Apple’s MacBook Neo is making rounds on the internet for being the cheapest laptop in the current lineup. The low-cost MacBook went on sale this week at $599 for its base model. It’s now being reported that an unusually high number of people are opting to trade in their Macs.
While it’s expected for Mac trade-ins to rise whenever a new Mac launches, the jump seen this week is considerably higher than typical. This comes from MacRumors, which cited a reliable source and reported that the number of Macs traded in at Apple retail stores over the week increased by over 100% compared to previous weeks.
This surge is also being attributed to the new M5 MacBook Air and not much to the new MacBook Pro, which comes with the M5 Pro/Max chips. More people are willing to trade in their old, low-end models for Apple’s new budget MacBooks.
The new MacBook Neo cuts corners in some areas, such as the lack of the MagSafe charging connector, limited RAM, and no Force Touch trackpad. However, it makes up for it in other ways. Apple promoted its budget MacBook by saying it was “built from the ground up,” likely referring to improvements made under the hood.
A recent teardown video of the MacBook Neo revealed that it’s the most repairable MacBook Apple has created in years. It’s fitted with modular ports, a tiny motherboard, and the battery is easily replaceable after removing a total of 18 screws.
Apple has made things easier by not adding stretch-adhesive tapes and glue inside the MacBook Neo. An exception is the weak adhesive used to secure the cable connecting the trackpad to the mainboard.
Not just end users, MacBook Neo caught the attention of industry experts as well. Former Windows head Steven Sinofsky published a review of the low-cost MacBook and said he was “completely blown away by Mac Neo.” Apple itself claims that its A18 Pro chip is “up to 50 percent faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5.”
Source: MacRumors
