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MacBook Air M4 or MacBook Neo

M

m1maverick

macrumors 68000
Original poster
What are your thoughts on the M4 Air versus the new Neo? I have purchased the latter but have found an open box M4 Air for $150 more than the Neo. I love the Neo but the Air looks to be a better value.

What are people's thoughts?
 
m1maverick said:
What are your thoughts on the M4 Air versus the new Neo? I have purchased the latter but have found an open box M4 Air for $150 more than the Neo. I love the Neo but the Air looks to be a better value.

What are people's thoughts?
Click to expand...

They're the same generation cores (based on A18 platform) and teh Air has more of them, better trackpad, keyboard, speakers, etc.

if you can afford the air, its better in a lot of ways, if you can get an M4 Air in as new condition for $150 more, do so.

But if you already have a neo... well, you'd need to get rid of it and probably take a hit as it is now used.
 
throAU said:
They're the same generation cores (based on A18 platform) and teh Air has more of them, better trackpad, keyboard, speakers, etc.

if you can afford the air, its better in a lot of ways, if you can get an M4 Air in as new condition for $150 more, do so.

But if you already have a neo... well, you'd need to get rid of it and probably take a hit as it is now used.
Click to expand...
The Neo is within the 14 day return window so I'll receive the full refund.
 
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My take: Of you want a compact and lovely form factor, you don’t mind a mechanic trackpad, you don’t need a backlighted keyboard, and you don’t need too much performance, then the Neo is a great machine.

If you need a more powerful machine, plan to keep it many years down the line, and want a computer that will grow with you, adapting to new challenges and tasks that could potentially be demanding in terms of CPU or GPU, then get MacBook Air, it is a “safer bet” long term, but it lacks that lovely compact form factor and robustness…
 
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I KNOW I'm in the minority but I'm discouraged about the obsession people are having with this Neo biz... Please just get the Air... 16gb and at least 512gb. Pay the extra money...
 
dizmonk said:
I KNOW I'm in the minority but I'm discouraged about the obsession people are having with this Neo biz... Please just get the Air... 16gb and at least 512gb. Pay the extra money...
Click to expand...
I have no choice in the configuration as it's an open box item so I have to take what is available (which is the base M4 with the 256GB SSD). I'd prefer a 512GB SSD but it's not a necessity, especially given the price.
 
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Glad to hear, that's definitely the better choice for $150 difference. the Neo makes sense for basic users when the price difference is $500, but $150, its a no brainer to get the air. Even if you don't notice some differences right away, it will last longer if you plan to keep it longer term, just double the ram alone makes it worth it
 
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Populus said:
My take: Of you want a compact and lovely form factor, you don’t mind a mechanic trackpad, you don’t need a backlighted keyboard, and you don’t need too much performance, then the Neo is a great machine.

If you need a more powerful machine, plan to keep it many years down the line, and want a computer that will grow with you, adapting to new challenges and tasks that could potentially be demanding in terms of CPU or GPU, then get MacBook Air, it is a “safer bet” long term, but it lacks that lovely compact form factor and robustness…
Click to expand...

At RRP for both, the neo makes sense, but at the prices being discussed here, that's a lot to give up for $150:

  • 5 GPU cores
  • 2P cores and 2 E cores
  • 8 GB RAM
  • haptic trackpad
  • better SSD / more capacity (I think the Air starts at 512?)
  • backlit keyboard
  • more battery capacity / better battery life
  • better display
Sure, if you don't need all that and are on a very limited budget, $150 may break the bank, but if you aren't that tight for money those things are 100% worth $150 more. Not for an M1 Air... but certainly for an M4 Air!
 
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throAU said:
At RRP for both, the neo makes sense, but at the prices being discussed here, that's a lot to give up for $150:

  • 5 GPU cores
  • 2P cores and 2 E cores
  • 8 GB RAM
  • haptic trackpad
  • better SSD / more capacity (I think the Air starts at 512?)
  • backlit keyboard
  • more battery capacity / better battery life
  • better display
Sure, if you don't need all that and are on a very limited budget, $150 may break the bank, but if you aren't that tight for money those things are 100% worth $150 more. Not for an M1 Air... but certainly for an M4 Air!
Click to expand...
Definitely. If they just made a smaller 12” MBA… it would be a godsend.
 
