Cheap MacBook Neo review: 7 price points and things to note before buying

Detailed review of Apple’s MacBook Neo including outstanding advantages, disadvantages and necessary things to note before buying.

Recently, the technology-loving community has been buzzing about the appearance of the MacBook Neo series. Dubbed the most accessible laptop from Apple, this device is attracting huge attention from users. However, to get such a “bargain” price, buyers will have to accept certain cuts. The article below will go into depth analyzing 7 bright spots as well as important notes before you decide to spend money.

Overview of Apple’s cheap MacBook Neo line

MacBook Neo is not a machine aimed at experts or heavy users, but this is Apple’s strategic move to spread the macOS operating system to the segment of general users, students and office workers. This device perfectly solves the budget problem for those who always desire to experience the Apple ecosystem but are afraid of the expensive price of the Air or Pro lines.

Detailed specifications of MacBook Neo

Even though it is in the low-cost segment, the MacBook Neo’s configuration is still enough to meet basic daily needs. Below is a detailed technical specification table for you to easily visualize:

Genuine MacBook Neo price list at Minh Tuan Mobile

Currently, users can easily find and buy this model at reputable selling points. Specifically, at Minh Tuan Mobile system, the price of MacBook Neo is only about 15.2 million VND for the 256GB memory version and 17.7 million VND for the 512GB memory version. This is considered an extremely reasonable price compared to the general level of laptop products on the market.

Evaluate 7 points worth the money on MacBook Neo

Even though the price is adjusted to the maximum level, Apple is still quite generous with this laptop. Here are 7 reasons why the MacBook Neo is worth the money.

Youthful and colorful monolithic aluminum design

The biggest plus point of the MacBook Neo is that it still maintains the extremely luxurious and durable monolithic aluminum design language. The device provides a sturdy, thin and light grip, and comes with a collection of many vibrant, youthful color versions. This especially hits the psychology of Gen Z customers who like dynamism and individuality.

13-inch Retina screen displays sharp

This is also a plus point of this Macbook. The 13-inch screen on the MacBook Neo still uses the famous Retina panel. Thanks to that, the device brings a great visual experience with high detail, realistic colors and wide viewing angles, excellently meeting the needs of watching entertainment movies, surfing the web or designing basic 2D graphics.

A18 Pro chip performance is smooth

The appearance of the A18 Pro chip on a laptop brings extremely respectable performance. Although originally a chip line optimized for mobile devices, the A18 Pro is still capable of handling all daily office tasks smoothly and smoothly, from text editing, spreadsheet making to online study sessions without any lag.

Impressive battery life

The core advantage of Apple chip lines (such as the A18 Pro) is the ability to optimize energy extremely well. Thanks to that, MacBook Neo has extremely impressive battery life, able to operate continuously for up to 16 hours with basic tasks such as typing text, listening to music or watching entertainment movies. Thanks to that, you absolutely do not need to worry about finding a power outlet or always having to carry a charger with you.

Camera with sharp resolution

With online meetings, video calls or online learning becoming an indispensable part, Apple has equipped the MacBook Neo with a webcam with 1080p resolution to help the resulting images always be clear and of significantly superior quality compared to many low-cost laptop models.

Optimal macOS operating system

Buying a MacBook is buying an entire ecosystem, and the MacBook Neo is no exception. You will still enjoy the smoothness, high stability and beautiful interface of the macOS operating system. Along with that is the ability to synchronize without barriers with other devices such as iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch, bringing maximum convenience.

Extremely good cost of ownership for beginners

With a price of just over 15 million VND for the lowest version, this is a better opportunity for users who have only ever used Windows to step into the world of Apple. You will experience a high-end device at the lowest possible budget.

Details of 6 cutting points on MacBook Neo that buyers should pay attention to

To get such a good price, Apple is forced to make cuts on the MacBook Neo that you need to pay special attention to:

Fixed 8 GB RAM memory does not support upgrades

The 8 GB RAM level in the current context is just enough for basic needs. In addition, RAM is designed to be fixed (soldered on the board) and cannot be upgraded in the future. Therefore, if you often use graphics-intensive applications or play high-configuration games, your device will easily experience fatigue.

SSD hard drive read and write speed is limited to a basic level

Unlike the speed on the new generation MacBook Air or Pro lines, the MacBook Neo’s SSD hard drive is limited to a basic read/write speed, about 1.35 – 1.45 Gbps. You can still boot up and open applications quite quickly, but when you need to copy or render large files, the delay will be quite obvious.

The keyboard omits the backlight system when used at night

This is probably the most regretful point for those who often “run deadlines” at night. The MacBook Neo’s keyboard has had its backlight system completely removed. If you work in a low-light environment, typing will become much more difficult and inconvenient.

Not equipped with Touch ID fingerprint sensor

Touch ID will also not be equipped on this model. Instead of just tapping your finger to unlock the device or pay Apple Pay, you will have to manually enter a password each time you turn on the device, which takes a bit more time.

Limit the number of connection ports and data transfer speed

To save costs, Apple has reduced the number of Type-C connection ports on the device. Not only that, the data transfer speed and bandwidth of these ports are also significantly lower than the high-end Thunderbolt connection standard often found on more expensive MacBook lines.

The Trackpad uses a traditional physical click mechanism

Apple’s famous Force Touch trackpad has been replaced. MacBook Neo returns to using a physical click mechanism (mechanical push) similar to most cheap Windows laptops on the market today. The touch and swipe experience is still good, but the tap operation will not feel premium and consistent at every point.

Who should choose to buy MacBook Neo in the low-cost segment?

Compiled from the above advantages and disadvantages, it can be seen that the MacBook Neo is a device born to serve a very specific customer base. You should buy this machine if:

• You are a student: Need a laptop with beautiful appearance, long-lasting battery and sharp screen to serve studying, making presentation slides or writing essays.

• You are a basic office worker: Daily work revolves around Word, Excel, surfing the web looking for information and answering partner emails.

• You are new to using Apple: Want to experience the smoothness of the macOS operating system but your budget doesn’t allow spending too much.

However, if you are a professional graphic designer, programmer or someone who has the habit of working at night, try to save more to upgrade to more advanced models.

Can MacBook Neo play games?

The answer is Yes, but to a limited extent. The power from the A18 Pro chip allows the device to handle light entertainment games well, games available on the App Store or Apple Arcade platforms. However, if you expect to use the device to climb the ranks of eSports games or play AAA games with heavy graphics, this is absolutely not the right choice due to limitations in configuration and cooling system.

Should I buy a new MacBook Neo or an old MacBook Air M1 in the price range of 16 million?

This is a question that gives many people headaches because both have prices around 16 million VND. The decision will depend on your priorities:

• MacBook Neo: If you appreciate the feeling of peace of mind when you can “peel off the seal” on a 100% new device yourself, want to enjoy a long-term genuine warranty policy, love the colorful design and need only very basic practical use.

• Old MacBook Air M1: If you are tech-savvy, accept the risk of buying a used device in exchange for outstanding performance from the M series chip, backlit keyboard, high-end Force Touch Trackpad and convenient Touch ID sensor.