kg) and the same slim design philosophy. However, upon closer inspection, you'll find that the MacBook Neo is slightly smaller due to its smaller 13-inch screen, while the Air boasts a 13.6-inch screen and much thinner bezels, giving it a more modern look.
Both displays are Liquid Retina with 500 nits of brightness, but the MacBook Air excels with True Tone technology and a wider P3 color gamut, resulting in a more vibrant and accurate viewing experience. If you prefer a larger screen, the Air is your only option, available in a 15-inch model, while the Neo is limited to its compact form factor.
Processor and performance: iPhone in a Mac body!
Herein lies the biggest surprise: the MacBook Neo is Apple's first computer powered by an iPhone processor, specifically the A18 Pro chip. While its power is undeniable in phones, it pales in comparison to the performance beast of the M5 found in the MacBook Air. The M5 is 20% faster in single-core tasks and a staggering 80% faster in multi-core tasks, in addition to offering a dominant advantage in graphics processing.
Not only that, but the Air's memory bandwidth reaches 153 GB/s compared to only 60 GB/s in the Neo. This means the Air will handle heavy multitasking with ease, while the Neo might start to feel strained when burdened with complex programming or design tasks.
Keyboard and touch screen: Are we going back to the past?
To achieve that low price, Apple made some drastic cuts to the inputs. The MacBook Neo comes with a non-backlit Magic Keyboard! Yes, you read that right, you'll need room light to type at night. Also, the trackpad is mechanical, not haptic, which might make longtime Apple users feel a bit nostalgic.
Even the Touch ID feature, which we took for granted, isn't available on the base model of the Neo; you have to pay an extra $100 for the 512GB version to enjoy fingerprint recognition. In contrast, the MacBook Air offers a complete experience with a backlit keyboard, fingerprint recognition, and a Force Touch trackpad that senses the pressure of your touch.
Ports and battery: a battle of speeds
In terms of connectivity, the Neo only has one USB 3 port with a speed of 10 Gigabits and a very old USB 2 port, with support for one external 4K display. The Air, on the other hand, has two Thunderbolt 4 ports with a speed of 40 Gigabits, supports two external displays, and includes a MagSafe 3 port for magnetic charging that protects your device from falling if someone trips over the cable.
The battery also favors the Air, giving you two extra hours of use, along with fast charging, a feature the Neo lacks. The budget-friendly device only comes with a 20W charger, while the Air can utilize chargers up to 70W to recharge in record time.
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