I need you to understand why the MacBook Neo is a big deal.
Maybe it’s not clear to you yet because you haven’t put your fingers on it to know it handles like a premium machine. Maybe it’s hard to feel the joy a pink or yellow laptop brings until you open one with colorful keys.
Maybe you scoff at the specs, because it runs an iPhone processor and has 8 gigs of RAM, but you don’t realize the A18 Pro chip performs better than the M1 in MacBooks still being sold today (which also still come with 8 gigs of RAM).
Maybe you don’t think about how, for most people, a MacBook Air with an M5 chip that costs over $1,000 is overkill for their needs. It’s possible you’re not considering all the people who own an iPhone, but don’t bother investing in a MacBook because of its cost.
I got a chance to tinker with the Neo this week, Apple’s newest 13-inch machine that starts at $599 and does everything I need, with style and pizazz to boot. It has a 1080p front camera for video calls. The battery lasts 16 hours. And students can get it discounted to $499. By all measures, I didn’t feel any of the compromises on features were major. For the first time, we have a MacBook priced to compete with mid-range Windows laptops and Chromebooks.
In this week’s episode of One More Thing, embedded above, I take you along as I experience the Neo for the first time, along with exploring other hardware Apple updated this week, including the iPhone 17e and new accessories.
This might just be Apple’s smartest move in hardware in years. This is the moment where the MacBook isn’t just for rich kids or creative professionals. Many people own an iPhone but opt for cheaper computers to do basic work. And now, by Apple lowering the gate of entry, you’ll see more first-time Mac owners enjoy the benefits of having a laptop that syncs better with their iPhone software and services.
Apple held a special event in New York City on Wednesday, inviting journalists and video personalities a chance to get up close with the new machines. When Apple’s vice president of hardware, John Ternus, debuted the Neo to the crowd, he explained the purpose of its creation was simple:
“We want to get the Mac into as many people’s hands as possible,” he said.
During my time at the event, it was clear that the main mission of the Neo is to attract people who have never bought a Mac before. But I also see it as a smart buy for commuters or those wanting a secondary machine for the family.
I also got to demo products on the other end of the spectrum. It’s easy to lust over the specs of the latest MacBook Pros, now with the option to get a M5 Pro or Max chip that’s stuffed to the gills with more cores than I’ll ever need. A fully tricked-out model can go as high as $6,899. I saw the benefits by watching someone use AI to code an app in under a minute. In a blink, another program used AI to layer new instruments on a music track.
But creatives have always been the Apple customer. The Neo, on the contrary, feels like it’s for the average computer user who is smart with their money. It gives high school and college students a reasonably priced choice to convince their parents to get a Mac when they haven’t even chosen a major yet. I look forward to putting it through a real-world test when it hits stores on Wednesday.
For more One More Thing, subscribe to our YouTube page to catch Bridget Carey breaking down the latest Apple news and issues every Friday.
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