MacBook Neo Thoughts

March 13, 2026

The day the Neo was released I decided to pick one up to see how it preforms. I opted for the $699 version, mostly for the extra storage space. Overall the machine is decent and preforms well for what I have used it for. Probably the most resource intensive item that I have done so far is running a Docker container to view/update the website offline. The machine doesn’t have an issue with running it. At this point I have not tried to push the limits with 3D modeling or something that is more processor intensive.

Personally I am a bit torn on if I’ll end up keeping this machine or not. I do plan on picking up a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro this year and that will be an M5 for sure, just not sure what model and specs. The Neo was kind of a test to see how such a low spec machine will preform.

I must say overall I am impress with what it is. It is small light weight with a decent build quality and decent performance for the the typical everyday use and even some more demanding items. Really the 8GB of RAM was a concern going in, but so far that seems to not be too much of an issue. One item to be aware of is the lack of ports, there is only 1 USB 3.0 10 Gbps port and 1 USB 2.0 480 Mbps so connecting external devices is pretty limited, but if you are planning on using it as a laptop without an extra display it works well.

It will probably serve a role similar to an iPad for me. I will be a machine that I can grab for something quick or take somewhere in the house or maybe even outside if I need to.

Overall, time will tell what I decide to do with the Neo, but it is an impressive inexpensive laptop as long as it is what you need. Understanding what you need is key