will have to see how well Intel volume will be, at least the packaging is so much smaller and simpler and the tiles really small (intel 3 for the gpu being hopefully mature now), maybe there will be less issues than for the big and fancy Panther Lake, compute tile that small yield should still be decent on intel 18A.
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Apple intros MacBook Neo: $599 with an iPhone chip
- Thread starter Aurelius
- Start date
Apple might have no choice if they want to keep the momentum. By all reports they are running out of A18 chips very fast.
If I was Apple, I would do a... due to unexpected demand. Neo Pro right before back to school. A19 12gb, little other difference. Charge an extra $100 for it.
Then get ready for a real Neo2 A20 to launch right behind the A20 iphones. Setup a cadence of current iphone release Neo a few months later to use up the cut down chips. Instead of warehousing them for a year or more first.
Jason Snell (of Macworld and Six Colors fame) had an important point in a recent podcast: Apple doesn't necessarily have to make a fuss over hardware updates. It could slip in an A19 Pro and call it a day. With that said, it depends on how many binned A19 Pros exist and whether or not it's easy to restart A18 Pro production.
I also agree with him that it's doubtful Apple was planning to simply clear out A18 Pro inventory and had no plans for what would happen next. This is Apple — of course it expects to sell a ton of devices. It either has an A18 Pro pipeline in place (the most likely answer) or is ready to drop in the A19 Pro when existing chip inventory runs dry. I'm not realistically expecting a revision until next March, but I could see something in October if Apple can't make supplies last until next spring.
DukenukemX
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Intel has some time before back to school sales start in August. A better CPU is not the problem with Windows laptops $700 and lower. Intel needs to push Microsoft to fix Windows 11, and they need laptop OEMs to start putting in better quality screens as well as use aluminum housing, exclusively. The age of plastic laptops should be gone.
We agree on that. If nothing else reasonably low cost Macbooks even if they are powered by a phone chip should push the competition quality up at least a bit.
Microsoft seriously fixing windows. I'm not convinced they are even capable never mind willing.
LTT has a big showdown between the Neo and three comparably priced laptops (a Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, an Acer Aspire Lite, and a Dell 16).
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x26A28DoT-w
The gist: all the non-Apple systems get thrashed for virtually everything related to build (design, keyboard/trackpad, display, audio). That's largely expected. The Chromebook of course takes a hit as it doesn't have native apps, while Apple suffers on I/O.
Interestingly, the Neo generally pulls ahead in performance, particularly for web browsing (the Dell is comically bad). There's an important point: having 16GB of RAM doesn't matter if it's utterly wasted on the CPU. And I have to get a kick out of Linus saying he would rather use the Neo for gaming than the Acer and Lenovo machines, even if it meant using a cloud service.
There's no way you could do a test like this that's truly comprehensive, as there are both different use cases and a ton of laptops in this bracket (including ones that dip down to it on sale). But it does illustrate the problem Windows and ChromeOS vendors face: there's a whole lot of mediocrity going around, and not just in design. The Neo might win at times simply because it doesn't feel like as much of a compromise.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x26A28DoT-w
The gist: all the non-Apple systems get thrashed for virtually everything related to build (design, keyboard/trackpad, display, audio). That's largely expected. The Chromebook of course takes a hit as it doesn't have native apps, while Apple suffers on I/O.
Interestingly, the Neo generally pulls ahead in performance, particularly for web browsing (the Dell is comically bad). There's an important point: having 16GB of RAM doesn't matter if it's utterly wasted on the CPU. And I have to get a kick out of Linus saying he would rather use the Neo for gaming than the Acer and Lenovo machines, even if it meant using a cloud service.
There's no way you could do a test like this that's truly comprehensive, as there are both different use cases and a ton of laptops in this bracket (including ones that dip down to it on sale). But it does illustrate the problem Windows and ChromeOS vendors face: there's a whole lot of mediocrity going around, and not just in design. The Neo might win at times simply because it doesn't feel like as much of a compromise.
DukenukemX
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The laptop choices against the Neo are kinda... retarded. What I did learn is that the Ryzen AI 5 330 is trash, but then again I never heard of these chips before. Including a Chromebook is just dumb. Nobody in their right mind would buy a $600+ Chromebook. You're in real laptop price territory, so just buy a real laptop. That leaves the Acer with a Core i7-1255U. To be fair the Chromebook has a Core i5-1334U, but you shouldn't be buying an over $600 Chromebook to begin with. But these are Alder Lake chips, which are also before Raptor Lake and then Meteor Lake. I've shown that Lunar Lake laptops like the 226V are easily found for $600. Just Josh even recommends this Acer Aspire 14 with a 256V for $550 over the Neo. It's like Linux Tech Tips picked terrible laptops to go up against the Neo. You should not be buying Alder Lake based laptops in 2026, because those laptops belong in the discount bin at your local supermarket. The Ryzen laptop is shockingly bad for a Zen5 based chip. I don't know what AMD was smoking when they made those chips?
