raythompsontn
macrumors 65816
So many jokes, I will exercise restraint. I suspect you meant MBN. 😂
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Things that need fixing on the MacBook Neo
- Thread starter flowderf
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raythompsontn
macrumors 65816
What I would like is a lighted keyboard. Everything else is fine for a travel laptop.
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4sallypat
macrumors 603
I don't even miss it coming from my 12" rMB.
I type by feel - not looking at the keys.
4sallypat
macrumors 603
Again, you need to hang out in the MBA forum.
Not here - the 2026 Neo is what it is.
If it doesn't fit your bill, then go look somewhere else, please.
• I argue that buying a new computer is only about buying for the future, because that is when one will be using it. But I strongly dislike the term "future proofing."
• I also argue that knowing how much RAM one will need for the future (the only time one will be using a new computer) is indeed challenging for those with more than simple needs. Because RAM demands increase every year, but differently for every user. Or a new tech feature (e.g. AI) may pop up in 2 years that likes extra RAM to work at its best. And, different users also want different life cycles. Some here like 2-3 years, others 10 plus. Personally I shoot for 5-7 years.
Those folks planning to perform only trivial computing tasks like Office and web can usually just buy base machines and do fine for 5-7 years or even longer. IMO the extra $400 a buyer spends for an MBA over an MBN provides great value - - if one has the $400 to spend.
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Obviously you should be buying an MBA or a MBP. MBN is the lowest end.
The best upgrade for the Neo is the MacBook Air. For me the Neo is fine and works within the cost constraints extremely well.
If I want more memory, back lit keyboard, longer battery life, faster ports, wider color gamut on the display, better multitasking performance, then I would buy an Air or, more probably, the base 14" Pro. For me the next leap from the Neo is not the Air (since it has too many compromise for me) it would be the 14" MBPro. Big leap in cost, but significant improvements in those areas that are considered to be Neo issues. "You pays your money and takes your choice".
If I want more memory, back lit keyboard, longer battery life, faster ports, wider color gamut on the display, better multitasking performance, then I would buy an Air or, more probably, the base 14" Pro. For me the next leap from the Neo is not the Air (since it has too many compromise for me) it would be the 14" MBPro. Big leap in cost, but significant improvements in those areas that are considered to be Neo issues. "You pays your money and takes your choice".
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Jumpthesnark
macrumors 68000
The Air is a wonderful device, you should get one of those. Apple isn't going to turn the Neo into an Air or a Pro.
TGM85
macrumors 6502
Yes, this feels like people complaining that their new ‘car’ can’t seat their wife, two kids and a dog, when they’ve gone and bought a motor scooter.
The neo is a fine piece of hardware for school, the humanities in college and casual mac users. Complaining that it doesn’t play very well with multiple Studio Displays feels odd.
jido
macrumors 6502
The FaceTime issue was mentioned in one of the Neo reviews. They mentioned a fix but I cannot find it again. Try disabling backgrounds?
I don’t find QHD resolution that blurry on my 4K monitor, as long as I don’t look too close and depending on the application. I should try BetterDisplay though as that is not completely satisfactory.
I don’t find QHD resolution that blurry on my 4K monitor, as long as I don’t look too close and depending on the application. I should try BetterDisplay though as that is not completely satisfactory.
Again, I will express my opinions on what I want, where I want… and you have every right not to respond to my posts.
It's strange that some people think that extra memory will turn the Neo into MBA or MBP. 🤷♂️
Andeddu
macrumors 68020
The MBN is at the price point it is because of its so-called limitations.
As you know, Apple are unable to provide RAM options due to the SoC on this device. It supports 8Gb RAM, no more, no less.
I’d love MagSafe as well which is the only realistic request you’ve mentioned, but it’s clear the MBN was built not to exceed a certain manufacturing cost.
Think of it as the iPhone ‘e’ variant of the MacBook world.
It’s an entertainment device for me and I haven’t observed any limitations yet. I play AAA games, web-browse and video stream. Anyone who is a hardcore gamer, photo/video editor will be aware that the MPN is not for them. It’s not designed as a high-end productivity device.
I'm aware of the A18 Pro chip's limit on max RAM, that's why I said I hope that in the next version with a newer chip, they will also add more RAM.
But for whatever reason some people get offended by it… 🤷♂️
Andeddu
macrumors 68020
The Neo is a great device but it would’ve been unrealistic for it to have the latest A19 Pro in it. I don’t see why they wouldn’t use that chipset in later iterations though.
Zazoh
macrumors 68000
I am triggered by this as well. I think because it is typically tied to the thinking that I NEED max everything and I’ll be fine in the future. Doesn’t work that way. I think of the folks that bought the 2019 intel Pro. The next year Apple released the M series and drove a nail in the future of folks that spent $10k on a machine that was out benchmarked by an entry level laptop the next year.
Basic75
macrumors 68030
We already know that the A19 Pro comes packaged with 12GB of RAM. If the Neo gets refreshed next year that's what it will probably get.
I7guy
macrumors Westmere
What people seem to be saying is the 8gb isn’t the bottleneck that some believe (based on use case of course). If Jen needs more oomph or memory than buy the air or pro. There are obviously a number of differences between the neo and air.
I do not think anyone is suggesting adding memory will turn the neo into the air. There are many limitations that must be overcome.
Neither the first gen Studio Display nor the new one claim to support the Macbook Neo in the first place so issues would be expected. Not being able to drive the display panel at its native resolution makes some digital interpolation a necessity and just like digitally zooming into photos this is never lossless and will reduce sharpness.
In any case, nothing needs fixing on the Neo, if we "fix" everything that people asked for in this thread we'd have a Macbook Air. That already exists for a little bit more than what the Neo costs. The Neo isn't for people who run professional equipment like the 5k Studio Display. Very different target audience and different price points.
A maxed out current Mac Studio cannot even match the graphics performance of a high-end Radeon graphics card from those days that you could slot into the Mac Pro. I'd say folks who spent 10 grand on that machine got what they paid for, the amount of storage and memory you can slot in is far beyond what any Mac Studio is able to handle.
In any case, nothing needs fixing on the Neo, if we "fix" everything that people asked for in this thread we'd have a Macbook Air. That already exists for a little bit more than what the Neo costs. The Neo isn't for people who run professional equipment like the 5k Studio Display. Very different target audience and different price points.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
If it could push 4k/120 on an external (in clamshell mode, as the only display) I'd already have a Neo right now.
Hopefully the Neo 2 will be able to.
Hopefully the Neo 2 will be able to.
Agreed. You can add on it's a great light laptop for those who have either a desktop or a usually docked MacBook Pro. As reported, it's basically the same as an M1 MacBook Air which is what I'm typing on right now. This has been connected to an external display exactly once just to see if it worked.
None of this is getting "fixed" because none of it is "broken". These are compromises by design to hit a price point. It's just like they're not going to "fix" the bottom basic airline ticket by allowing you to pick your seat.
But you don't need to wait, the Macbook Airs can already do 4k@144Hz for years. Why wouldn't you purchase an all around better Air on sale in the next few months instead of waiting a full year for a Neo 2 that might not even support 4k@144Hz? The M4 Air had incredible sales the past few months, it's not much more expensive over the Neo.