MacBook Neo is a trap according to the CEO of Framework, and here’s why
When Apple announced the MacBook Neo, it undoubtedly shook up the laptop sector. Amid doubts and certainties, skepticism, and enthusiasm, the Neo has certainly fueled an intense discussion among users, as well as among industry professionals who were caught off guard by a starting price of only $599, a figure well below Apple’s usual standards.
However, the laptop targets a different audience than Apple’s traditional one: minimal design, essential functionality, and a SoC taken directly from the iPhone instead of a proper laptop chip. No fast charging, no ultra-fast USB ports, minimal RAM provision, but slightly higher repairability than other Apple laptops.
In this regard, iFixit experts awarded the model a 6/10 repairability score, a result that represents a significant improvement over the recent standards of MacBooks. The device boasts a more straightforward internal structure and offers the possibility of replacing, without too much difficulty, some key components like the battery or ports.
Unfortunately, some major limitations persist that afflict the entire Apple range now that the Mac Pro has exited the stage: RAM and storage are soldered to the motherboard, with no options for internal replacement or expansion.
Nirav Patel, the founder of Framework, a company known for its modular laptops, decided to compare the new MacBook Neo with the Framework Laptop 12, both positioned under $1,000 and designed for an audience seeking a balance between cost and functionality.
Within the MacBook Neo, precise design choices emerge. The touchpad, battery, and speakers can be replaced relatively easily, just like the ports, which can be swapped out in case of damage. This represents a tangible improvement compared to other Apple models, often criticized for their high component integration.
However, the differences between the two solutions become glaringly obvious once reaching the motherboard. The MacBook Neo adopts a mobile SoC and features an extremely compact motherboard, in line with that of an iPhone 16 Pro from which it inherits the A18 Pro chip. This means that RAM and storage remain fixed at the time of purchase, with no possibility for future expansion. This choice limits the hardware longevity of the device and imposes a precise initial choice of version, even though in terms of system memory, the offer is singular: 8 GB of RAM that already seems rather tight.
The comparison with Framework highlights a practically opposite approach. In the company’s laptops, active cooling (absent on Neo), memory and storage units can be replaced, while the CPU can be upgraded via a new motherboard compatible with the same chassis. This system is designed to maximize the lifespan of the device and postpone the replacement of the entire platform for as long as possible.
Even the display follows two different logics. On the MacBook Neo, any damage to the screen requires a replacement of the entire upper block. In Framework models, instead, the panel can be removed and replaced individually, reducing costs and intervention times.
"An important part of the strategy is to acquire new MacBook users right away and then integrate them into the walled ecosystem created by Apple for them. Once you own a MacBook Neo, storage runs out, the computer becomes a bit too slow, you need more ports, and once inside the macOS world, you might decide to buy a MacBook Pro, a MacBook Air for $1,000, $2,000, or $3,000," Patel explains in the comparison.
In conclusion, they represent two very different strategies: the MacBook Neo, according to Patel, serves as the entry point to the Apple ecosystem to then foster customer loyalty and encourage them to purchase higher-end products – and potentially other devices in the range; while Framework would focus entirely on durability and a purchase capable of offering value over time, not just immediate value.