Interesting reading all the comments about 8GB being insufficient. I stumbled across some Neo videos while scrolling through Instagram, results are impressive. I think 8GB is enough for it's intended use now and well into the future.
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Neo - 8GB memory seems adequate
- Thread starter GeorgeRussell
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JPack
macrumors P6
Kinda reminds me of how sure some people were Neo would come with 12GB or 16GB. Because anything less would be unusable.
Somehow, MBA survived with 8GB base for M1, M2, and M3. But Neo wouldn't survive with 8GB? My bet is Neo 2027 will stay with 8GB.
Somehow, MBA survived with 8GB base for M1, M2, and M3. But Neo wouldn't survive with 8GB? My bet is Neo 2027 will stay with 8GB.
I’m coming from a 2019 Intel MBP with 8GB RAM. It’s never been an issue and that’s with a tiny 128GB SSD, mostly full, so swap was limited.
News just in, device with the same amount of RAM that has been available in other devices for a long time performs as expected.
throAU
macrumors G4
Yeah, honestly to be expected, macOS and ipadOS are closer than some realise - the ipad pro has been able to do desktop style apps for some years now with far weaker processors and ram, going back to the original ipad pros.
4sallypat
macrumors 603
Yes, agree - 8GB is just fine for most people who are not power / pro users / influencers / editors / etc....
I love my 8GB M2 MBA - it's been perfect since day 1 - able to handle over 50 tabs opened, remote desktops, FCP, and SQL data transfers.
Just transferred everything from M2 MBA to Neo and it's amazing - the Neo is just snappier which is weird because of all that negative talk about 8GB not being enough and getting beach balls.
Nope - not a single hiccup, stall or beach ball in my real life use of the 8GB Neo.
Neo might have to replace my M2 MBA ? Not yet - I do love the 15" display....
I have long been a defender of 8GB being adequate, but note the the Ars Technica review and this post show memory pressure in the yellow quite a lot. The machine functions perfectly well being in yellow, and the majority of Neo users will never be aware of it, but as Apple says about yellow memory pressure:-
- Yellow memory pressure: Your computer might eventually need more RAM.
4sallypat
macrumors 603
I have been monitoring my Neo RAM usage with over 50 tabs open, FCP running, and SQL database management - all while using up around 6.5GB out of 8GB.
It goes from green to yellow.
Not worried as the SSD will swap with unified memory.
If it was that good, Apple would have continued to sell the MBA with 8GB RAM.
Apple_Robert
Contributor
I read the review and he admitted to using the Neo the same way he uses his M3 MBA with 24GB of RAM. He used the Neo in a manner that the intended audience won't (as a whole) and then made a cautionary warning about the Neo having 8GB of RAM. That kind of behavior and writing, along with him thinking that benchmark tests give a very good overview of actual user use told me that 1) he was essentially writing from the expectation of a non Neo user while at the same time, undermining the actual performance and intended use of the Neo. In other words, I found the article to be no better than the typical YT revenuer who continually creates videos pitting everything against the MBP. And in that light, the article and the videos don't really mean anything to me as a user.
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Why is everybody so sure there will be a 2027? If NEO is not an instant hit then there might not be a 2027. And every year is too much anyway. Maybe not for phones but for laptops it is.
Apple_Robert
Contributor
Why would a spec bump every year be too much? Spec bumps are really meant to encourage and entice new buyers to the Mac world, not Apple nerds on MR to get a new Mac every year.
Basic75
macrumors 68030
What do you mean, swapping and paging do not depend on unified memory in any way.
JPack
macrumors P6
Kuo, the guy who accurately predicted the exact Neo display size, processor, colors, and launch period, said so.
It's clear Apple is kicking the PC makers when they're down and fighting against unbearable AI DRAM/NAND prices.
JPack
macrumors P6
MBA got elevated to a pro-sumer level with 16GB.
Right now, the product stack is:
- Entry: iPad/MacBook 8GB
- Prosumer: iPad/MacBook Air 12GB or 16GB
- Pro: iPad/MacBook Pro: 16GB or 24GB
2027 will be 12gb ram. 2028 will be 16gb ram. 2029 will be 20gb ram. 2030 will be 24gh ram. There is no end to it then. But every year is a lot. 8gb will be good enough for couple years.
Ars Technica reviews are not written for the Neo target market. The vast majority of Neo users will not read Ars Technica and never look at memory pressure or experience problems. Ars Technical reviews are written for enthusiasts and there are plenty of them buying Neos, even though a small minority.
I suggest that the target readership of Ars Technica reviews are more interested in a thorough technical review which explores the machine's full capabilities, rather than just how it is for a typical target Neo user. I found the Ars review very balanced and informative, as usual.
Apple_Robert
Contributor
It was informative in many areas. I just didn't find it as balanced as I thought it should have been.
throAU
macrumors G4
The way this machine tears down so easily and the logic board is so easily remove leads me to believe Apple plan on maintaining it.
It’s very modular. Can strip it in about 6 minutes.
4sallypat
macrumors 603
This is important for my workplace!
We are buying 1000 Neo for staff/faculty thru EDU Sales.
Since our dept has certified Apple GSX techs, we can do the parts/module replacements in house saving a lot time sending in our current non repairable Macs thru our LTSA account via FedEx.
For those repairs we can not do, we will still send them in.