I wouldn't say they're terrible choices, but you can find faster if you're willing to dig. That underscores another issue, though: getting a strong alternative to the Neo often means knowing what to look for... and where. You have to wade through a large Acer lineup and know that Micro Center will have it for $550; it's selling for $590 at Amazon, and Acer's own website hides the sale prices (it doesn't even mention Micro Center) until you go to the "where to buy" section.
It's disturbingly common to see OEMs still offering slower machines for the same or higher price, or for models to be exclusive to certain countries and even certain retailers. Apple is not only more recognizable, it has two very simple configurations.
I'd add that Apple's $499 educational pricing is a curveball. I'm sure many will be willing to spend $50 more for Lunar Lake, but not all. Other systems that were tempting suddenly become unappealing. It's still not a slam dunk, but it's definitely an easier sell.
DukenukemX
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That's kinda the point of reviewers like Linus Tech Tips, in that it's their job to get the best for the price. The entire video is just made to make the Neo good, right down to opening the lid with one hand. I've never given a crap about needing to use two hands to open a laptop. It's a quality of life feature, like a backlit keyboard. I don't care for a backlit keyboard either because I never look at the keyboard when I type.
This is a problem with the laptop market that I've already mentioned. Why you think AMD and Intel give stupid names for their CPU's? They want to confuse customers enough to trick them into buying last years models. This has been a thing forever. I remember going to the Wiz and finding old 3Dfx graphic cards for a higher price than new and more powerful graphic cards. You don't go to Linus Tech Tips to find out that laptops with hardware from four years ago is a terrible choice. Even the 226V and 256V isn't exactly new either, but they're at least four generations newer than the laptops LTT has chosen.
That $500 is not for everyone. Don't assume everyone is going to school. There are laptops who also have school discounts, but that opens up a whole new set of problems.
There's no evidence LTT is out to make the Neo shine... the laptop does that on its own (and I'd say one-handed opening is reflective of the overall quality you'll experience every day, not just a nice-to-have).
You'd have a more convincing case if it weren't very common for PC vendors to actively sell those systems with years-old chips. Take the Dell 16, for example... $650 gets you a first-gen Core Ultra (the Core 5 150U), and it normally sells for $870. The only laptop Acer officially lists in the Neo's price range is the Aspire Go 15 with a 13th-gen Core chip. And don't get me started on HP's mess, where you'll see discounted Lunar Lake and Ryzen AI 7 systems in that range... but also Intel N200 and AMD Athlon Silver systems in that range.
If I were running a Windows vendor, one of the first things I'd do is scrap a large portion of the lineup. Many are so hyper-segmented that they might well deter sales by making it hard to find what you actually want.
As it is, the reality is that the Neo is fast enough for the target audience, better-built than the competition, and much less confusing to buy. It doesn't have Windows 11's hassles, it doesn't have preloaded third-party software that bogs it down, and getting support will likely be easier (as you can literally walk into a store).
DukenukemX
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I never said it's evidence, just that it was setup so stupid that it seems like LTT was trying to put the Neo in the best light. Also, the one handed test is still stupid. Why not test things like thermals and backlit keyboard? Even a WiFi speed test would fail the Neo. Things that a tech reviewer like Linus Tech Tips should test. LTT has always been a theater tech reviewer anyway, where they have something of value once in a blue moon.
One thing I've observed is that older computer hardware tends to have higher prices. Not one generation old hardware, but like three or four generations old. Going back to the Wiz which closed shop in 2003, this is what they were doing with those 3Dfx cards. Take my Radeon RX 6700 XT that was released in 2021. You'd think these cards are in the bargain bin on Amazon? NOPE, the cheapest price for a new 6700 XT is $700. On Ebay they go for under $300 used. I have no idea why this is the case, other than sellers are looking for idiots? For $100 less you can pick up a Radeon RX 9070 XT, which is clearly a superior product and even cheaper.
Doesn't matter what computer hardware you're going for, because anything that's sufficiently old will be listed for an insane price. This has been going on for over two decades, and something LTT should have been aware of. So either LTT are idiots, or this was malice. As much as I'd like to attribute this to stupidity, I just don't believe this when LTT has videos where they build a budget PC every month. Just Josh was the one who even recommended the Acer Laptop with the 256V, so it's not like the information wasn't out there.
The Windows vendors kinda want this. They probably have too many laptops that aren't sold and want you to buy an older and outdated model. Typing in laptop in Amazon's search gives me the first two results with a $350 laptop with an Intel 100U and a $580 Dell with a i5-1334U. The third result is a Macbook Air M5, but the fourth is another $495 Dell with a i5-1334U and the Neo is 5th. The 6th is a $595 Dell with a AMD Ryzen 7 7730U and the further you go the results don't get better. There are laptops with no CPU listed in the title, and that's because it has a Intel Processor N100.
