Up until a last-minute rumor, we originally thought the new lower-cost MacBook would be called just the “MacBook” with no monikers or suffixes in the end. After all, the “MacBook” was originally used for its entry-level polycarbonate laptops (and briefly for its 13-inch aluminum model that was later rebranded as a “MacBook Pro”). Apple revived the brand again, but this time for its radically thin 12-inch laptop that had one USB-C port before its discontinuation in July 2019. However, that rumor turned out to be true as Apple officially unveiled the “MacBook Neo”, and I honestly thought it was a bizarre name. Even some people weren’t very fond of the name, and they wondered what the meaning behind the name was.
Thankfully, TechRadar’s Lance Ulanoff got to chat with Apple’s Mac product marketing director, Colleen Novielli, and there’s a simple explanation behind the name. In a sentence, the MacBook Neo is something new, original, radical, and fresh that only Apple could deliver: it is to offer a fun laptop in fresh colors at such a new price that Apple just couldn’t achieve before.
Here’s what these two representatives for Apple have to say about the MacBook Neo.
“We wanted something that felt fun and friendly, and fresh, and felt like it really suited the spirit of this product.” -Colleen Novielli
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s marketing chief, also touted the MacBook Neo’s freshness in his post on X:
“MacBook Neo is new, exciting, original, and HERE,” said Apple’s marketing chief Greg Joswiak, in a social media post on Wednesday. “With a beautiful aluminum design, 13-inch Liquid Retina display, 16 hours of battery life, and the power of Apple silicon, you’ll fly through everyday tasks. It’ll be love at first Mac.”
In my opinion, Apple was right. If you refer to a dictionary, “neo” means “new,” and the MacBook Neo was clearly part of Steve Jobs’ philosophy of creating great products at reasonable prices. While you could make cheaper products, it would often come with compromises that would deliver a “lousy” experience, and Apple was wise not to ship “junk.” Thanks to the advancements made to Apple silicon, the MacBook Neo still delivers unparalleled performance, efficiency, and integration that no other PC within the Neo’s price range could compete with.
