Review: MacBook Neo

By Gadjo C. Sevilla

Apple’s MacBook Neo opens up a new segment for premium-built, performant, and generally attainable laptops not just for students, but for entire markets where new Apple devices have been priced out of people’s budgets.

Out of the box, the Neo provides the complete premium Apple unboxing experience. No expense was spared in the presentation and the unboxing experience. A tiny ‘hello’ tab greets new users before they unwrap the laptop, and in certain markets you get a 20W USB-C charger and a braided cable.

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What the MacBook Neo is, and what it isn’t

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Apple launched its most affordable laptop ever yesterday, the MacBook Neo. It is a product that I believe has been in Apple’s pipeline for years and it is a significant product for a number of reasons. 

While the announcement was met with mostly positive reactions—thanks to its lower price of $599 ($499 for students and teachers) and bold colors (the Citrus shade is sure to be copied by competitors and appliance makers); a quick look at Reddit and Threads reveals some negative reactions. Critics argue that the MacBook Neo falls short, pointing to issues like only 8GB of unified memory, the lack of a backlit keyboard, and the absence of MagSafe. They''re not getting it.

At the core of early confusion is a misunderstanding of what this device is and who it is for. So, let’s break it down.

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