In an earnings call, an ASUS executive admitted that Apple 's more affordable MacBook Neo is a "shock" to the PC industry (via PCMag). In the US, the MacBook Neo starts at $599 and is even more affordable for students ($499).
“Given Apple’s historically very high pricing, the launch of such an affordable product is definitely a shock to the entire market,” ASUS CFO Nick Wu, according to a transcript of the conference call published by Seeking Alpha.
See also: MacBook Neo 2 may feature a touchscreen
Wu mentioned that the MacBook Neo has some limited specs, including 8GB of RAM, and he believes that this may affect the ability to use some apps. However, MacBook Neo reviewerPatrick Tomassoplayed back 4K video in DaVinci Resolve and Final Cut Pro, edited a photo in Adobe Lightroom, and used multiple tabs in Google Chrome on the laptop without any issues.
In reality, most, if not all, reviews praised the performance of the MacBook Neo.
Wu believes that Apple seems to be positioning the MacBook Neo as a device that is more for 'content consumption', like a tablet.
See also: MacBook Neo faces shipping delays
“Of course, it’s not that it can’t do all the work, but considering the user experience and these hardware limitations, the experience, I think, is significantly different from the mainstream products,” the ASUS executive reportedly said.
However, Wu said the PC industry is taking the introduction of the MacBook Neo "very seriously."
“I believe all PC vendors, including vendors like Microsoft, Intel and AMD, are taking this very seriously, discussing how to compete with this product across the entire PC ecosystem,” Wu said, according to the transcript. “The entire PC ecosystem will launch corresponding products to compete with Apple.”
Ultimately, he said that the real impact of the MacBook Neo on the PC market remains to be seen.
“The final outcome of the competition in the market is difficult to predict. We just need more time“.
MacBook Neo: A good choice albeit with some shortcomings
Although the MacBook Neo has a simplified feature set compared to other Mac models, its price is tempting. $599 for a Mac is an incredible deal, and the A18 Pro chip is more than adequate for everyday use and the kind of work that students do.
See also: MacBook Neo: macOS will notify about USB-C port limitation
It probably isn't the best choice for 3D rendering, running local AI models, editing video, or similar creative tasks, but it will do those things at a basic level. It's an ideal MacBook for anyone who doesn't need more than a machine for web browsing and other light tasks.