To further explain my point, even the CPU names are misleading. Which is the better laptop CPU, the 226V or the i5-1334U? Is the Ryzen 7 7730U better than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350? My cave man brain would pick the 1334U or 7730U, because big numbers are better... right? Except that hasn't been the case in computing since the cave nerds left their moms basements. Another example is the Geforce 4 MX 440 vs the Geforce 3 Ti 200, which for a lot of people they bought the Geforce 4 MX. When I type 256V in Amazon's search, this Acer Laptop for $550 shows up first, which is probably the same Acer as Just Josh recommends. When I type in Ryzen 350, I get this Dell for under $600 as the first search option.
The Windows laptop market is intentionally obscure because people have no idea what they're buying, and there's a lot of old stock of laptops that Dell, HP, Acer, and etc want gone but not at a low price. But again, LTT should know this. Amazon is largely at fault for this.
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Fair. One-handed opening is useful alongside those other things, though; it reduces friction for something you might do multiple times every day.
Wi-Fi I’m not worried about for a laptop in this class, given that itll also only be an issue for the first generation. A mediocre laptop with Wi-Fi 7 will still be lousy no matter how fast your ISP and local network transfers may be.
The MacBook Neo is a major threat to the rest of the PC industry in part because it cuts through that noise. This is the latest model. There are two very clear configurations available on every store. Buyers don’t just want good value; they want clarity.
And most of the blame is on the OEMs, not Amazon. The problem is commonplace even on the companies’ product pages, and you’ll see configs that only show up at certain retailers because the OEMs think they’ll help. Amazon certainly doesn’t make it easier, mind you…
DukenukemX
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I'm just saying, the idea of one handed opening and "deck flex" has never been a consideration for me. Though, the idea of a laptop made of aluminum does have it's ups and downs. In my experience with plastic is that I'd rather have aluminum because plastic ages badly. Plastic is lighter but it gets brittle and breaks. On the other hand plastic tends to rebound while aluminum can dent. One of the problems I've had with Macbooks in the hands of children is that they will drop it. You'd think it's not a problem, but after a while the dents can even prevent the laptop from closing properly. Something to consider with the Neo.
View: https://youtu.be/WrSlGzAo6V0?si=FcvcBiy-xV44MnFF
This is true as Apple makes it easy to distinguish what is the latest and what isn't. M5 is greater than M4 and greater than M3, and etc. The A18 Pro doesn't exactly follow this trend, but it's not so different that you can't understand. That's just the CPU, as the laptops themselves tend to vary. The Acer Aspire 14 that I keep linking does have an OLED screen, but there are other Acer Aspire 14's that don't.
I still blame Amazon as well as other retailers. I have a hard time finding a laptop and I'm a seasoned tech enthusiast, so what hope do other people have? The Windows laptop market feels like a landfill and finding the good ones is a challenge. This is why I like Just Josh because he doesn't specialize on Apple or Windows laptops, but all laptops. He does have some good recommendations. Where as Linus Tech Tips choices against the Neo feel like the top three searches off Amazon.
They're considerations for a lot of people, though. A laptop that's a pain to open is noticeable. Deck flex frequently affects typing feel (something you'll definitely notice every day) and, of course, speaks to the longevity of the machine. Metal laptops can certainly dent from drops, but a plastic laptop can break simply by... being used.
I suspect Apple is pitching the Neo more toward older students (mainly college, but high school as well) to some degree because they're more likely to take decent care of their systems. The Neo is much more repairable on the inside, at least, so those schools that do choose to deploy it can either replace components themselves or get quicker repairs.
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Intel’s apparently coming for the Neo space,
“Intel "Wildcat Lake" Outruns Apple's MacBook Neo and Its Successor in First Benchmarks
by AleksandarK Today, 07:19 Discuss (4 Comments)Intel recently unveiled its "Wildcat Lake" Core 300 series of laptop processors, designed for the entry-level market with excellent CPU and GPU capabilities to meet basic needs. By combining two "Cougar Cove" P-cores with four LPE "Darkmont" cores, these processors should provide sufficient CPU power for basic tasks in the entry-level segment. Especially when paired with the NPU 5, Xe display and media engine, and a GPU featuring up to two Xe3 cores, this SoC should handle tasks with ease, including some very light entry-level gaming. Today, the first benchmarks appeared, showcasing what this CPU is capable of and how it compares to industry-leading solutions in this price range, such as Apple's newest MacBook Neo, thanks to the initial PassMark benchmark results.
