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Why I Returned the MacBook Neo
- Thread starter Pbwallstreet
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one more
macrumors 603
Why did you buy it in the first place if you already have MBA and MBP? It’s like having an iPhone Air or iPhone Pro, getting the 17e and then returning it, as it is not good enough. 🤷🏻♂️
This is what terminally online looks like. He thought the device was fine, other than the screen. It's not that deep.
maerz001
macrumors 68030
Since the display quality issues what op mentioned was nowhere described before, your example doesn’t help.
maerz001
macrumors 68030
Read what he wrote. He has a 15“ and wanted to go smaller
Shocked to see both computers have equal performance. Much better thermals on the Neo wowl
That isn’t what I took away from this video, the very opposite in fact. Summary statement “M5 Air 2-3 times better performance”. Yes the M5 MBA runs hotter than the Neo which is hardly surprising with a much more powerful chip in nearly the same size fanless casing.
Abazigal
Contributor
I feel like a lot of this could have been avoided simply by going down to an Apple Store and playing around with the Neo for a few minutes. But hey, Apple's 14-day return policy exists for a reason, and they obviously operate at a large enough scale to absorb the costs of supporting this.
Sorry, but I do get his/her point: why buy a Neo if you have an M3 MBA and a MBP? A third laptop, why? Two I get: one from work maybe, one personal. Or are these owned by spouses? Otherwise, it does sound like buying something of which you know beforehand is not up to par with what you are used to: ie buying based on hype.
You could have tried it in an Apple Store (or within a few days, other stores) and see if the screen fits your needs.
acblue94
macrumors 6502a
What did you expect for a basic entry level laptop? For what purpose did you buy it for?
Given the (many) other devices that you use, my feeling is that you should never even have considered buying it. Sometimes this (and other US-dominated) forums are a bit off the ground. Many threads about first-world problems of people with too much cash in their hands.
Also, I'm super amazed by the return policy that you guys have in the US: no need for prior research, buy as many toys as you wish, and return those that you end up not liking. There is litterally no other part of the world where this is as easy as for you in the US. But this certainly encourages instances of compulsive buying such as the present one.
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one more
macrumors 603
I have just re-read it and 15” is not mentioned anywhere. 🤷🏻♂️ The OP said:
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
This is the actual story here.
Both the Neo and the MBA have mediocre screens.
The MBA, in particular, should have a far better screen in 2026.
It’s a very interesting point and maybe the most important. Arguably Apple had to cut corners. I don’t mind the lack of whatever P3 colors, but the sharpness and the anti-glare are non negotiable, especially if this Neo is aimed at students or low-budget or older people, because if one not notice, eye strain is bad for the sight.
You could say I don’t care, the difference is minor, but unless you have short screen sessions, your eyes will pay the price on long term. That’s why I hate Apple to have cut on the reflective base iPad, aimed mostly at young people, even children, it kills their eyes without even them knowing. I hope the Neo coating is more efficient, although it seems not on par with the MBA
tomtad
macrumors 68040
I think iPads a bad generally because you have the screen closer to your face compared to a laptop with sits away from you behind a trackpad and keyboard. It's no coincidence there are many more children with sight myopia. And I agree the non-laminated base iPad screen is horrendous.
Personally using the Neo I haven't noticed the screen to be inferior to my old Air (a 2018 Intel) and is far superior to my work provided Dell laptop
It boggles my mind why you could not determine it wasn't for you before you bought it!
If you read this thread, you would have an answer.
Why post in a thread with a question like this? You clearly have not read the thread because this question is addressed MULTIPLE TIMES.
It is addressed MULTIPLE TIMES in the thread.
It boggles my mind that people post repetitive things in a thread because they don’t read the thread.
G5isAlive
Contributor
I feel your pain. Can be frustrating. MacRumor Forums are not always the most supportive... these are the times when everyone a) feels the right to have an opinion, informed or not, on everything and b) feel compelled to share that opinion every chance they get, hence multiple people commenting on the same thing as if somehow there is a poll being taken or whatever. Heck there are folks who seem to have an apple axed to grind and whose goal seems to be to pick apart every posting with the same messgage (on macro?0 a) something negative about apple, b) bring it back to Tim Cook's 'greed', c) Steve Jobs would have done it differently, and d) more recently, its is all Tahoe's fault. And it doesn't matter what the post is, that is their message. over and over. and if you point that out, you are accused of trying to censor! lol.
but eh, its still a good place to learn some tidbits so what are you going you do?
Based on this thread I early on contemplated starting my own 'why I didn't buy the NEO' but I figured I would get a similar response, even though on the surface I did what some are advocating here. Your and my situations sound similar, similar apple devices, similar curiosity, similar concerns (specifically the screen), and similar interests in the NEO. Where our story forks is from the specs and pre-release discussions it sounds like my concern was even more than yours, because I decided to wait and see for myself. Release day I was at the Apple Store,and they had in stock the NEO I wanted, Indigo 512MB version. I fully intended to buy it if it might my needs as a travel computer, and I played with it for a good amount of time. Like you I was impressed with the build quality, the keyboard, and the overall operation. It's a real Mac lol. But like you, I ultimately decided the color space of the screen would not be enough for my needs (I am an avid photographer). The screen fit all my other needs, web browsing, email, size... but.. just not that one.. So I walked away to think of it. The conclusion I reached was I did want that size for a travel lap top, but the Air's screen would better suit my needs. So that's what I bought. Sky Blue.
No doubt some will take this as being anti neo. it's not. I like it and will recommend it. Someone will point out all the YouTubers that say it's great for beginning creators (including photographers), and they are right. I am just not beginning, I am near my ending 🙂 So I got the Air.
Anyway, you made the right decision for you. You shared it. Thanks.
Thinner isn't always better. I'll take a slightly thicker chassis that doesn't cause the laptop to throttle so much every time. Those Airs get really hot.
snipr125
macrumors 68030
So DeepSix, are you going to put your money where your mouth is and trade in your iPP M5 for the Neo then? Your iPP is literally the thinnest apple device ever made.
SpanishAppleNerd
macrumors 6502
This is absolutely not true. Maybe you are referring to Intel Airs. The cool running of Silicon Macs is perhaps their most well known characteristic.
I see you don't actually have an Air but maybe you have in the past. I have owned M1, M2 and currently M3 Air and they do not “get really hot”… even used at 100% CPU for extended time chess analysis.
Have a look at the Ars Technica review for a thorough analysis of what is happening in the Air and Neo.