I’ve been a fan of Apple products for a long time, and one thing that’s always stood out is the build quality. Everything I’ve owned has felt solid, well-made, and built to last.
The ecosystem is another big advantage. macOS and iOS work together in a way that’s simple, fast, and generally very reliable. Compared to Windows or Android, Apple products tend to feel more polished and consistent, with a clear focus on usability.
My Apple History
Over the years, I’ve used a range of Apple devices:
MacBook Air (2018, i3) – Struggled with performance and felt underpowered
Mac mini (Intel i5, 32GB RAM) – Performed well, but failed after a year which was disappointing
Mac mini (M1) – A huge leap forward; fast, efficient, and genuinely impressive
The move from Intel to Apple Silicon was a turning point. Performance improved massively, and it was clear Apple was heading in the right direction.
Most recently, I used the Mac mini M4, which handled everything I threw at it. Final Cut Pro, Affinity Designer, and Affinity Photo all ran flawlessly. For the price, it felt like incredible value.
But there was one issue: I didn’t want to be stuck at a desk anymore. I wanted something portable.
Enter the MacBook Neo
When I saw the MacBook Neo priced at £599, it immediately caught my attention. After watching reviews and reading online opinions, it seemed like the perfect budget laptop that’s modern, capable, and great value.
On paper, it looked like a no-brainer.
Performance – Where Things Fall Apart
In reality, the MacBook Neo is far more limited than it appears.
It’s marketed as a capable, do-it-all machine, but in everyday use it struggles with multitasking. Running Google Chrome alongside a WordPress admin panel and Affinity Designer quickly pushes it to its limits.
Opening the activity monitor app I could see that the Neo was out of RAM and using the SSD to swap out the memory. This showed me the Neo was starting to struggle a little more than I thought it would have.
The main issues are:
8GB RAM – Fine for light use, but restrictive for anything more demanding
A18 Pro chip – An iPhone processor adapted for a laptop, which shows under heavier workloads
Apple has previously made 8GB of RAM work well thanks to optimisation, especially with M-series chips. But pairing that same RAM with a mobile-class processor just doesn’t deliver the same results. Would 16GB of RAM improved the overall performance? I’m not sure it would be possible due to the limitations of having the A18 Pro processor.
In short, this isn’t a machine for serious work. It’s a computer for looking at things and browsing. It can handle one task well, but starts to struggle the moment you ask for more.
Trackpad
The trackpad is just ok, it doesn’t have haptic feedback like in other MacBooks. It’s has rather an annoying physical clicking sound that makes it feel cheap. Overall though, it functions well and does the job.
Keyboard
The keyboard is a highlight. It matches the body colour nicely and feels comfortable to type on. The shallow keys make it easy to use for long periods, and regular Mac users will feel right at home.
However, there’s no backlighting, which is a strange omission and can be frustrating in low-light conditions.
Display
The display is excellent for the price. It’s sharp, bright (around 500 nits), and colours look vibrant.
It may not be ideal for professional photo or video work, but for general use browsing, streaming, and everyday tasks it’s more than good enough.
Final Verdict
The MacBook Neo is a well-built, great-looking laptop with a strong display and comfortable keyboard. For basic tasks like browsing, emails, and watching content, it performs well and should last for years.
However, the marketing doesn’t quite match reality. Having watched many popular tech reviewers on YouTube praising the power of the Neo I can’t help but think it’s been overhyped.
If you plan to do anything more demanding—multitasking, creative work, or heavier applications—you’ll quickly run into its limits.
Pros:
Excellent build quality
Great display for the price
Comfortable keyboard
Affordable entry into the Apple ecosystem
Available in appealing colours
Cons:
Limited by 8GB RAM
Underpowered A18 Pro processor for laptop use
No keyboard backlight
Trackpad click is annoying
Struggles with multitasking
If your needs are simple, the MacBook Neo is a solid choice. But if you expect it to perform like a more powerful Mac, you’re going to be disappointed. For anyone new to Apple Macs it’s perfect and should last more than a few years.
I sent my MacBook Neo back for a refund, I ended up getting a MacBook Air M4 it’s more expensive but suits my needs perfectly and should last me many years.
