PC makers aren’t ready for the MacBook Neo

the MacBook Neo Here it is, and it took no time at all for an executive from the PC maker to put his foot in his mouth trying to discuss this new competition from Apple’s $600 laptop. on Asus’ latest earnings callThe Neo and its aggressive entry-level pricing was “certainly a shock to the entire market,” CFO Nick Wu said. Wu also revealed that Asus had some knowledge about Apple developing a Neo device in 2025, as many of us do. I’ve heard rumors of a MacBook with an iPhone chip For months – yet, Asus and other PC makers seem to have faltered.

What’s worse is that company executives don’t seem to understand what Neo means. Apple has gone full into the budget laptop business, with a very capable (and colorful) device that seems destined for everything from Windows laptops to fleets of Chromebooks in schools everywhere. Apple’s manufacturing strength, design verticals, and near-total ownership of its technology stack give it the tools to conquer this market in a big way. Somehow, PC makers still didn’t see this coming. Here’s how Wu described the MacBook Neo, specifically its 8GB RAM limits:

“I think when Apple positioned the product, they probably focused more on content consumption. This is a bit different from mainstream laptop usage scenarios, because in this case, the Neo feels like a tablet — because tablets are mostly for content consumption.”

I am waiting. Can we hold on for a moment here?

Equating the MacBook Neo to the glorified Netflix is ​​preposterous. It’s not a desktop-replacement laptop with a lot of power, but it’s a very capable machine. This misunderstanding tells me that PC manufacturers are about to repeat many of the same mistakes they made when they did this spent Years Sarcastically Which MacBook Air is supposedly underpowered, and when Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer laughed at the iPhone. Once again, the Windows world doesn’t seem to understand what people actually want.

How exactly does the MacBook Neo differ from mainstream notebook use, such as browsing the web, editing documents, giving basic presentations, and maybe even playing a game occasionally? According to A 2025 CNET reconnaissance52 percent of laptop owners use their laptops to create and view documents. The next highest percentage was the 35% who used their laptops to stream and watch shows and movies (content consumption, yes). Other uses surveyed beyond this are creative work, studying, taking tests and organizing basic life. These are all things that Neo can do well (with some limitations on the creative side). It does so while having a good trackpad, a bright, colorful display, a sturdy keyboard, and high-quality speakers — things that go a long way in making the computer attractive, and which are often missing in lower-cost Windows laptops.

If a Neo came out running iPadOS, it would certainly be called a consumption device, but it’s running macOS — a desktop operating system known to run better with less RAM than Windows. Meanwhile, thanks Constant lack of RAMWe may Get back more from new laptops with 8GB RAM On Windows. As RAM prices rise, Apple’s vertically integrated supply chain can continue to offer computers at a cheaper price. Even if PC makers can match the specifications, they will have difficulty matching the price.

The proof of the MacBook Neo’s performance for the money is in the numbers. in Single-core benchmark tests – That accurately measures the types of everyday tasks you do on your PC – Neo’s A18 Pro chip outperforms all types of Windows laptops, including the new flagship Intel Panther Lake chip On Asus’s own for $2,400 Zenbook duo. Is the Zenbook Duo more capable than the MacBook Neo for heavy tasks, like photo and video editing or playing more graphically demanding games? Yes, that’s part of the reason I loved this dual-screen laptop when I reviewed it. But the Zenbook Duo costs four times that price, too. Again, the Neo can handle most common tasks, even with its 8GB of RAM.

I said in my review that the Neo embarrasses an entire category of affordable Windows laptops, but more embarrassment awaits these companies if they have nothing to answer for. I hope they are already working on this next generation of laptops that will actually compete at $600. And I truly Hopefully, companies like Asus, Microsoft, Dell, HP, Acer, Samsung, and MSI have a real understanding of what makes their new competition so good, and what they can do for much less than their current Windows-based offerings. I’ve reached out to all of these companies, and the answers I’ve received so far have been great.

Howard Chiu, Gigabyte’s marketing director, told me, “Gigabyte is not currently pursuing laptops in the same category as the Neo. The Gigabyte A16 will be the minimum spec we’re involved with.” Well, I can really respect that. Since Gigabyte is a small player in the laptop space that specializes mostly in gaming, it simply doesn’t compete with the Neo.

Dell’s public relations representative, Natalia Romano, directed me to COO Jeff Clark CES keynote. Clark He teased the release Again XPS 13 The laptop that will be “the most accessible XPS price point ever.” He also said the company’s goal is to “cover all price points with great products. Is a great product at $399 any different than it is at $1,999? Of course it is, but both can be great at what they’re expected to do.” What does Dell currently have at the price of the Neo? A Dell 15 laptop With a dim 16:9 screen, a plastic build, a three-year-old Intel chip, and 8GB of RAM. On Windows 11. Woof.

It’s not just about performance scores or amount of RAM, it’s also about making affordable laptops that don’t feel like a penalty to use — a complete package for regular people, at a price that isn’t outrageous. That’s what Windows laptop manufacturers are up against, and if they don’t understand that, they don’t understand a whole class of customers who can walk into an Apple Store today and get exactly that for $599. Because they are about to do so.