In the latest benchmark, PassMark recorded the Intel Core 5 320 "Wildcat Lake" with two P-cores running at up to 4.6 GHz and LPE cores with a maximum turbo frequency of 3.4 GHz. This SoC scored about 4,047 points in the single-threaded rating and approximately 15,222 in the multithreaded rating in the PassMark evaluation benchmark. This places its rating just above Apple's first-generation M1 SoC in both single and multithreaded results. Additionally, the design surpasses Apple's A18 Pro SoC in the current MacBook Neo and the A19 Pro SoC that is expected to be included in the second-generation MacBook Neo design scheduled for 2027. Technically, both are based on different architectures, but they serve the same purpose: providing customers with an affordable SoC/laptop design that delivers solid computing power for all basic tasks.“
DukenukemX
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I'd be more impressed if Intel pushed for higher screen quality standards than a faster chip. The Neo's benefits are absolutely not the A18 Pro, but the screen, speaker, and webcam quality. Also the housing is made of aluminum, which hasn't caught on to Windows laptops 100%. I would even give this package a name like Centrino.
That's good! Now... actually get it into shipping systems and make it a clear option. Part of the threat to Windows PCs is simply that Core Series 3 will take months to arrive in earnest where the Neo is here, now. A theoretical speed advantage from a Dell or Lenovo machine doesn't matter if it arrives too late for the college student that needed a system two months earlier.
Another review seemingly tailor-made for us from Alex Ziskind (well-known for testing AI and code production):
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7BAuiPYn7A
And yes, this does include the Acer Aspire 14 AI in addition to Dell and Lenovo systems.
He points out that those PCs do stomp the Neo in multi-core tests. But he also notes that, in some ways, those benchmarks don't matter. It's not just for style points; the good build, good input, and good display will count more for some people than benchmarks.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7BAuiPYn7A
And yes, this does include the Acer Aspire 14 AI in addition to Dell and Lenovo systems.
He points out that those PCs do stomp the Neo in multi-core tests. But he also notes that, in some ways, those benchmarks don't matter. It's not just for style points; the good build, good input, and good display will count more for some people than benchmarks.
DukenukemX
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His laptops were better choices than Linus Tech Tips video. Makes sense to include a Snapdragon chip instead of a Chromebook. Also, yes he included the Acer Aspire 14 that Just Josh recommends. He includes a 8840HS laptop and a Ryzen AI 350 laptop, which both make sense. He also mentions which laptops have how much aluminum since this is a direct comparison to the Neo.
My criticism is his conclusion and the lack of a GPU test. He also points out that the Neo's screen can be viewed from the side, but maybe doesn't realize that's not something you want in a laptop screen? I know I don't want screens that allow people to see what I'm doing on the side. He also points out resale value like people buying these are going to be worried about that. It's also odd that he quickly changed to his conclusion when the Neo started to measurably fail in his tests.
Despite his claims, I've always viewed Alex Ziskind as a guy who always favors Apple and ARM in general. As for multi-threaded vs single threaded, I see this very differently. We live in a multi-core would as nearly every application makes use of this, including web browsing. Single threaded matters but not on the Neo. The Neo's 8GB of ram and slow SSD makes the single threaded performance worthless on the Neo. Remember Max Techs video where the Neo was always dead last in opening up applications when doing a file transfer? Even SpeedOMeter is a bad test because it's notoriously known to favor Chrome and even Safari. I use FireFox which is known to be slower than Chrome, but I have a lot of extensions to remove ads and to better my browsing experience. I would use Mercury as it's super snappy and fast, if it hasn't been updated for nearly 2 years. Seems the developer is focusing on Thorium, which is Chrome based. You'd be surprised how fast web browsers get when making use of AVX instructions.
Ziskind isn't changing his conclusion. He's the sort who knows these tests likely won't lean in the Neo's favor. Rather, it's that he wants to review the laptop while making clear that you won't buy one for serious developer use. To abuse car analogies, think of it like reviewing the Ford Maverick; no one's expecting it to replace an F-150, but it's still a good pickup for the right person.His laptops were better choices than Linus Tech Tips video. Makes sense to include a Snapdragon chip instead of a Chromebook. Also, yes he included the Acer Aspire 14 that Just Josh recommends. He includes a 8840HS laptop and a Ryzen AI 350 laptop, which both make sense. He also mentions which laptops have how much aluminum since this is a direct comparison to the Neo.
My criticism is his conclusion and the lack of a GPU test. He also points out that the Neo's screen can be viewed from the side, but maybe doesn't realize that's not something you want in a laptop screen? I know I don't want screens that allow people to see what I'm doing on the side. He also points out resale value like people buying these are going to be worried about that. It's also odd that he quickly changed to his conclusion when the Neo started to measurably fail in his tests.
