MacBook Neo Sufficient for my use?
Discussion
So ive had a MacBook Pro 13" since 2017, it has been pretty faultless.
However its now on its last legs - The battery only lasts a few hours, its getting very hot, getting a bit glitchy and won't turn on with less than 50% battery unless its plugged in.
Spec:
So think its time for an upgrade, near 10 years is not bad i don't think.
Use wise, its only used for browsing the internet, Netflix/youtube, purchases, email etc, so another Macbook Pro i feel is massive overkill!
I don't really wan't to spend more than £1K, preferably less. 13" screen is perfect.
Was thinking of an entry MacBook Air, but just seen there is now a Neo which looks like it would do the job?
Would go for the 512GB version, for £700.
Would i be right in thinking this entry MacBook is massively more powerful than my 9 year old Pro? and more than sufficient for my use?
Any reason i could possibly need the extra power of the Air etc?
Cheers
However its now on its last legs - The battery only lasts a few hours, its getting very hot, getting a bit glitchy and won't turn on with less than 50% battery unless its plugged in.
Spec:
So think its time for an upgrade, near 10 years is not bad i don't think.
Use wise, its only used for browsing the internet, Netflix/youtube, purchases, email etc, so another Macbook Pro i feel is massive overkill!
I don't really wan't to spend more than £1K, preferably less. 13" screen is perfect.
Was thinking of an entry MacBook Air, but just seen there is now a Neo which looks like it would do the job?
Would go for the 512GB version, for £700.
Would i be right in thinking this entry MacBook is massively more powerful than my 9 year old Pro? and more than sufficient for my use?
Any reason i could possibly need the extra power of the Air etc?
Cheers
By the time you've done £700 on a Neo, you might as well throw a bit extra at it and get an Air. Air M4 is still available for not much more than that, but the Air M5 is a lovely bit of kit.
No doubt the Neo will be fine for your usage now, but I think you've a much better chance of getting 10 years out an Air M5, a Neo might need replacing after 4-5 years. 8Gb RAM doesn't provide much headroom these days.
No doubt the Neo will be fine for your usage now, but I think you've a much better chance of getting 10 years out an Air M5, a Neo might need replacing after 4-5 years. 8Gb RAM doesn't provide much headroom these days.
quinny100 said:
By the time you've done £700 on a Neo, you might as well throw a bit extra at it and get an Air. Air M4 is still available for not much more than that, but the Air M5 is a lovely bit of kit.
No doubt the Neo will be fine for your usage now, but I think you've a much better chance of getting 10 years out an Air M5, a Neo might need replacing after 4-5 years. 8Gb RAM doesn't provide much headroom these days.
Agree, don't care how optimised they are, I'm not buying a device with 8Gb of RAM in 2026 if I intended to keep it for many years.No doubt the Neo will be fine for your usage now, but I think you've a much better chance of getting 10 years out an Air M5, a Neo might need replacing after 4-5 years. 8Gb RAM doesn't provide much headroom these days.
The Neo will be more than fine for your usage. Nice bit of kit (bought the OH one - green, higher spec - to replace her 12yr old Air).
The one criticism I would have - no backlit keyboard, even on the higher spec model. Mac backlit keyboards are the best in the business. It's a shame you can't get a Neo with one.
The JL Air M5 is the best part of £300 more...42% more expensive, for a lot more poke that you won't ever use.
The one criticism I would have - no backlit keyboard, even on the higher spec model. Mac backlit keyboards are the best in the business. It's a shame you can't get a Neo with one.
The JL Air M5 is the best part of £300 more...42% more expensive, for a lot more poke that you won't ever use.
SwissJonese said:
We recently bought a MacBook Air M4 13". Some deals around made it only £50 more than the top spec Neo. The Air comes with a better screen, 16gb ram and a proper processor and gpu. But we did like the Neo, but 8GB in this day?
The Neo will do the job for the OP....but you're right about these deals and that might make me think...mainly down to the keyboard and Magsafe (I hate USB-C connectors!).Any interest in a lightly-used M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD MacBook Air (not mine, someone selling a pair on M3Cutters) for £525 each.
Alternatively, KRCS (authorised Mac reseller) has a 10% discount offer on until 28th June:
Amazon has the older M4 model (with a 256GB SSD though) for £799
Alternatively, KRCS (authorised Mac reseller) has a 10% discount offer on until 28th June:
Amazon has the older M4 model (with a 256GB SSD though) for £799
Edited by mmm-five on Wednesday 24th June 10:02
If you are a Costco member they have just knocked £300 off an M4 Air 13 16gb with 1tb storage.
Double the storage 512gb-1tb is usually about £200 anyway and an M4 processor, worth it for longevity if you can afford the extra.
https://www.costco.co.uk/TVs-Electronics-Security/...