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throAU said:
At RRP for both, the neo makes sense, but at the prices being discussed here, that's a lot to give up for $150:

  • 5 GPU cores
  • 2P cores and 2 E cores
  • 8 GB RAM
  • haptic trackpad
  • better SSD / more capacity (I think the Air starts at 512?)
  • backlit keyboard
  • more battery capacity / better battery life
  • better display
Sure, if you don't need all that and are on a very limited budget, $150 may break the bank, but if you aren't that tight for money those things are 100% worth $150 more. Not for an M1 Air... but certainly for an M4 Air!
Click to expand...
The M5 Air starts at 512 GB, the M4 started at 256 GB. The M5 Airs SSD is almost twice as fast at the M4 Airs. Speculation is the M5 Airs 512 GB uses 2 x 256 GB modules, similar to the performance decrease observed with the 256 GB configuration in one of the previous Air models where Apple went from 2 x 128 GB modules to 1 x 256 GB.
 
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m1maverick said:
The M5 Air starts at 512 GB, the M4 started at 256 GB. The M5 Airs SSD is almost twice as fast at the M4 Airs. Speculation is the M5 Airs 512 GB uses 2 x 256 GB modules, similar to the performance decrease observed with the 256 GB configuration in one of the previous Air models where Apple went from 2 x 128 GB modules to 1 x 256 GB.
Click to expand...
It’s not the amount of ssd chips used effecting the speed this time. They changed over to dual 2 x 128gb config back in m3 after the push back for cheaping out on the base m2

It’s these are pcie gen 4 nands they finally moved to. The new pros and max chips run Gen 5 drives
 
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unblocktheplane said:
MagSafe is the deal-breaker for me. No MagSafe, no deal.
Click to expand...

I used to think that way, but you know what? I've got MagSafe on my last two MacBooks pros (actually, all 4 MacBooks pros I've owned, only the air didn't) and these days the cable stays in my bag.

You know why?

Because every other device I use, uses type-C. I've already got a type C cable plugged into the MacBook charger to charge everything else.

I can use the same cable for my MacBook, phone, iPad, battery bank, car starter pack, etc.

I haven't even uncoiled the nice black MagSafe cable for my M4 Max (in like 18 months) - because whenever I use it at a desk it is plugged into a dock or monitor which powers it.

Battery life on modern machines is good enough that you're not using them on your lap with a power cable hanging out of them generally.

So yeah.. MagSafe is a neat idea. I love it. But the fact that it isn't compatible with everything else and doesn't do data (thunderbolt or DisplayPort) means that finally.... after more than a decade I have one cable/charger for all the things. Except my watches.

So given that, MagSafe on a machine like the neo..... total waste of time in reality; you're going to lose maybe 0.01% of potential customers.
 
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unblocktheplane said:
MagSafe is the deal-breaker for me. No MagSafe, no deal.
Click to expand...
I agree.

I'd prefer it if they skipped the USB-2 port, and replaced that with MagSafe.

With MagSafe for charging, one USB-3 port would've been plenty for "everything else" (for a machine like the Neo, which isn't ment for those with 3 screens and various accessories connected at all time).
 
snipr125 said:
For $150 more id say its worth it for the quality of life improvements (screen, faster charging, magsafe, faster ports, thinner etc), let alone the significant performance upgrades. But if you keep the Neo its still a very good computer.
Click to expand...
Would also add that the M4 Air will have a longer service life due to the stronger processor and increased RAM.
 
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throAU said:
I used to think that way, but you know what? I've got MagSafe on my last two MacBooks pros (actually, all 4 MacBooks pros I've owned, only the air didn't) and these days the cable stays in my bag.
Click to expand...
Surprised myself when I realized the same thing. As cool as MagSafe is, plugging in a USB-C cable in a given charger means I can use it for many other devices.

I still keep one around on my work desk, where I plug/unplug the Air many times a day and there are already other cables present for my phone and whatnot.
 
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