As for multi-threaded vs single threaded, I see this very differently. We live in a multi-core would as nearly every application makes use of this, including web browsing. Single threaded matters but not on the Neo. The Neo's 8GB of ram and slow SSD makes the single threaded performance worthless on the Neo. Remember Max Techs video where the Neo was always dead last in opening up applications when doing a file transfer? Even SpeedOMeter is a bad test because it's notoriously known to favor Chrome and even Safari. I use FireFox which is known to be slower than Chrome, but I have a lot of extensions to remove ads and to better my browsing experience. I would use Mercury as it's super snappy and fast, if it hasn't been updated for nearly 2 years. Seems the developer is focusing on Thorium, which is Chrome based. You'd be surprised how fast web browsers get when making use of AVX instructions.
As for the display... first, if you have the laptop off to your side, wide viewing angles are useful. And it's one thing to lose visibility because, say, you have a privacy screen; it's another thing when the panel is just lousy.
Single-threaded speed on the Neo isn't "useless," but I do think Apple will need to be sure the second-gen addresses bottlenecks. Thankfully, we already know that's coming as the A19 Pro has both more RAM and roughly double the SSD performance.
Twisted Kidney
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Don't you worry, you'll need to be a professional researcher to find out what parts are actually in your Windows notebook. Enshitification through obfuscation is a big part of the mobile PC market, the whole nine versions of the same CPU where eight of them are hot garbage thing is just another reason people are getting tired of Windows machines and that one's not even Micro$lops fault. You buy a notebook, you do your research, you check the specs, you buy the "right" laptop. It's shit because the processor you wanted was proCeSsor, not ProCessor, ProCessor is the good one, proCeSsor has holes drilled in it where demons leak out. You've been hoodwinked by the industry at the forefront of the great global enshitification.
Everyone is yelling at Micro$lop, me included, but the problems in the PC market are vast and varied at this point. The scum has risen to the top, acquired the cream and enshitified it beyond recognition.
The upside is that Micro$lops enshitification has been harming convenience and convenience has been the primary avenue to get away with the endless effort to make everything worse.
That was a long, rambling, aimless rant. I forgot what I was going to say. Oh well, never underestimate a laptop maker's ability to make good hardware behave like bad hardware.
Eh, I don’t see Microsoft as an enemy. I just think it’s been so distracted by services, particularly AI, that it neglected core functionality. A serious problem, but it’s at least acknowledging that problem.
The challenge now is to get Windows PC vendors out of that race-to-the-bottom mindset where they skimp on design and software experiences in the name of saving a few dollars. Time to treat budget laptops with more respect.
DukenukemX
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Nah, Microsoft is the enemy. You don't make decisions to enshittify Windows because someone was snorting cocaine in the Windows team. Windows doesn't have the same reoccurring revenue like other Microsoft businesses provide, and Microsoft is trying to turn Windows into a more profitable business by making it worse. Windows 11 is so shit that people have moved to MacOS, which is why Microsoft ending Windows 10 has somewhat backfired on them. I'm sure Asus, Dell, HP, and etc are yelling at Microsoft to stop making Windows 11 shit, because it does hurt them more than it hurts Microsoft.
To be fair, a lot of this is due to people not paying too much attention to laptops to begin with. We have so many tech reviewers that have a microscope on desktop PC hardware, but laptops are regulated to scrappy tech reviewers who eat cat food to stay alive. I admit I pay far less attention to laptops over my desktop PC. I see my laptop as a temporary device that I use when I'm not by my desktop PC. This has always been the sentiment for everyone I know that was forced to use a laptop to play World of Warcraft. It's mainly the keyboard and mouse setup, because a trackpad is just not meant for gaming. At some point, you do need a laptop for when you're not home.
Laptop manufacturers know this and pump out trash because they know that hardly anyone even cares about laptops.
Well that is the thing right... it doesn't really matter what Intel or AMD do in response.
Doesn't matter at all.
20 different OEMS are going to make 10 SKUs each. 1 or 2 in the bunch will match the Apple Neo in terms of build quality and screen. MAYBE (huge maybe) these hit the same price point, but realistically will probably retail for more. But regardless in the ocean of crap Windows laptops no one will find them. The OEMs making them won't expect Neo level sales and make 1% as many anyway, so even if Asus, HP, Acer, Dell or whoever has a breakout design win that grabs mind share, chances are they won't have enough of them made anyway.
Apple is going to be insanely hard to match in these price points if Apple is serious about making enough to saturate the market.
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It's more that Microsoft has recognized what you're talking about, and that it couldn't keep going on the same path. I'm also past the point where I want to villify or beatify companies as I know it's rarely that simple (though I still roast Ballmer for sabotaging everything that wasn't Windows on a PC).
This is... completely disconnected from the evidence.
Laptop demand overtook desktops in 2008, and that balance hasn't changed since. While desktop interest was up in 2025 (due in part to AI), laptops still represented 79% of all PC shipments last year. For that matter, I'm not sure what tech reviews you're looking at, but the majors (both on the web and on YouTube) primarily review laptops. That's where the audience is.
