The real test will be to see if suddenly PC makers put out <$600 notebooks with full aluminum cases and not the cheap plastic that dominates this price point.
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Typing this on a Neo - It's a winner!
- Thread starter turbineseaplane
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Paul1964
macrumors 6502
At that price you're usually looking at specs vs build quality. Apple's mobile chips have got so good you can have it both ways - up to a point. Apple have knocked the 'entry level' right out of the park. I'd be interested to see how it goes with the A19 Pro next year - assuming someone does that.
You could probably do something similar with the SnapDragon 8 Gen 4 and get almost comparable results. Except that Windows is still somewhat gimped on Arm right now so who knows...
Whether anyone does though remains to be seen. The SnapDragon X Plus and X Elite are supposed to compete with the M series processors but still have significant catching up to do.
Paul1964
macrumors 6502
JPack
macrumors P6
It's pretty much an impossible task for PC makers. This is because Apple SoC R&D is subsidized by iPhone sales. Intel isn't about to subsidize PC sales through Xeon sales.
PC makers would have to put in a $150 Intel Ultra 5 235U just to barely match A18 Pro performance. That leaves very little for RAM (costs >$100), SSD (costs >$100), which means they have to cut costs on display, chassis, mechanical, warranty, etc.
Windows ARM is “good enough” for budget buyers though. Most people buying $600 computers aren’t expecting to run AAA games on them. Qualcomm chips would be cheaper than Intel chips. The 2010 MacBook Air basically redefined the notebook computer. Even today most mainstream notebooks follow that form factor. If the new expectation for a budget PC is an aluminum case and a decent screen and trackpad, the Neo can be a similar class-defining device.
EugW
macrumors P6
The lack of Touch ID doesn't bother me at all, but I'm biased as I have an Apple Watch. Also, it's probably preferred for institutional sales.
Then again, I like Touch ID on my wife's MacBook Air because I set one of the fingers as mine so I can unlock hers without having to type in her password.
However, if I were to get a Neo for my kid, it would definitely have Touch ID. Not for Touch ID but because I won't get the 256 GB model. But I will wait until the A19 Pro Neo comes out with 12 GB RAM (or else just buy a MacBook Air). The iPhone 512 GB A19 Pro storage is also faster than the iPhone 256 GB A19 Pro storage, so that speed increase should get reflected in the A19 Pro Neo as well.
The MacBook Airs also use a non-integer scaled resolution by default and IMO they look fine. Furthermore, just about nobody ever complains about it. They've been doing this for about a decade now too IIRC, so it's definitely not even close to being a new thing. The pixel density on the MBA is a touch higher though.
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Arran
macrumors 603
I was thinking about this earlier (I used to work in computer manufacturing). Ramping up a line for a new product is a big deal. Ramping it down at EOL is also big deal.
Apple aligning production such that brand-new chips go into this year's iphone but then roll over into next year's volume laptop is a masterstroke. It doubles the life and halves the overhead.
If Cook wants to retire on a high note, this is it!
Well played.
redfirebird08
macrumors 6502
I think it’s a really good starting point for the first generation of Neo MacBooks. As the iPhone chips get better and more advanced, the Neo MacBook will benefit in future years. More RAM, USB3 or USB4 on all ports, faster performance, etc.
I took my 2015 13" MacBook Pro to the Apple Store and spent twenty minutes comparing it to the Neo, here are my thoughts:
- The trackpad has much more travel than I'm used to
- The keyboard has less travel than I'm used to, and also not as much pushback on the keys
- Blush is sadly just pink-tinged silver, I was hoping for a saturation closer to Citrus' yellow/green
- Citrus looks the best to me, that's what I'll choose if I buy one other than silver
- The softly rounded edges of the outer case, especially on the lid, feel really nice, they're much less sharp than the current MacBook Air's
I totally agree with you here.
I understand this is what they had to do to get the cost where it is, but it’s a pretty big downgrade if you’re coming from any apple kit of the last decade plus.
EugW
macrumors P6
I'm still surprised the mechanical trackpad is (presumably) cheaper than the haptic one.
4sallypat
macrumors 603
Citrus was a bit too bright and flashy for my wife and I.
Citrus had a neon tinge to the yellow/green finish making it look like antifreeze.
Indigo was both of our choice colors.
So the Citrus is going back.
Otherwise, coming from 12" rMB and 11.6" MBA - Neo was a hit - way superior than what we used for travel laptops over the past 10 years.
Nice job Apple !
Anyone seeing photos of the 12" Macbook above, please do not be fooled. The Neo is nowhere close to as thin, light and svelte. Not even in the same neighborhood.
It's amazing how much the wedge with taper down to 0.14 (on 2015+ rMB) does. Then when you combine that with smaller footprint and dramatically less weight (nearly 3/4 of a LB) ... the 12" rMB remains in a class of its own.
the 12"
It's amazing how much the wedge with taper down to 0.14 (on 2015+ rMB) does. Then when you combine that with smaller footprint and dramatically less weight (nearly 3/4 of a LB) ... the 12" rMB remains in a class of its own.
the 12"
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EugW
macrumors P6
I'm going to bring my 2017 12" MacBook to the Apple Store one of these days just for comparison. It's still my primary MacBook... because I never use a MacBook. My primary "laptop" these days is an iPad Pro.
I find the 2.7 lb weight of the M4 MacBook Air quite awkward in comparison to the 2 lb 12" MacBook.
4sallypat
macrumors 603
Yes, I am aware the Neo does NOT have the 12" rMB shape nor thin design.
It's very close in footprint size which is what I wanted for use on aircraft tray tables.
Neo has a way more durable chassis that can take abuse more than the fragile 12" rMB design.
My 12" rMB placed over the 13" Neo:
Apple_Robert
Contributor
One thing to note…the Neo can be opened with one finger and stays still doing so, versus the 12” and some other Macs. Granted, it is a subtle nuance but, one that i will appreciate.
4sallypat
macrumors 603
Oh yes, good point.
All these years opening up the 12" rMB with 2 hands - I forgot.
Here's a side view of the 12" rMB on top of the Neo:
Paul1964
macrumors 6502
The side view really gets across the size difference. It's more about thickness than footprint.
EugW
macrumors P6
4sallypat
macrumors 603
Well yes but for a travel laptop that has the same footprint as my 10 year old 12" rMB - it's the feature I wanted to fit tray tables and the best I can do for the low price and not have to worry about more expensive devices for overseas travel.
Until Apple comes out with a thinner device, the Neo will be the new replacement for my travels.
BTW, I have iPhone Air so that weight savings can go against the Neo weight 😭
Non-Euclidean
macrumors 6502a
That appears to be the most important issue. Apple appears to be botching the experience by defaulting to the wrong resolution.
I agree -- I'm really wondering if folks not happy with the screen tried out perfect 2x retina mode.
Admittedly that reduces usable screen space in the UI, but that's all an Apple issue for not putting in a panel with more pixels (on all the Macbooks, this has been a sneaky cost savings on their part). Tahoe is not helping by making corners more rounded and adding more and more padding all over the UI. Things keep feeling more cramped just from that change alone. 😔
All the Macbooks look a lot better running at perfect 2x retina.