Apple's MacBook Neo: Pretty Outside, Compromises Inside
Apple enters a new laptop category with the MacBook Neo — sleek aluminum build, great screen, but cut corners where it counts.
Apple just cracked open an entirely new product category. The MacBook Neo is the company's attempt at something different — and first impressions are a mixed bag.
The good news: it doesn't scream budget. The aluminum body feels premium, and the display is vibrant enough to hold its own against pricier siblings in Apple's lineup. Build quality, at least visually, stays on brand.
The bad news: that keyboard is flimsy. Hands-on testers flagged it immediately as a weak point. And under the hood, specs are predictably light. Apple clearly made trade-offs to hit whatever price point or form factor they were chasing.
Still, watching Apple carve out a new niche is genuinely interesting. The Neo isn't trying to replace the Air or Pro — it's something else entirely. Whether that something finds an audience depends on how much buyers care about what's missing versus what's there.