I'm looking to replace my old 2015 MacBook Air, which is starting to freeze up when I have more than three tabs open or run a couple of programs. It takes a long time to open documents too, and the battery life has really suffered. I've heard about the new MacBook Neo and I'm considering whether to go for that or just grab another refurbished MacBook Air. My budget allows for either option. I mainly use my laptop for emails, job applications, writing, and streaming videos from time to time. I'm not into gaming or graphic design, so I don't need something overly powerful. Any thoughts on which would be a better choice?
5 Answers
Honestly, coming from a 2015 Air that's struggling, you'll notice a huge difference with anything newer. If the Neo has Apple Silicon, it should be fast enough for tasks like emails and streaming, plus it usually has great battery life. If the refurbished Air is also Apple Silicon, that’s also a solid choice. Just keep in mind, when multitasking, 16GB RAM is ideal; 8GB can work, but you'll feel the pinch sooner or later. For storage, 256GB is usually fine if you use cloud services, but if you have a lot of local files, consider getting 512GB. Just make sure the refurbished one has a good return policy so you can check on battery, keyboard, and overall functionality in the first few days.
While the Neo might be a perfect fit for your use, its long-term reliability isn't proven yet. It could last for years like the M1 Air from 2020, or it might not, so it’s a bit of a gamble.
That's a good point! I guess I'm just trying not to get too caught up in the hype.
The Neo actually suits your needs perfectly! It's built for users like you and performs better than laptops made before 2020.
Awesome, that sounds promising!
The Neo seems like a great match for you. It sounds like it would handle everything you do quite well!
Either choice will feel like a massive upgrade for you! If the refurbished Air is a newer Apple Silicon version, I recommend going with that because it's known for its reliability. You really can't go wrong with either option, but it sounds like they'll both suit your needs well.
Thanks! I guess it really comes down to what fits my budget while still ensuring enough memory. Leaning towards the Air since it has a solid track record.
Thanks for the tips! I tend to have a lot of tabs open for planning trips and job hunting, so I might really need something more robust. I also have an external hard drive, so storage isn't a huge concern, though I do want a laptop that can handle more files. I’ll definitely weigh the 256GB vs 512GB options. Thanks for the reminder about the return policy too!