The MacBook Neo stopped me in my tracks, not least because it’s a beautiful piece of technology that appeals to the enthusiast in me. It’s the whole package that Apple is putting on the table – aluminum construction, efficient silicon, and great battery life – all for the unbelievable price of $599. I wanted to hear it, too probably bought it a few weeks ago.
But I didn’t. And it wasn’t because Neo is a bad machine. I’ve had the device for a few days (thanks to a friend who spent his money on it), and the more I dug into what Apple had left to beat the surprisingly low price, the more I felt like pushing my purchase until the Neo got better.
5 things I want the next MacBook Neo to fix
Because here’s the thing: I get a lot of trade-offs. What I don’t understand, however, is why some of the cuts were made in the first place, as it’s more about stripping away the iconic MacBook experience than saving the company costs. So, dear Apple, fix these five things on the next MacBook Neo, and I’ll pull out my wallet before you guys start accepting pre-orders.
| Clarification | MacBook Neo (2026) |
|---|---|
| The chip | Apple A18 Pro (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU) |
| RAM | 8GB integrated memory (not upgraded) |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB SSD |
| Show | 13-inch Liquid Retina, 2408×1506, 500 nits, 1 billion colors |
| Battery | Up to 16 hours |
| Ports | 2x USB-C (left: USB 3, right: USB 2) |
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD |
| Communication | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth |
| Starting Price | $599 ($499 for tuition) |
A19 Pro can help push the performance ceiling
For a first-generation device, the MacBook Neo does really well with Apple’s A18 Pro chip (borrowed from the iPhone 16 Pro, which has a single GPU core). I’m amazed at how well it handles everyday tasks like browsing, emailing, and, most importantly, multitasking with different Chrome tabs.
But this is what makes me pump the brakes. The A18 Pro holds its own in everyday tasks, but due to the lack of additional cores compared to the M series, it lags behind intensive workflows such as photo editing, graphic design, or coding.
That’s where a better, more powerful chip can help the Neo step up its game, not just for immediate profit, but to keep the Neo relevant for the next four or five years, especially since AI-driven tasks will require more computing power.
The good news? Apple is already working on including the A19 Pro (from the iPhone 17 Pro) inside the next iteration, and I’ll take it all day. The chip brings meaningful improvements across the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine, and should improve the overall Neo experience.
It’s Apple’s configuration that does the heavy lifting here, not the 8GB of RAM
I will give credit where it is due. It’s not just the 8GB of physical RAM on the MacBook Neo that does the heavy lifting. Apple’s iron grip on hardware and software optimizations (including swappable memory) make browsing, streaming, and general multitasking feel like a breeze on the Neo.
However, when I pushed it through using multiple applications at the same time, such as Chrome (with more than a dozen active tabs) with Apple Music, and added FaceTime to the mix, the memory ceiling became apparent. Unlike a Windows laptop, where upgrading RAM is optional, with MacBooks, what you buy is what you stay with.
In my opinion, the device is perfectly aimed at first-time computer buyers: students, new professionals, and people who want a second device on the go, and it serves them very well. But with the inevitable memory crunch, 8GB of RAM won’t cut the mustard forever.
For me, more RAM doesn’t just solve the fast multitasking bottleneck; it solves the problem of longevity, too. Fortunately, the A19 Pro chip is rumored to bring 12GB of integrated memory as standard for the next Neo, and that should have been the baseline from day one.
I write in the dark every day
While some things aren’t immediately obvious, this one confused me when I first uncovered the item. The Neo skips the backlit keyboard, a feature so common in 2026 that even Windows laptops don’t think twice about it.
Apple’s workaround is a color-matched keyboard with soft keys on all four panels, and sure enough, the display backlight does a decent job of illuminating the keys. However, it’s not the way the old backlit keyboard works, the one my M1 MacBook Air has, not only because it looks cool at night, but because it makes finding the function keys much easier.
I can’t stress enough how much a backlit keyboard can help Neo’s target audience: students working on assignments late at night, casual travelers who work on the go, in dimly lit airplane seats or train compartments, or people like me, who would rather work outside at night than be cooped up indoors.
The trackpad doesn’t feel like it’s on a MacBook
One of the most distinctive features of MacBooks, the hallmark of every MacBook for nearly a decade, is the haptic trackpad. It was one of the features that surprised me before my first MacBook purchase, and to call it anything other than a design would be a mistake. And the Neo, somehow, doesn’t have it.
Instead, it has a mechanical trackpad that clicks like a budget Windows laptop or Chromebook, and that’s exactly what I wouldn’t expect or accept, not from Apple. Don’t get me wrong, though. The Neo’s trackpad works well, but when you use it after using another MacBook, the difference can’t be missed.
And while we’re at it, the Paywalling Touch ID in the upper storage is something that didn’t sit well with me either, but I’ll let it pass considering it’s not something I use as often as the keyboard and trackpad.
The USB 2 port is not helpful while transferring files
It might be when someone is trying to offload their iPhone data to a MacBook, or getting vacation photos or videos on an external storage drive, that Neo users will notice how slow the USB 2 port on the device (the one next to the trackpad) is.
And it’s coming faster than anyone can imagine. Even a 20GB iPhone backup that takes minutes with a USB 3 connection will wait about half an hour on a USB 2. For people who are always working, trying to be productive around the clock, that sounds like a deep cut.
I’m not asking for a Thunderbolt port, but both ports work at USB 3 speeds, in my opinion, it’s a reasonable ask in 2026.
| A feature | Current situation in Neo | What is Required |
|---|---|---|
| The chip | A18 Pro, tied to the iPhone 16 Pro | A19 Pro for better CPU, GPU & Neural Engine performance |
| RAM | 8GB, fixed — no way to upgrade | 12GB as base, not premium tier |
| Keyboard Backlight | No backlight – color-matched keys for functionality | Standard backlit keyboard, like all other MacBooks |
| Haptic Trackpad | Mechanical click trackpad, no Force Touch | Force Touch haptic trackpad — a basic MacBook feature |
| USB-C ports | Left: USB 3 / Right: USB 2 (decorating effectively) | Both ports with USB 3 speed minimum |
Bottom line
None of these things are dealbreakers at $599, and there’s not even a question at $499 for tuition. To Apple’s credit, the Neo is one of the most impressive first-generation devices I’ve seen and used in a long time.
Obviously, years of experience making MacBooks helps the company. What annoys me, though, is when the Neo starts to feel like it’s one-upping the competition rather than staying true to its Apple roots.
Chip and RAM upgrades have been rumored, and I’m excited about it. But if anyone at Apple is reading this, please bring back the backlit keyboard, the haptic trackpad, and bring both ports to the same USB 3 standard. Do that, and the next MacBook Neo will have something more than my attention – my money.