You still tend to act as if everyone wants what you want, and are surprised when that's not the case. Believe it or not, the world doesn't revolve around gaming on desktop PCs. Most computers are purchased for general computing and productivity (average selling prices are too low for much else), and gamers are only a portion of a premium market that includes professionals and those who simply want the luxury option (Apple has led the global premium PC segment for a long time).
This is why the Neo is potentially very disruptive. It's Apple's first computer aimed directly at the PC industry's highest-volume category: low-cost laptops. I wouldn't expect Apple to suddenly dominate computing, but it could climb above its perpetual fourth-place spot in market share.
It could be the obscure naming scheme, but by not paying too much attention to laptops.... average laptop buyer (and me) would have an hard time just saying the name of the cpus they want in their laptop, it is a different type of attention let say.
Duke was not saying that it was not by far the most popular type of PC, just that people do not necessarily follow the tech inside as much typically (as desktop pc get nicher and nicher, its average and median audience got more and more sophisticated), microwave are extremelly popular, people do not pay attention to them.
Duke was not saying that it was not by far the most popular type of PC, just that people do not necessarily follow the tech inside as much typically (as desktop pc get nicher and nicher, its average and median audience got more and more sophisticated), microwave are extremelly popular, people do not pay attention to them.
DukenukemX
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I'm not saying laptops aren't popular, and in fact their popularity is growing in my opinion. I'm just saying that when it comes to laptop specs, it isn't getting as much attention as desktop machines. There's a reason why gaming laptops are their own category when you're searching for a laptop, because it is a popular choice over a desktop.
Phoronix, Gamers Nexus, Hardware Unboxed, Linus Tech Tips, Techpowerup, and etc. This is why I like Just Josh because he's probably the only reviewer that specializes in laptops.
A lot of technology put into computers have been because of gaming. The GPU for example was a gaming first technology, and now every application uses it. To give you an idea, Laptopmedia.com search function shows 28,000 gaming laptops, 19,000 for design work, and 4,000 for programming. At the very least, it's catered to very heavily.
Maybe, but I don't think the Neo can do that? If the Neo is a glorified Chromebook then it's going to learn a very hard lesson that Google is now learning. People want their computers to do more than just be a web browser. The Neo can absolutely do more than just be a web browser, but it's going to be worse than other competing $600 Windows laptops. I don't mean just gaming either, because we've seen from more than one source that the Neo dies in a heat death when there's a heavy load for more than a minute. Any video editing on the Neo is going to be limited. Even with Alex Ziskind's tests we see the Neo take 4x longer to compile large projects in .Net. You're not doing AI stuff with 8 Gigs of ram. This is why I said that Intel's attempt to make a faster low cost CPU isn't going to matter, because the A18 Pro already sucks. The OEM's like Dell, HP, Acer, and etc need to make laptops with better screens, speakers, webcams, and housing because this is where the Neo excels at. If all that matters is those things then the Neo is for you.
Thanks, I better understand that. I'd say laptop components are getting more attention than they have (particularly with developments like Apple Silicon, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X, and newer x86 chips like Core Ultra Series 3), but it's true that the enthusiast media's component focus tends to be more on desktop CPUs and GPUs.
Here's the thing, though: those are all publications mostly devoted to classic PC enthusiasts, the kind who just assume their main PC will be a home-built desktop (in the case of Phoronix, probably running Linux). They don't reach out often to general tech enthusiasts, the ones who are as excited about the latest laptop, phone, or console as they are a monster GPU. And they certainly don't share the same audience as mainstream outlets with trusted tech journalists.
I'd say Just Josh blurs the line between PC and general enthusiast coverage. Josh and Sierra love to get into benchmarks and fields ilke programming and gaming. However, they also recognize that laptops often have different audiences, and that there are more subjective considerations like design that can tilt the balance.
I'm thinking YouTubers like Marques Brownlee, MrWhosetheboss, and even category-straddling channels like Hardware Canucks. General tech publications like Engadget and The Verge. Mainstream outlets like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and The Guardian. And don't look down on them: they often have a more holistic approach to reviewing that considers what non-enthusiasts want, not to mention the broader context of a release.
That's why we shouldn't act as if the "real" MacBook Neo reviews can only come from a narrow group of people focused on raw data. Someone browsing laptops at Best Buy isn't wondering "how does this benchmark in DaVinci Resolve?" They're thinking "the Neo has such a nicer display and keyboard than the Acer and HP laptops in the other aisle, I'll get this one." Performance does matter, and I'm glad the second-gen Neo will likely represent a huge boost, but the folks expecting the Neo to live or die based on encoding and 3D rendering tests are missing the point.
It can. Apple is fourth worldwide despite a lineup that, until mid-March, started at $999; it's now targeting a much wider audience. Moving ahead of Dell won't be easy (it shipped 10.3m PCs in Q1 2026, Apple shipped 6.7m), but we also haven't seen a full quarter of Neo sales yet, let alone the effects of back-to-school and holiday sales. Let's not forget that Dell and other Windows vendors will likely be forced to raise prices while Apple holds the line, and Apple may well poach sales from competitors (i.e. someone who would have bought an Acer Aspire 14 or Dell 14 buys a Neo instead).
