The New MacBook Neo Could Be In Your Hands Soon

Written by: Sitara Nair

Everyone knows Apple, the company that has completely taken the tech industry by storm. Founded on April 1, 1976, Apple, led by Steve Jobs, is known for its sleek design and high-tech feel, especially in its computers. The original Apple Macintosh 128K was released on January 24, 1984, and Apple recently announced its newest Mac model, the MacBook Neo. Let’s examine the MacBook Neo and explore some history about MacBook to see if it might be a good fit for you!

Before the Mac we know today, Apple released a simpler computer called the PowerBook. It came out in 1999 and set the stage for future computers. Apple continued to release PowerBook models until 2001, including the PowerBook G4. This model had impressive features like a powerful PowerPC G4 processor (which was faster than the Pentium III), a DVD drive, 128 MB of RAM (which could be expanded to 1 GB), and a battery life of up to 5 hours. 

Today, we have the MacBook and its different versions, starting with the first "MacBook Pro" in 2006. Over the years, the MacBook has evolved into various models, including the MacBook Pro from 2016 to the present and the MacBook Air from 2018.

The MacBook Neo could be available to you for $599 or $49.91 per month for 12 months starting 3/11, an incredible price for a Mac because previous models usually priced at atleast $1000. However, if you're interested in buying a computer with Apple’s built-in Touch ID feature, it will cost an extra $100. This feature was included in the price of earlier Mac models. So far, Macs are known for their sleek look and famous monotone color palette (grays, whites, and blacks), but with the Neo, that changes. The computer comes in the following fresh and exciting colors: Silver, Blush, Citrus, and Indigo. The MacBook Air provides up to (around) 18 hours of battery life, the MacBook Pro is regarded as having up to 24 hours of video playback. The MacBook Neo, on the other hand, is a more casual laptop with Apple saying the laptop provides up to 16 hours of use. Though not as good as the other models, it's a great fit for casual use by regular customers. Another big selling point for the computer is Apple’s classic 13’’ liquid retina display. Pretty much, a liquid retina display is Apple’s way of saying a high-resolution LCD screen with rounded corners and a high pixel density (roughly 326 ppi). This high pixel density means that individual pixels are not visible to the naked eye at normal viewing distances. It makes the computer feel luxurious and sleek, which is exactly what Apple wants its customers to feel. Lastly, another distinguishing feature of this computer is its trackpad. The computer features, according to Apple, “a large Multi-Touch trackpad with support for intuitive gestures, enabling smooth and precise control.” This trackpad actually moves when you click it, unlike the haptic "Force Touch" trackpads you find on the latest MacBook Air and Pro models. This change is new, and exciting for tech lovers to learn about. 
One reason that this MacBook is all the talk right now in the tech world is that it’s the first MacBook to run on an A18 Pro chip. Basically, the A18 Pro chip is a 3nm, 6-core chip that also powers the iPhone 16 Pro and has 20% faster GPU performance and 2x faster ray tracing than the A17 Pro. Regular MacBooks, like the Air and Pro, run on Apple's M-series chips, specifically the M3 or M4 models. These chips have better CPU and GPU performance, making them great for heavier tasks, but that’s not the goal with the Neo, which is why the A18 chip is used. The A18 chip is fast, and has actually been proven to work faster than the M1 chip, which is super great for users. 
Another great part of the MacBook Neo is its environmentally conscious creation. Apple claims the computer is made of 60% recycled material by weight and that, “Using recycled materials, like 90% recycled aluminum in MacBook Neo, reduces the need to mine new material, which avoids the carbon emissions and environmental impacts of mining.”. They also took it a step further by explaining how their product is manufactured with 45% renewable energy and shipped in a 100% fiber-based packaging. Despite being one of the world's biggest tech giants, Apple is actually on an environmental journey. They’ve reduced their emissions by 60% overall and, as a company, hope to “become carbon neutral across our global footprint by using more recycled materials, renewable electricity, and lower‑carbon transportation” by 2030. 

Hearing all of this, the computer sounds like a solid option for daily use, but it really depends on the person and their individual needs. Despite having lower battery life, it can still be a great option for many people; it’s important to do your own research on the product and price point (like learning about student discounts), because companies and large tech reporting outlets can be misleading about the product. Do your research and see if the MacBook Neo might be a good fit for you!