<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/apple-unveils-899-macbook-neo-in-surprise-launch/76881c7c-737b-408f-8708-526867aab40a" rel="" target="" title="low-cost MacBook Neo was announced last week"><span>low-cost MacBook Neo was announced last week</span></a><span>, I had to look twice to check the price was in Australian dollars and not US dollars because a sub-$1000 laptop from Apple was unimaginable, until now.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Testing this out over recent days, I've come to the realisation that, frankly, we're all buying devices that are far more capable than we'll ever need, when in fact, back to basics might be the order of the day for most of us.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With Apple's A18 Pro chip powering this device, I wondered what would be possible from the same chip that powers the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, but in a laptop. What limitations might it suffer?</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/apple-new-iphone-17e-review-new-cheaper-model-designed-for-those-clinging-onto-older-phones/154b0e38-5c3c-4a5e-a4e2-36229cc1a4b5"><strong><span>Apple's latest iPhone is designed for those clinging onto older phones</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On face value, it's a premium Apple laptop with the same unibody-style design as the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, but in four colours: silver, indigo (more a dark blue in my eyes), blush (a soft pink), and citrus (why they didn't call it lemon, I don't know).</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Open it up, bright screen, 13 inches, looks great.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The keyboard is coloured to match the body, but that keyboard is not backlit, so low-light usage will rely on touch or ambient light for guidance. I didn't find this an issue in my use.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/technology/apple-macbook-neo-review-australia-the-laptop-market-is-redefined--price-specs-performance/e9dcda48-5eed-43d8-8cf2-01c69cb0822c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's powered by USB-C in one of the two ports and there's no MagSafe charger — not something I missed given the abundance of USB-C chargers I already have. In Australia, the MacBook Neo does come with a cable and charging brick in the box.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The sound system is downgraded, just two thin speakers cut into the sides near the front.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>I found the sound to be ample for enjoying streaming content or YouTube, and any buyer would be wise to look at Apple's AirPods range given their fast and easy pairing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/new-emojis-released-by-apple-unicode-consortium-rockslide-bigfoot-orcas-trombones/e49989e5-806d-47d2-9bd5-a12dbbf03ed7" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Bigfoot, trombone, orca among the latest emojis</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>So where are the limitations really?</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Well, that A18 Pro could be the thing. However, I installed the full Adobe Creative Cloud, using Audition and Premiere Pro. In my reporting prior to testing, I assumed video editing would be a problem. Oh, how wrong I was.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>I dropped into a timeline my raw chat with Valtteri Bottas at the Australian Grand Prix, clipped it a little, added captions and some standard Premiere Pro motion graphics. It exported no problem; after initially reporting it would take 28 minutes, that time sped along, and in the end, it took two minutes. For a seven-minute video.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>I tried again with some additional motion graphics to render and created a duplicate edit on a Mac Studio running the M3 Ultra chip. The Mac Studio exported in two minutes, the MacBook Neo in 11. That's slow compared, but is it really slow?</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>I'm not at all convinced that this device isn't an all-round option for a first laptop for any child, no matter their interests, and ideal for anyone looking to upgrade from a much older laptop, perhaps one running a now-outdated version of Windows.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Truth be told, for more than 95 per cent of people, the MacBook Neo is all you need. Browsing, documents, surfing, even some editing - it can do it all. I was shocked.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Browsing an Australian tech retailer site, I found 180 different Windows laptops for sale. Only eight of them were cheaper than the Apple MacBook Neo. How does the laptop market survive in its current form when the MacBook Neo exists?</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Apple MacBook Neo has redefined the entire laptop market, and PC/Windows laptop brands need to react, and fast. The Neo will likely become the best-selling laptop in the world this year, a title it takes from its big brother, the MacBook Air.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At $899, it's a strong recommendation from me.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Oh, and if you've got an extra $200, you can get double the storage (up to 512GB) as well as a Touch ID button.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>