Double the storage 512gb-1tb is usually about £200 anyway and an M4 processor, worth it for longevity if you can afford the extra.
https://www.costco.co.uk/TVs-Electronics-Security/...
Edited by BlueMR2 on Thursday 25th June 15:09
Thanks guys, so I popped to my local Apple Store yesterday, had a little play with the Neo and walked out with a 256GB Neo in Indigo for £599.
I decided the 256GB was sufficient, as I never filled the 256GB on the Pro, and not that interested in finger unlock as it unlocks with my watch.
Firstly Its a really nice quality item, feels really nice to use. It's soo much more responsive to my lagging Pro! And it does not get hot!
And the battery is on another level, I've used it for a good few hours tonight, and its still on 88%!
It really shows how degraded the pro had become!
My only gripe is no backlit keyboard, but can live with that for the price.
I can't really notice the difference in the mechanical touchpad, it's still great to use.
So very happy with the decision so far.
I decided the 256GB was sufficient, as I never filled the 256GB on the Pro, and not that interested in finger unlock as it unlocks with my watch.
Firstly Its a really nice quality item, feels really nice to use. It's soo much more responsive to my lagging Pro! And it does not get hot!
And the battery is on another level, I've used it for a good few hours tonight, and its still on 88%!
It really shows how degraded the pro had become!
My only gripe is no backlit keyboard, but can live with that for the price.
I can't really notice the difference in the mechanical touchpad, it's still great to use.
So very happy with the decision so far.
V8 Stang said:
Thanks guys, so I popped to my local Apple Store yesterday, had a little play with the Neo and walked out with a 256GB Neo in Indigo for £599.
I decided the 256GB was sufficient, as I never filled the 256GB on the Pro, and not that interested in finger unlock as it unlocks with my watch.
Firstly Its a really nice quality item, feels really nice to use. It's soo much more responsive to my lagging Pro! And it does not get hot!
And the battery is on another level, I've used it for a good few hours tonight, and its still on 88%!
It really shows how degraded the pro had become!
My only gripe is no backlit keyboard, but can live with that for the price.
I can't really notice the difference in the mechanical touchpad, it's still great to use.
So very happy with the decision so far.
Glad your happy with the purchase, the battery on most mac laptops is very impressive compared to older intel laptops.I decided the 256GB was sufficient, as I never filled the 256GB on the Pro, and not that interested in finger unlock as it unlocks with my watch.
Firstly Its a really nice quality item, feels really nice to use. It's soo much more responsive to my lagging Pro! And it does not get hot!
And the battery is on another level, I've used it for a good few hours tonight, and its still on 88%!
It really shows how degraded the pro had become!
My only gripe is no backlit keyboard, but can live with that for the price.
I can't really notice the difference in the mechanical touchpad, it's still great to use.
So very happy with the decision so far.
Like you say you can often get a whole day on the same charge.
Enjoy it.
V8 Stang said:
Thanks guys, so I popped to my local Apple Store yesterday, had a little play with the Neo and walked out with a 256GB Neo in Indigo for £599.
I decided the 256GB was sufficient, as I never filled the 256GB on the Pro, and not that interested in finger unlock as it unlocks with my watch.
Firstly Its a really nice quality item, feels really nice to use. It's soo much more responsive to my lagging Pro! And it does not get hot!
And the battery is on another level, I've used it for a good few hours tonight, and its still on 88%!
It really shows how degraded the pro had become!
My only gripe is no backlit keyboard, but can live with that for the price.
I can't really notice the difference in the mechanical touchpad, it's still great to use.
So very happy with the decision so far.
Glad you like it.I decided the 256GB was sufficient, as I never filled the 256GB on the Pro, and not that interested in finger unlock as it unlocks with my watch.
Firstly Its a really nice quality item, feels really nice to use. It's soo much more responsive to my lagging Pro! And it does not get hot!
And the battery is on another level, I've used it for a good few hours tonight, and its still on 88%!
It really shows how degraded the pro had become!
My only gripe is no backlit keyboard, but can live with that for the price.
I can't really notice the difference in the mechanical touchpad, it's still great to use.
So very happy with the decision so far.
Noted the backlit keyboard...for my use it would be a deal breaker (daft as that might sound), but the OH loves her Neo.
I should get quite some time out of my current machine (I switched back to Windows laptops in 2016 when Mac prices went stupid for the specs being offered), but if the prices and specs keep where they're at, comparably, I could well switch back next time.
I was in the exact same predicament a couple of months ago. went into the Apple store and talked to the staff and she advised me to get an M4 as it was a little bit more money (£50 more on Amazon at the time) and was a much better machine that will last longer in terms of updates etc.
The Neo is great but I'd recommend the M4 over it all day long.
The Neo is great but I'd recommend the M4 over it all day long.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff