The most interesting product Apple announced this week was its cheapest and least powerful laptop, the MacBook Neo. It’s just fascinating to see the company tackle an entirely new category — it’s not a premium ultraportable like the MacBook Air, and it’s not a computing powerhouse like the MacBook Pro. It’s simply an affordable $599 laptop. And after spending some time with it at Apple’s spring launch event today, I’m convinced it’s going to be a huge hit for the company.
For a $599 system, the MacBook Neo doesn’t look or feel like a budget machine. Its colorful aluminum case looks even more attractive than the MacBook Air and Pro’s, and at 2.7 pounds (the same as the Air), it’s easy to carry. I need to spend more time with its 13-inch screen, but at first glance it looks decently vibrant as well. It’s a shame Apple didn’t include a MagSafe charging port, but hey, at least the headphone jack is still around. And for many people, two USB-C ports should be plenty.
The downsides to the MacBook Air became more apparent as I used it. Its keyboard feels a bit flimsy —- it’s almost reminiscent of the old-school butterfly keyboards. And while its touchpad feels smooth and responsive, it lacked the sturdiness from the company’s more expensive haptic touchpads. And then there are the starting specs: For $599, the MacBook Neo comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Bumping up to $699 gets you 512GB of storage and a Touch ID button, but you’re still stuck with 8GB of RAM.
For a basic productivity machine, I suppose 8GB of RAM can work. But when coupled with the slower performance of the A18 Pro mobile chip, it’s unclear if the MacBook Neo will hold up over time.
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