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Why I Returned the MacBook Neo

Pbwallstreet said:
Got my Neo today. Put it through some paces, and just got back from the Apple Store to return it.

Why I returned it:
  • The screen size is just a little bit too small for my liking. The 13.6” MBA size is a better size for me. I could sort of live with this, if it wasn’t for:
  • The screen quality is just not good enough for me. Two main issues with it: the viewing angles are noticeably worse than a MBA and MBP screen and the clarity and crispness of the text and graphics is noticeably not as good as a MBA or MBP. Everything looks slightly blurred on screen in comparison to Apple’s Pro devices and even compared to the MBA.
The Neo’s screen made me feel like I was stepping back in time. I can’t go to a screen like that when I use devices like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the iPad Pro M5, the MacBook Pro M series, and a M3 MacBook Air.

I did side by side comparisons with the same content as well just to make sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me.

Overall really nice device though. Great build quality, nice keyboard and trackpad, decent sounding audio, ran apps well, etc.
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I am returning mine for the same reason (bad angles and fuzziness). I spend all day on my iMac and the screen on the Neo drives me crazy in comparison. I thought at first maybe I had just received one with a less than perfect display but its just the quality of the screen itself. I'm retired and have glasses with bifocals. I don't know if that is also a factor. Otherwise I think the laptop is great-a real achievement for the price range.
 
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Indigovalley said:
I am returning mine for the same reason (bad angles and fuzziness). I spend all day on my iMac and the screen on the Neo drives me crazy in comparison. I thought at first maybe I had just received one with a less than perfect display. I should note that I haven't tried other screen resolutions yet so may give that a try. I'm retired and have glasses with bifocals. I don't know if that is also a factor. Otherwise I think the laptop is great-a real achievement for the price range. I like everything about it otherwise. I was looking for an inexpensive laptop to carry back and forth to meetings for a historical association for which I volunteer which is why I purchased. In my case I can just upgrade to a 13 inch Macbook Air.
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Apple_Robert said:
I can understand returning a product where you aren't an experienced user and didn't know the specs ahead of time, not to mention didn't already have computers whereby you could cogently see where the Neo would fall. In my opinion. you don't fall into that category. You got caught up in the hype which can happen to some. And instead of taking a step back and getting some clarity, you dove head first into the hype.

I have also never really understood why so many here feel compelled to constantly tell strangers they returned an item to the store. People don't normally do that kind of thing but, it seems on MR it always has to be a a bigger fanfare than needed.
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I think the original poster provided some useful information. Personally, I didn’t expect the Neo would have poorer viewing angles. I’ll have to see that for myself.

icymountain said:
In another thread, someone posted the default resolution is scaled. Did you try to set it to true retina ?
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I guess you didn’t realize the default resolution of the MacBook Air is also scaled. However, just about nobody complains about text fuzziness on the Air.
 
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Pbwallstreet said:
  • The screen quality is just not good enough for me. Two main issues with it: the viewing angles are noticeably worse than a MBA and MBP screen and the clarity and crispness of the text and graphics is noticeably not as good as a MBA or MBP. Everything looks slightly blurred on screen in comparison to Apple’s Pro devices and even compared to the MBA.
The Neo’s screen made me feel like I was stepping back in time. I can’t go to a screen like that when I use devices like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the iPad Pro M5, the MacBook Pro M series, and a M3 MacBook Air.

I did side by side comparisons with the same content as well just to make sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me.
Click to expand...


I completely disagree. I see absolutely nothing wrong with the viewing angles, it's top notch. Text and graphics look crisp to me. The only noticeable difference compared to other MacBooks, is the color profile.
 
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LIVEFRMNYC said:
I completely disagree. I see absolutely nothing wrong with the viewing angles, it's top notch. Text and graphics look crisp to me. The only noticeable difference compared to other MacBooks, is the color profile.
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Your experience is not mine. To everyone who continues to repeat the same thing “you should have read the specs”… this post above is exactly why reading specs doesn’t equal experiencing something yourself in person.

Some of us have more discerning eyes. We’re more sensitive and can see pixelation and slower screen refreshes compared to other people.

The viewing angles are 100% noticeably poor for my eyes compared to a MBA and a MBP. The text and graphics are slightly blurred comparatively as well.

I put the MBP and the MBA next to it, same screen angles, same webpages like Apple’s homepage, ny times articles, etc. I zoomed in and out, used Reader, etc. I tested this extensively and I concluded the screen is not good enough for me. The colours are also slightly washed out too but I could live with that.
 
