Here are the key points from this review that highlight just how compromised the MacBook Neo is, especially when compared to the philosophy behind the Thinkpad T480.
Build and Design Compromises
- Proprietary Screws: It uses Apple's proprietary pentalobe screws, a deliberate move to make it difficult for the owner to open and repair the computer they bought. This is the antithesis of the easily serviceable T480.
- Wasted Internal Space: Sam points out a gap inside the chassis where a larger battery could have been fitted. This proves the thinness was prioritized over practicality and battery life, even when there was physical room to improve it.
- Non-Backlit Keyboard: Sam jokes it has a “dull Apple” logo (unlit) to show it’s a “dull computer for dull people.” More importantly, he confirms the keyboard is not backlit, a shocking omission for any modern laptop, let alone one supposedly aimed at students who might be working at night.
- Side-Firing Speakers: The speakers fire downwards from the sides, an inferior design for audio quality compared to front-firing speakers
Performance and Usability Flaws
- 8GB RAM is a Bottleneck: The reviewer explicitly tests this. While editing a simple video project, the system slows down with Final Cut Pro layers. He checks the “memory pressure” and notes, “it’s not happy about doing any of this.” This confirms that 8GB is a genuine limitation for even moderately intensive tasks.
- Performance is Worse Than Older Macs: This is the most damning part. In the Geekbench-like CPU test, the Neo scored 1486 points.
- The older M1 MacBook Air scored 2800 points.
- The newer M4 MacBook Air scored 3300 points.
- The Neo is literally less than half as powerful as the current Air and only about half as powerful as an M1 from several years ago.
The Ultimate Insult: The Value Proposition
The reviewer delivers the final, most devastating argument by comparing the Neo to a used M1 MacBook Air:
- The Price Comparison: He points out you can get a used M1 MacBook Air for only $19 more than the new $600 (£570-670) Neo.
- What the Extra $19 Gets You:
- Two fast USB-C ports (not one fast, one slow).
- A backlit keyboard.
- A better Force Touch trackpad.
- Vastly superior performance (nearly double the multi-core score).
The Reviewer’s Final Verdict
Our Sam concludes that the Neo is “annoyingly good” in some basic tasks but ultimately poor value. His final warning is particularly telling:
“Get one if you want but don’t come crying to me in a couple of years when 8 GB isn’t enough. Guaranteed Apple will slow this one down in two updates time and counting.”
This reinforces the planned obsolescence argument. You’re buying an underpowered machine that is designed to become frustratingly slow with future OS updates, forcing you to upgrade again.
In summary, even though delivered in fairly jocular fashion, the review confirms that every single compromise on the Neo - the ports, the RAM, the lack of charger, the non-backlit keyboard - is a deliberate choice to hit a low price point while maximizing Apple’s profit, with no regard for the user’s experience or the long-term value of the product. It makes the choice of a robust, expandable, and powerful ThinkPad T480 look even smarter.