Cheap Windows 11 laptops vs. MacBook Neo: Microsoft-commissioned report points out Neo's weaknesses as Apple rumored to double production to 10 million

Apple Rumored to Double MacBook Neo Production
It will now supposedly ship 10 million units.
Meanwhile, Microsoft commissioned a report to point out the strengths of budget Windows 11 laptops compared to the Neo, and it has been criticized online for its level of bias.

Apple is supposed to double production of the MacBook Neo to meet demand for the popular budget laptop, although Microsoft is fighting back in the affordable laptop war.

Wccftech reports that, according to Tim Culpan, a former Bloomberg reporter and one of the most reliable sources of rumors, Apple is increasing production of the first-generation MacBook Neo to 10 million units, up from the initial run (rumored) of 5 to 6 million.

Such a move would make sense, as there is clear evidence that Neo is selling very well. In fact, the laptop has been since its launch, and CEO Tim Cook recently acknowledged that demand has been “off the charts” for the Neo, and that it could take a while for Apple to address supply issues (for this MacBook and the Mac mini).

Analysis: selective selection problems

MacBook Neo laptop on a desk with a plant in the background

(Image credit: future)

OK, so there’s an obvious problem with a study commissioned by Microsoft, and that’s how benchmarks and comparisons were selected to show Windows 11 devices in the best light against the MacBook Neo (since Microsoft paid for this research).

For example, what about single core performance? That’s not mentioned, just multiple cores, and performance was also tested plugged in, not on battery. Working off the grid favors Windows 11 devices, as the processor has more capacity to benefit from the considerable additional power it can then consume (without throttling to balance battery life issues).

What’s also not mentioned is that the MacBook Neo’s screen is much brighter, which favors the battery life of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x running Windows 11 (the laptop has 56% better battery life and the main point of comparison for the Neo as the cheapest model powered by Microsoft). That Lenovo machine also has a larger battery, so it was always going to win on that front.

Other factors, such as screen quality and speakers, are not mentioned (areas for which the Lenovo IdeaPad has been criticized) and, price-wise, Microsoft’s laptops are also compared to the Neo, with discounts applied here. The key comparison to the wallet-friendly Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x mentions that it starts $150 cheaper than the Neo, but I could only find it on sale in the US for $50 cheaper (at the time of writing).

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This is not to dismiss Windows 11 laptops, nor to criticize the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x, price-wise it actually looks like a very good laptop. Of course, it has 16GB of RAM versus the MacBook Neo’s 8GB, and I’m worried about future readiness with 8GB, as I’ve said in the past. But it’s very clear that for today’s everyday computing tasks, the Neo performs well and ably; Just manage your expectations that this Apple laptop will tackle any demanding workload.

Ultimately, the MacBook Neo’s battle against the Lenovo IdeaPad or other affordable Windows 11 laptops (and it’s also worth noting that two of the devices Signal65 considers in its report are much more expensive than Apple’s hardware) comes down to whether you’re happy with macOS or Windows. Are you linked to the Apple or Microsoft ecosystem? Then your choice may already be made for you. (It’s also worth remembering that the Lenovo IdeaPad is an ARM-based PC, with some limitations compared to AMD or Intel chips; although admittedly, Microsoft has been fixing some of those problems.)

The MacBook Neo’s key strength is its relatively high-quality nature (in terms of the laptop’s build, display, speakers, etc.) for the outlay, but that said, this is where Apple could struggle as time goes on.

Mainly because, as Tim Culpan points out, paying to manufacture new CPUs to meet the rumored revised 10 million unit shipment target is going to cost Apple. Buying that production capacity at a time when everyone is trying to grab what they can is going to be expensive, and the concern is: will that be reflected in the price of the Neo? Especially considering the current RAM and component crisis.

One of Culpan’s theories is that Apple could offer only the top-tier Neo model (the laptop with 512GB of storage) later this year, which would effectively make the starting price $699 in the US (and an equivalent increase elsewhere) without actually implementing a price increase. Or some basic 256GB production may remain, but not much, and that model will effectively be out of stock most of the time.

Another theory is that price increases are softened by new color options, although I’m not convinced that one or two flashy new color combinations are going to ease much of the blow dealt by a potential price increase in the Neo’s first year of existence.