Is anyone with M1 or M2 Air 'upgrading' to the Neo?

[thadoggfather]

genuinely curious.

I assume it won't be most but probably some will for color, or to shlock around a cheaper laptop on the go with less worries. Or notch haters.
Those would be the primary use cases I could see, and for people already on base 8GB RAM configs.

Also I think A18 Pro is faster single core than M1 by a little bit.. and 5-10% than single core on M2 which comes as a shocker to me slightly.

Multicore M1 is about A18 Pro, and Multicore M2 is 11-18% better apparently. But for basic tasks don't think this will come into play.

--

obviously lot of concessions too beyond SoC:
no backlit keyboard, no two thunderbolt ports (USB2+3 usb-c's instead), thicker, thicker bezel, sRGB screen vs P3, no MagSafe, likely inferior sound. etc.

 

[m1mini]

It shouldn't shock you.

Before M, there was AnX

Basically,

A12 with more performance cores and gpu cores, = A12X, M0 if you will. They used these in the Apple Silicon DTK's

A14 with more gpu and perf cores = M1, altough it really is just an A14X. The scale they went up is 1 to 1 same with A12

A15 with more cores = M2, but again, it is actually just A15X

M3 is A17X with A16's npu (i know, bummer). But starting from M3 if im not mistaken, both the perf, efficiency, and the gpu cores are slightly overclocked. Altough I'm glad they did not go with a full 4nm a16 base.

M4 = A18(x)

M5 = A19X

That is why the single core scores are similar between the same generation of chips. M2 vs A18 shouldnt surprise you because they are 2 generations apart.

 

[4sallypat]

Nope - keeping my M2 15" Air base 8GB.

M2 MBA has been perfect for years and I am getting 2 Neos to replace our travel Macs: 12" rMB i5 and wife's 11.6" MBA i5.

Ordered 2 Neos since the EDU pricing at $499 can't be beat!
Wife and I might be fighting over the Citrus yellow Neo...

 

[edubfromktown]

Nope an M1 MBA base model does fine for my wife's purposes.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It's not really an upgrade is the thing.

 

[martin2345uk]

I don't think the Neo would give me anything that my M1 Air doesn't; at least not anything that I need... maybe when it eventually gives up the ghost I would consider a Neo to replace it, though a refurb Air M3 night be a better bet?

 

[Cuesca]

Ordered one to give to my mom...

 

[flowderf]

Yup! Downgrading from 13" M2 Air 16/1. I wanted something less capable, mainly for writing, since I am easily distracted.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Yup! Downgrading from 13" M2 Air 16/1. I wanted something less capable, mainly for writing, since I am easily distracted.

It's nearly the same machine .. what do you mean less capable?

It runs the same OS ... all the distractions will be there nearly identically.

 

[thadoggfather]

It's nearly the same machine .. what do you mean less capable?

It runs the same OS ... all the distractions will be there nearly identically.

Let’s face it: Tab reloads are exciting. Never know if you’re gonna get the same page or an updated article.

 

[mblm85]

I bought my M1 Air when they were first launched and it's been an absolutely incredible machine. I haven't thought of replacing it until now. It doesn't struggle with anything I use it for. I was expecting to get three years out of it, and here I am on year six!!

The only annoyance now is that the battery is on its last legs and it has to spend a bit too much of the time connected to power.

I've been looking at the Neo. It's mainly suitable but not quite, really. And are my future computing needs going to be met by a machine that's largely on a par with what I've already got?

I've also looked at the M5 Air. It looks fantastic but, even with trade-in, I don't think I can really afford one. The raised M5 minimum spec makes an M4 Air unattractive to me.

My thinking at the moment is to either carry on as I am for another year, or to book a battery replacement. I don't have AppleCare so that would be £159. But I might not bother with that. It feels like it might be a waste of money, that would be better spent on a new machine. And what if OS support for the M1 Air suddenly ends after Mac OS 27?

So maybe stay as I am with a dying battery, and then look at a Neo 2 or an M6 Air next year.

Having said all that, watch me give into temptation and get an M5 Air this Black Friday! Or sooner. 🤣

Aaaaaaaargh!!!!!!!

 

[Altis]

It's not really an upgrade is the thing.

Yeah I don't get it -- it's a downgrade in most respects and you'll pay for the privilege. I'm guessing some people just like to buy something new.

Second-hand M1 Airs are going for about half the price of the base Neo in my area, lots to choose from. For the same price as new (before sales tax), you can get an M3 Air with 16/512 configuration.

 

[Corefile]

My 15" M2 MBA is the size of screen I need and is 16/512 config so makes no sense.

 

[johnparjr]

If it came in a 15inch screen I would think about it

 

[baconcat_8964]

If I spend time configuring Neo on Apple.com, I would possibly browsing refurbished store and find some M4 Air deal.

 

[doogm]

No, but I did order an M5 MBA, will keep the M2 MBA as my spare/backup machine (since Apple can take days to weeks to do some repairs, I always keep my old laptop as a spare, which means I'll trade in my old Intel MBA.)

Since the price remained basically the same (in fact, the same config I ordered for the M2 costs less), I decided to upgrade this year rather than next year because of the spike in RAM pricing, which I think may affect Apple around this time next year.

The Neo looks great for what it is, but I really need at least 16 GB RAM for some of what I do.

 

[arcite]

It’s 2026. I’m not using a computer without a light up keyboard.

Also, the M2 still has better graphics.

 

[boswald]

It’s 2026. I’m not using a computer without a light up keyboard.

Also, the M2 still has better graphics.

This is such an underrated feature. My desktop machine has a keyboard without backlit keys and it drives me insane.