We already know that the Neo remains on a two- to three-week backorder for all configurations nearly two months after its premiere event. Apple is clearly ramping production (otherwise ship times would lengthen) but hasn't yet caught up. That's the telltale sign of a popular product.
DukenukemX
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Apple's M1 chip has definitely shifted focus on laptop chips. AMD and Intel have now put a lot more effort into their laptop chips than ever before, and this is because of Apple.
I wouldn't waste my time with any of those tech reviewers. Especially Marques Brownlee and The Verge who have both been caught being extremely stupid.
On the flip side, nobody cares about Cinebench and Geekbench either. If you're buying a laptop at Best Buy then you're doing so because your old laptop broke or you're done with how slow and buggy it is. If you're used to Windows then you may not look at the Neo because this is probably a last minute decision and you're not about to try and learn MacOS. You're going to focus on ram and storage because this is what likely matters to you, as well as screen quality. If you do play games on your laptop then the Neo isn't going to be on your radar because you'd want something with Nvidia on it like this HP Victus 15.6" with an RTX 3050 for $718. Though this being Best Buy, you won't find something with an Nvidia chip for that price unless it's refurbished.
I think the biggest barrier for a lot of people buying a Neo is going to be switching from Windows to MacOS. People may not want to spend the time to relearn how to use a Mac.
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They're very largely on point these days, and Marques in particular has made it a point to consider the broader picture. And don't think he rushes to polish Apple's image: he's been pretty harsh on the iPhone 16e/17e (the 16e even got a "bust of the year" award).
Rushed "I need a working laptop now" decisions, certainly. But someone coming from a slow and buggy system? That's another matter. Odds are that a Neo will still be noticeably faster than what they're replacing, and some of those users will associate the bugginess with Windows, not the laptop brand. You've noted that Windows 11 is souring a lot of people... and if they've hit the breaking point, they're not just going to grit their teeth and buy another Windows system.
Don't forget that Apple has already touted the best launch week ever for first-time Mac sales. We'll see how that holds up going forward, but the early evidence suggests Apple is expanding its audience.
I'd agree, although the barriers aren't as high as they used to be. That and Apple's ecosystem works in its favor as someone who already has an iPhone or iPad may be more receptive to a Mac in the first place.
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If you want lousy MacBook Neo comparisons against Windows, look no further than... Microsoft.
The company commissioned a report from Signal65 (Ryan Shrout's consultancy) in a bid to make the MacBook Neo look bad, but it's a classic Microsoft-funded white paper. That is, it's so obviously cherry-picking that it loses credibility.
To start, two of the four Windows systems are priced around $1K. Who cross-shops those against a $600 laptop? It's also obsessed with benchmarking Microsoft apps, and of course tap dances around the questions of design and educational pricing. There are a few valid points, but they're lost in Microsoft's attempt to game the results. The kicker is that it's not even hard to find better examples than what Microsoft chose, like Duke's favorite Acer Aspire 14 AI.
And Microsoft forgot why you avoid these kinds of white papers in the first place: all you're doing is admitting that the competition is good enough to make you nervous. Think of it as the Streisand Effect of tech.
The company commissioned a report from Signal65 (Ryan Shrout's consultancy) in a bid to make the MacBook Neo look bad, but it's a classic Microsoft-funded white paper. That is, it's so obviously cherry-picking that it loses credibility.
To start, two of the four Windows systems are priced around $1K. Who cross-shops those against a $600 laptop? It's also obsessed with benchmarking Microsoft apps, and of course tap dances around the questions of design and educational pricing. There are a few valid points, but they're lost in Microsoft's attempt to game the results. The kicker is that it's not even hard to find better examples than what Microsoft chose, like Duke's favorite Acer Aspire 14 AI.
And Microsoft forgot why you avoid these kinds of white papers in the first place: all you're doing is admitting that the competition is good enough to make you nervous. Think of it as the Streisand Effect of tech.
DukenukemX
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Microsoft isn't wrong, but in a accidentally way. Microsoft is pushing for Snapdragon based Windows laptops, which haven't been great. Snapdragons were so bad that Microsoft was forced to sell Surface laptops with Intel Lunar Lake chips, but in a secret for business only sort of way. Intel's Lunar Lakes are so great right now, I can't see a reason to buy anything else for $600. Doesn't change the fact that Microsoft is largely responsible for anyone jumping to Macbooks right now, including the Neo.
You're not guaranteed to find a Lunar Lake system for $600, and if you play your cards right you can get a faster and better-built MacBook Air M3 for not much more. Microsoft can't use that Aspire in a white paper as the perceived value advantage could be wiped out next week, just as Apple would be silly to build an ad campaign around discounted MacBooks.
