MacBook Neo: Stirring up discussion in laptop market

After nearly a decade and a half, Apple has returned to the mid-range laptop market. The MacBook Neo has stirred up significant discussion in the tech world since its unveiling. Market analysts say this device is set to bring major changes to the laptop market.

Right hardware at the right price
The MacBook Neo is priced at just $599, approximately Tk 74,000 in Bangladeshi currency. Students receive a $100 discount, bringing the price down to $499. However, in the local market, it is being sold through resellers for around Tk 80,000.

On paper, the hardware is not particularly eye-catching: the processor from the iPhone 16 Pro, 8GB of RAM, 256GB storage, a 13.5-inch display and only two USB-C ports. The keyboard lacks backlighting. However, the aluminium body, Retina display, full HD webcam, high-quality speakers, microphone and trackpad offer premium hardware unmatched by any other laptop at this price point.

Performance surprise
Thanks to Apple's A18 Pro chip, no other laptop in the $600 price range can match the MacBook Neo in single-core performance. For everyday tasks such as web browsing, watching videos, document creation, online classes or light coding, single-core performance is the most important factor. The battery life easily reaches 10 to 12 hours, and a standard 20-30 watt USB-C charger is sufficient for charging.

However, it is not suitable for gaming, compiling large software, running AI models or high-end video editing. Surprisingly, it can still run graphics-intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077.

Shortcomings in memory and cooling
The MacBook Neo's biggest weaknesses are its 8GB of RAM and fanless cooling system. However, macOS uses significantly less RAM than Windows, so 8GB should not cause problems for normal use. The real issue is cooling. In hot weather, under heavy workload, the laptop heats up quickly and reduces performance, a problem not easily solvable.

Call for market change
Just as the iPhone's design revolutionised the budget smartphone market, analysts believe the MacBook Neo will similarly shake up the mid-range laptop market. To stay competitive, other manufacturers will now be forced to consider higher resolution displays, aluminium bodies and longer battery life. Ultimately, consumers will be the beneficiaries of this competition.