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Indigovalley said:
I am returning mine for the same reason (bad angles and fuzziness). I spend all day on my iMac and the screen on the Neo drives me crazy in comparison. I thought at first maybe I had just received one with a less than perfect display but its just the quality of the screen itself. I'm retired and have glasses with bifocals. I don't know if that is also a factor. Otherwise I think the laptop is great-a real achievement for the price range.
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Bang. Same experience as me.
 
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Often, under the glare of retail lighting, using apps you don't typically use, and not being able to do a side-by-side comparison with another model you're interested in means the best way to test the screen of a laptop is to take it home.

As for the scaling ... I ran my old 2020 Intel MBA at its full resolution, and I run my 2024 14" M4 Pro also at its "more space" (1800x1169) resolution. I like being able to get as much on the display as possible (and use reading glasses, which are much cheaper than buying the 16" 😁).
 
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Pbwallstreet said:
Your experience is not mine. To everyone who continues to repeat the same thing “you should have read the specs”… this post above is exactly why reading specs doesn’t equal experiencing something yourself in person.

Some of us have more discerning eyes. We’re more sensitive and can see pixelation and slower screen refreshes compared to other people.

The viewing angles are 100% noticeably poor for my eyes compared to a MBA and a MBP. The text and graphics are slightly blurred comparatively as well.

I put the MBP and the MBA next to it, same screen angles, same webpages like Apple’s homepage, ny times articles, etc. I zoomed in and out, used Reader, etc. I tested this extensively and I concluded the screen is not good enough for me. The colours are also slightly washed out too but I could live with that.
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I'm sorry, but it's just hard to believe you on this when it comes to angle viewing. I've also put mine to the test. There's literally zero color shifting, zero color washout, and zero pixelation. The only thing that shows from different angles is natural reflections. And I have damn good eyesight.
 
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LIVEFRMNYC said:
I'm sorry, but it's just hard to believe you on this when it comes to angle viewing. I've also put mine to the test. There's literally zero color shifting, zero color washout, and zero pixelation. The only thing that shows from different angles is natural reflections. And I have damn good eyesight.
Click to expand...
I’n sorry, but it’s just hard to believe you on this when it comes to angle viewing. I put mine to the test. There’s literally significant colour shifting and the colours are washed out. I see slight pixelation. I have damn good eyesight.
 
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LIVEFRMNYC said:
I'm sorry, but it's just hard to believe you on this when it comes to angle viewing. I've also put mine to the test. There's literally zero color shifting, zero color washout, and zero pixelation. The only thing that shows from different angles is natural reflections. And I have damn good eyesight.
Click to expand...

Fully disagree with this.
@Pbwallstreet experiences match my own with the Neo at the Apple Store yesterday.
 
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Yeah, I am struggling too with the size. I have not pulled the trigger, I almost did this morning on the NEO. I have a very old MacBook Pro at home that I barely use anymore because for what I want to do at home, my 17 Pro Max is more convenient than the fans-a-blazing old MBP. I also sit on a Windows Dell Laptop machine all day where I do most of my personal computing at work. So the NEO, Air or new MBP would really be a new toy, which is why I have not bought one, BUT the price point of the NEO is like, WTF, why not, even though it is chump change, I feel like I will still be grabbing my phone before it.

Good review. I compared the NEO screen size and the Air, and if I make a move, I will choose the Air. $699 vs. $1,099

Signed,

Bored and need a new Apple toy
 
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EugW said:
I think the original poster provided some useful information. Personally, I didn’t expect the Neo would have poorer viewing angles. I’ll have to see that for myself.
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I liked it too. I wasn’t expecting that. Wondering if the screen is a real IPS screen or one of that WVA panels sold as IPS Level in PC industry.
 
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EugW said:
I think the original poster provided some useful information. Personally, I didn’t expect the Neo would have poorer viewing angles. I’ll have to see that for myself.


I guess you didn’t realize the default resolution of the MacBook Air is also scaled. However, just about nobody complains about text fuzziness on the Air.
Click to expand...

I won't speak for others, but I notice it and don't care for it and always switch it, even at the Apple Store when plying around with it.

My eyes very much appreciate things being a touch larger and the increased clarity and sharpness of 2x Retina.
 
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Zazoh said:
None issue for most, as they will be typing and viewing the device dead on. I can also hold mine at near arms length to my side and still read the screen, so not sure what viewing angle issue is.
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It's the sort of thing that crops up in different contexts standing when using it or having someone from the side viewing what you are trying to show them, etc.

I don't think anyone is saying it's a deal breaker, especially for the price point, but it's a noticeable downgrade for those with better Macs (all of them basically)
 
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