MacBook Neo: Apple's Cheap Laptop That Almost Beats the MacBook Pro
MacBook Neo is one of Apple's most surprising products this year. With a starting price of 599 US dollars (Rp. 10.5 million), Apple's latest laptop is not only the cheapest Mac today, but is also said to be powerful enough to make some MacBook Pro users think twice before buying a professional-class laptop.
In a recent review after two months of use, technology reviewer Oliver Haslam called the MacBook Neo "the Mac laptop for most people." In fact, he admitted that he had considered leaving his M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro in favor of switching to the much cheaper and lighter MacBook Neo.
The most interesting thing about the MacBook Neo is the use of the A18 Pro chip, a processor that actually comes from the iPhone line. Many parties initially doubted the chip's ability to run macOS optimally on laptops. In practice, however, the performance of the MacBook Neo turned out to be much better than expected.
Haslam said his worries disappeared in the first five minutes after opening the laptop. According to him, the A18 Pro chip is able to run various daily activities without any significant problems, ranging from opening many browser tabs, multitasking, to editing light images using Pixelmator Pro.
In benchmark testing, the A18 Pro's multi-core chip performance is said to be close to the first-generation M1 MacBook Air. Even for single-core performance, the chip is said to be faster than the M1. This makes the Neo MacBook feel much more powerful than the average cheap laptop.
In terms of design, the MacBook Neo carries a 13-inch screen with Apple's signature aluminum body. The premium material makes the laptop feel sturdy and expensive, unlike most cheap laptops that still use plastic.
The reviewer also praised the portable design of the MacBook Neo. With its small size and light weight, this laptop is considered very comfortable to carry when traveling. The "Blush" or light pink color is also said to be one of the unique attractions of the device.
Even so, Apple still makes a number of sacrifices to keep prices low. One of them is on connectivity. The MacBook Neo only has two USB-C ports, and only one supports USB 3 10Gbps speed. The other port is still limited to USB 2 speed.
There is no MagSafe like on modern MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Charging is also done using one of the USB-C ports. In addition, the laptop only has a 3.5 mm headphone jack as an additional connectivity.
In the screen sector, the MacBook Neo uses a Liquid Retina panel with a maximum brightness level of 500 nits. The screen is quite good for everyday use, but does not support the P3 color gamut and does not have True Tone features like the more expensive MacBook.
Apple also cut back on biometric security features. The Touch ID sensor is not available on the basic 256GB model. Users must purchase the more expensive 512GB SSD variant to get this feature.
The basic 256GB storage capacity is also one of the weaknesses of this laptop, especially for users who want to store games or large files. Reviewers say the built-in SSD feels a little slow when first installing a lot of applications.
The MacBook Neo is also considered not an ideal device for gaming. Although some games can still be run quite well, the combination of small SSD capacity and GPU limitations makes the gaming experience less optimal.
Other limitations arise when the laptop is connected to an external monitor. Based on Apple's official specifications, the MacBook Neo only supports one external screen up to 4K 60Hz resolution.
However, reviewers experienced problems when trying to connect a laptop to an ultrawide 5120 x 1440 monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate. As a result, the display only appears in 1080p resolution which looks stretched.
Although it is possible to overcome this using a special DisplayLink dock, this limitation is considered quite important for professional users who work with large monitors.
The battery life of the MacBook Neo is also considered quite good, but not the best in its class. Apple claims the laptop can last up to 11 hours of web use and 16 hours of video streaming. In real use, the results depend heavily on the screen brightness level and user activity.
One thing that is quite highlighted is the slow charging process. In the UK, Apple does not even include a charger adapter in the sales box. Users only get a USB-C cable and have to buy a charger themselves.
Even though it supports charging using a 20W or higher adapter, the full charging process of the MacBook Neo still takes more than three hours.
Despite having various compromises, reviewers rated the MacBook Neo as a laptop that is very difficult to refuse at a price of 599 US dollars. In fact, he said that the MacBook Neo is now more worth recommending than the MacBook Air for most macOS users.
This laptop is considered ideal for students, office workers, writers, casual users, and those who need a lightweight device for browsing, typing, and light editing.
But for heavy professional needs such as serious gaming, high-level video editing, or complex external monitor use, the MacBook Pro line is still the more appropriate choice.
MacBook Pro's advantages Very cheap for Apple laptop size Premium design with aluminum body A18 Pro chip performance is very good for daily use Lightweight and portable The screen is quite good in its price class Attractive and modern colors Disadvantages of MacBook Pro Only supports one external monitor Touch ID is not available in the basic model Slow charging Small and less fast SSD Less suitable for heavy gamingWith a combination of low price, premium design, and surprising performance from the A18 Pro chip, the new MacBook is said to have managed to become one of Apple's most interesting laptops in recent years.
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