Apple’s simply launched the long-rumored low cost Mac laptop computer, beginning on the identical US$599 because the Mac mini. (It’s even cheaper for training people, who’ll pay simply US$499.) Accessible in silver and three a lot fancier colours (pink/greenish-yellow/blue) this lowers the barrier to entry for a Mac laptop computer considerably, and is sort of positive to be successful.

Ought to video professionals purchase one? Possibly, however in all probability not as your main Mac. Let’s dig in.

Specs

To hit this a lot lower cost level, the MacBook Neo makes use of not the M1 chip, however the A18 Professional, beforehand present in iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max. On paper, this chip is definitely quicker than the M1 in CPU and AI duties, although the M1 wins on GPU pace. A probably bigger limitation is that solely 8GB of RAM is included, whereas all new M-chip Macs now embrace 16GB.

In case you’ve edited on the primary MacBook Air with M1, I’d count on this to be the same expertise from a efficiency perspective, however we haven’t had a hands-on expertise but. I used an M1 Air for a yr or so at launch time and was definitely pleased to edit video on it. With out hands-on testing — it’s nonetheless too new — it’s powerful to say how a lot it’ll wrestle.

In addition to the colour alternative (formally Silver, Blush, Citrus or Indigo) you solely have two spec selections — 256GB and no Contact ID, or 512GB with Contact ID for US$100 extra. All the things else stays the identical between the 2 fashions.

The 13” Retina show has a decision of 2408×1506 at 500 nits brightness, definitely a step up over a budget screens discovered on most laptops, and recalling, as soon as once more, the screens on the older MacBook Air with M1. There’s no assist for True Tone or P3 Broad Coloration, although — simply sRGB. No ambient gentle sensor both.

One other price saving is that whereas there are two USB-C ports, solely the rear port is quick. That rear port is USB 3 (10Gbps) and quick sufficient for linked SSDs, a monitor or a hub, however the different port is simply USB 2.0, for charging and slower equipment. The webcam is a 1080p mannequin, with no assist for Heart Stage.

Sound doesn’t appear to have been in the reduction of, although. The audio system embrace Dolby Atmos, and a headphone jack, nonetheless essential for audio and video manufacturing, continues to be current. For video playback and encoding, the A18 Professional does assist {hardware} acceleration, together with H.264/HEVC/ProRes/ProRes RAW plus AV1 decoding, however we’ll have to attend for extra hands-on opinions to see how nicely it does general.

In case you needed to summarize this in a single line, it’s like a colourful new model of an outdated MacBook Air.

Do specs matter?

In fact, sure, they do, more often than not, to most professionals. My present MacBook Professional with M3 Max lets me do nice issues with Last Minimize Professional, Blender, and lots of Adobe apps, and naturally, the newer MacBook Professional with M5 Max would do them much more rapidly. Whereas I might do most of these issues on a MacBook Neo, I’d be doing them separately, and extra slowly.

The large distinction, after all, is the worth. A brand new creator who desires to make use of a Mac could not see the worth in spending no less than US$400 extra for a MacBook Air, or over US$1000 extra for a MacBook Professional. Since a lot video is being consumed and shot on telephones at 1080p or so, many mobile-focused creators may very well be pleased with one among these. Definitely, the modifying expertise on a laptop computer might be higher than modifying on a telephone, and the entry-level MacBook Neo is cheaper than nearly all present iPhones. US$599 solely will get you an iPhone 17e.

Additionally attention-grabbing: the entry-level MacBook Neo and the Mac mini share the identical US$599 value within the US, however right here in Australia, the MacBook Neo is AU$899 whereas the Mac mini is AU$999. Tariffs? Trade charges? Curious.

Conclusion

In case you’re a professional utilizing a instrument each day, spend more cash — even on a used MacBook Air from the final yr or so. You’ll recognize the 16GB of RAM, Contact ID, pace, and fewer compromises general.

However if you happen to’re simply beginning out, not sitting in an edit bay all day, and cash issues, possibly that is simply high quality. In case your fundamental Mac sits on a desk and also you want one thing for cellular workflows and really occasional edits, it might go well with that too. It’s additionally an ideal answer for any PC customers who want a Mac for infrequent Mac-only jobs.

So positive, it’s not one of the best instrument for a number of layers of 6K and 3D rendering. As a substitute, it’s US$599.