Microsoft is partly responsible, but not completely. The Neo is garnering attention precisely because it stands out in a sea of cheaply-made gray laptops; it's also a more logical choice if you already have an iPhone.
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Yea, that's how markets work. You can probably find a Core2Duo laptop for $1k, because an idiot is always ready to buy it.
Isn't that another reason not to buy a Neo?
Because of DRAM prices or because you think that Aspire is going to skyrocket in cost because of reasons?
I still don't see value is buying a Macbook for iPhone synergy? But yes, Windows laptops do have a problem with flooding the market with shit. There are good $600 Windows laptops if you know where to look, but that's the problem in that nobody knows where to look. You would think there would be a laptop version of pcpartpicker?
This isn't the point. It's not that you can't find a good deal if you're willing to look — it's that you can't base a long-lasting comparison (certainly not a white paper) on temporary sales or clearance items. Acer could take the Aspire back to its official $700 price for any reason at any time.
The value is pretty obvious: you get full texting and calling from the Mac. All your iCloud data syncs, like photos. It's easy to share files through AirDrop. If you have AirPods, you get seamless audio switching and setup; if you have an Apple Watch, your Mac unlocks without needing Touch ID or a password. There's more, but the key is that Apple can pitch the Neo as an extension of an iPhone where Windows is only kinda-sorta iPhone-friendly (it's not even that great with Android).
The closest you get to PCPartPicker is something like Just Josh's Bestlaptop.deals, but I also don't think the audience for ~$600 laptops is the sort that even knows these sites exist, let alone cares enough about them to make decisions based on their advice.
More importantly, it doesn't change a fundamental problem with Windows PC shopping: too many models. Brands not only segment themselves to death, they'll release country- and store-specific versions. I wish companies like Acer and HP would pull a Steve Jobs and whittle their lineups down to a handful of systems. They might actually improve their sales simply by providing clear choices.
DukenukemX
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Aren't we doing that with Neo and it's $500 school discount pricing? Also, MSRP doesn't matter.
I have this feature with KDE Connect on my Linux PC and I hate it. Pauses videos when I get a phone call and sends me all the notifications to my screen. I even had the ability to run Android apps natively through Waydroid and removed it. Mostly because I figured I could run apps for my homes cameras, which doesn't work. Gotta be super Google certified machine for those apps to work. Not worth the trouble to work around that.
Too many shit models. The standards are very low for Windows laptops. The problem is that they get away with it.
I was going to post this exact thing in response to the previous posts about tests vs other windows laptops and chromebooks. You can point to 20 bad competitors, and say you should test vs these other 5 models, but how is a normal person going to know that? Who wants to research 300 budget laptops with crazy model numbers that change every year.
Just look at the macbook lineup, and buy the 599 one and you know you'll be ok. Or at least won't get a dud.
Just look at the macbook lineup, and buy the 599 one and you know you'll be ok. Or at least won't get a dud.
DukenukemX
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In a healthy market you usually have a lot of choices. Look at the automobile market for example and tell me what you think is the best buy? Just like the Windows laptop market, it's mostly awful at lower prices. Anything sub $30k is like walking into financial disaster. There is such a thing as going cheap can be very expensive.
The problem with this logic is that you assume the Neo is the best at everything at $600, which it clearly isn't. The moment I point at competent Windows laptops is when the discussion needs to be limited to make the Neo a good choice. You can play games on $600 laptops with an Intel 256V. You'd say, oh but the Neo isn't for gaming. You can do competent video editing on an Intel 256V laptop, but you'd say the Neo wasn't meant for video editing. Most Windows laptops at $600 have twice the ram and storage with competent I/O, but you'd say the Neo doesn't need those things because it's Apple. Can't argue against the Neo when there's limitations to the discussion. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
In the end, the Neo's selling points are screen quality, speaker quality, and questionable build quality, and you get this in exchange of losing so much of what you can do on a laptop. If all you wanna do is browse the web and watch videos on the Neo, then this makes sense.
Well there is a massive volume issue as well.
If everyone "Knew where to look". There wouldn't be enough $600 windows laptops. The OEMs are not exactly flooding the market with good cheap laptops.
That is why Apple wins easily in the real world market place. Anyone that wants a neo knows what to buy and where to buy it, and it will be in stock.
Finding a good cheap windows laptop isn't easy even for people that "know where to look".
How many times in your life over the last 20 or 30 years, have you told someone what to buy. Ya go down to the Best Buy and buy X. (this is the sku number even) Then you talk to that person the next day and they say well I went down to the best buy but they didn't have that one in stock. The nice sales man sold me this one. Buying laptops has been annoying for years. Apple always made that easier. Now they are making it easy at the market entry point. All those OEMs that have been able to shift whatever pushed into mostly crap models filled with malware are rightly panicking about it.