 

[mblm85]

My thinking at the moment is to either carry on as I am for another year, or to book a battery replacement.

So maybe stay as I am with a dying battery, and then look at a Neo 2 or an M6 Air next year.

Well I held out all of five days. Ordered a blue base M5 Air this evening.

Going to miss my trusty M1 Air!

Bread and water for me for the next few months!

 

[1BadManVan]

Have an m2 air right now and upgrading to the M5 air. Neo isn't for me, might get one for my mom for Christmas though, she's still rocking an iPad 9th gen as her only "computer"

 

[Technerd108]

Have an m2 air right now and upgrading to the M5 air. Neo isn't for me, might get one for my mom for Christmas though, she's still rocking an iPad 9th gen as her only "computer"

Hope you enjoy your new M5 MBA as a M2 MBA owner I have to live through you now. Lol. I am jealous.....not really but I am seriously happy for you.

I was honestly considering the Neo as I love the yellow color but lack of backlight keyboard is a huge problem for me. The 8gb ram limit is bad. I don't actually mind a series chip but I would have preferred the a19 and at least 12gb ram. Then add insult to injury all the other compromises Apple made to the Neo. Obviously anyone who has or recently had a MBA they may not like the Neo. However a kid or young teen or older person might find the Neo perfect.

I appreciate Apple making an attempt at a lower price point. I personally would have done things differently but it is a great starting point but I wouldn't buy one. When they go on sale, when there is a second Gen and the price of this Neo drops around $350 or so maybe $399 then it would be a great alternative to a Chromebook. They really need a backlight on the keyboard next time around and more ram but if the next Gen has a few better specs like current a series chip and more ram and a backlit keyboard and a $499 starting price and I would be in.

Otherwise I will keep my M2 for another couple years and by then the Neo might be a viable option or I will just upgrade to a gen behind MBA when the time comes. I personally feel like Apple has made the best value in the air line and I have been very happy there with my Mac and iPad.

A Neo with the base iPad,and iPhone e, is a pretty perfect combination for kids. I wish it were available when my kid was younger. In my personal opinion this is really marketed to kids or teens and for them I think it is really good. As a parent I could spend a reasonable amount of money for all devices instead of one gaming laptop for example. Also this would also be great for seniors.

Seniors and kids will benefit from these products like the Neo.

 

[startergo]

You mean downgrading, right?

 

[Mainsail]

I have a base M2 MBA, and I really can't see paying to trade-in for a NEO. My M2 is still very smooth, and it has features that I would miss on the NEO, like: bigger/better screen, better audio, MagSafe, TouchID, Haptic Keyboard, longer battery life, and most of all......backlit Keyboard.

The day will come when I have to buy a new laptop, and I will evaluate the pros and cons at that time. I am guessing that Apple will slowly add features to the NEO, so the trade-offs will likely change.

 

[yyc_engineer]

I'm genuinely thinking of "downgrading from my 13" M2 Air to a base Neo. The Air almost feels "too premium" and I like the smaller keyboard and overall footprint of the Neo as well as the white keyboard on the silver model - it's a throwback to my first White polycarbonate Mac in 2006.

The only thing I'm concerned about is the speakers and lack of True Tone.

 

[1BadManVan]

Hope you enjoy your new M5 MBA as a M2 MBA owner I have to live through you now. Lol. I am jealous.....not really but I am seriously happy for you.

I was honestly considering the Neo as I love the yellow color but lack of backlight keyboard is a huge problem for me. The 8gb ram limit is bad. I don't actually mind a series chip but I would have preferred the a19 and at least 12gb ram. Then add insult to injury all the other compromises Apple made to the Neo. Obviously anyone who has or recently had a MBA they may not like the Neo. However a kid or young teen or older person might find the Neo perfect.

I appreciate Apple making an attempt at a lower price point. I personally would have done things differently but it is a great starting point but I wouldn't buy one. When they go on sale, when there is a second Gen and the price of this Neo drops around $350 or so maybe $399 then it would be a great alternative to a Chromebook. They really need a backlight on the keyboard next time around and more ram but if the next Gen has a few better specs like current a series chip and more ram and a backlit keyboard and a $499 starting price and I would be in.

Otherwise I will keep my M2 for another couple years and by then the Neo might be a viable option or I will just upgrade to a gen behind MBA when the time comes. I personally feel like Apple has made the best value in the air line and I have been very happy there with my Mac and iPad.

A Neo with the base iPad,and iPhone e, is a pretty perfect combination for kids. I wish it were available when my kid was younger. In my personal opinion this is really marketed to kids or teens and for them I think it is really good. As a parent I could spend a reasonable amount of money for all devices instead of one gaming laptop for example. Also this would also be great for seniors.

Seniors and kids will benefit from these products like the Neo.

I was going to hold onto my m2 for another year or two as it’s still a great machine. But I got a ton of amazon gift cards I’ve been collecting the last couple years from family and friends. So I can throw down $1k for an Apple gift card and then selling my m2 air will cover the rest.

I feel like if you’re on an m2 or older and have the ability to upgrade, it may be a good time for it. Apple can only hold off for so long before having to increase prices due to these massive price inflations on memory and storage. So atleast moving up to an m5 air, it gives me a few extra years to ride out this insanity without feeling the performance pinch as future macOS come in.

I would consider a Neo for my teen daughters for school but they both already have some nice capable windows laptops that should hopefully last them through highschool.

My oldest son managed though high school with an Hp Aero 13 with only 8gb of ram. It’s surprisingly still kicking, but definitely showing its age now, he graduates this summer though so I call it a win