Review: I brought the new MacBook Neo to work for a week

MANILA, Philippines – As a writer and producer, a laptop is my ultimate tool to get anything done. I need a sleek and lightweight device that I can easily bring anywhere with convenience.

When I was given the opportunity to review Apple’s new MacBook Neo, I jumped at the chance to see what this little laptop can do. 

First, it’s cute

The tech girls, like myself, will love the color options the MacBook Neo provides. 

The device comes in four colors: Silver, Blush, Citrus, and Indigo. I was provided the Citrus variant, a bright lime that gives a vibrant tone that definitely stands out. I personally adored the Blush variant, a soft pink that’s unique versus other color variations most laptops provide.

Far from the regular silver and white that’s signature to Apple products, the Neo’s colors stand out to the young and energetic. 

It is small, but not the lightest

At just 13-inches, the MacBook Neo is tiny, compact, and can fit in most small backpacks, handbags, or totebags. Weighing at 1.23kg, the Neo isn’t the lightest in the market, but it surely isn’t the heaviest. 

The body was built to be durable despite its size, making it safer to drag around to the various shoots and studios I needed to attend. 

It’s also worth noting that its durability comes from 60% recycled material, with 90% recycled aluminum, 95% recycled lithium, and more. 

Apple has been actively transforming its manufacturing and engineering with sustainable practices in mind. The Neo is the product with the highest amount of recycled material and the lowest carbon footprint among other Apple products.

With that, the Neo is for anybody looking for a lighter device that corresponds to a quick and active lifestyle. 

An entry-level laptop for minimal work

The Neo only comes with 8GB RAM. This does mean that there are limitations to the amount that can be done.

The Neo also uses an A-18 pro chip that’s used in the iPhone 16 Pro. This also marks the first time an Apple laptop uses an iPhone chip.

To test how far this can go, I put the Neo to a stress test.

I opened 35 tabs on Safari, opening various browsers while playing YouTube videos, while opening the pre-installed apps.

While writing this draft and having everything opened, my memory shot up 7GB used according to the Activity Monitor.

However, the laptop did not slow. I did not experience significant lag as I’m typing this sentence.

When you’re on the field, writing, preparing documents, sheets, and presentations, it is a realistic scenario to have multiple tabs and apps open. 

I found it a pleasant experience to be able to still work, type, and shift through my messages on the browser without the lag I initially expected from an 8GB RAM.

The Neo’s 8GB RAM and its performance proves its difference in memory management versus 8GB on Windows. This means that memory on a Mac is filtered more efficiently despite multiple tabs or apps opened.

Using the same scenario on a Windows laptop would entail the lag I expected as Windows on an 8GB ram isn’t as filtered as a Mac’s.

Can you play games?

Yes, you can. But just like all MacBooks, you are not able to play the heavy lifting games.

You can still play simple, slice of life, or cozy games that are able to run on a Mac. Minecraft, Stardew Valley, etc. 

The MacBook Neo was never made for the hardcore gamer, but for the worker or student who may enjoy a little gaming on the side.

No backlit keyboard

A minor detail, but an important one is that there is no backlit keyboard.

This does make it challenging for working in the dark, and trying to carefully type out your password. It is again, a very minor detail. For an Apple-budget-friendly laptop, it’s a detail that can easily be overcome.

Overall thoughts

The MacBook Neo was built for those that are looking for their first laptop.

It is designed for university students or those starting out on their first jobs. It’s for those that are still figuring out the kind of device they would want in the future.

It’s great for minor tasks, such as writing, minor editing, social media management, and other basic necessities such as sheets and presentations.

The 8GB RAM and A18 chip may turn heads at first, but it’s still powerful enough to have 35 tabs and 10 apps open to function. 

The laptop is also an instant head-turner because of its vibrant colors and mini design.

For leisure, the Neo is great for simple gaming and binging movies and series. The sound is clear and defined, as the Neo is equipped with dual-speakers that support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos.

This laptop may be small but it can pack a moderate punch. For a budget-friendly laptop, it makes it worth its pesos and more.