LOS ANGELES: Apple has expanded its notebook portfolio to a lower price point with the newly introduced MacBook Neo priced at €699 (RM3,198) in Europe or US$599 (RM2,354) in the US, making it aimed primarily at teens, students and users without a need for heavy computing power.
The Neo uses a chip that also features in the iPhone, and at first glance, it looks like previous devices from Apple. The aluminium body comes in four colours from silver to citrus yellow.
The 13-inch display appears has a slightly thicker bezel and no notch for the camera and sensors, and there are two side-firing speakers.
With the Neo, users get access to all Apple services and easy connectivity with other Apple devices at a much lower price than before.
The entry model with 256 GB of storage starts at €699 (RM3,198) or US$599 (RM2,354), while 512 GB costs €799 (3,655) or US$699 (RM2,747).
What’s inside the MacBookNeo
- The Neo runs on Apple’s A18 Pro chip. It is also in the iPhone 16 Pro and has performance for more extensive graphics and Apple’s AI features Apple Intelligence. However, it cannot keep up with the company’s current M4 and M5 chips.
- There is a 13-inch display with a resolution of 2,408 by 1,506 pixels in the sRGB colour space.
- The base specification includes 256 GB of fixed storage and 8 GB of RAM. A maximum of 512 GB of storage is possible.
- A Full HD webcam and two speakers are included.
- For connecting the charging cable and devices there are two USB-C ports, one USB 3 (left) and one USB 2 (right). External displays can only be connected to the left port, and charging is possible via both.
- There is a mini-jack for headphones.
- Up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge is possible, according to Apple.
What the MacBookNeo does not have
- Touch ID is only available at extra cost. The base version does without the fingerprint sensor to unlock and authenticate.
- High refresh rates and wide colour gamut are not included. Apple’s ProMotion up to 120 hertz is not supported, nor is Apple’s True Tone.
- Center Stage for better video quality is not available.
- Fast charging is not supported.
- The 36.5 watt-hour battery does not support the Power Delivery fast-charge mode offered by the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
- A backlit keyboard is not included.
– dpa
