Apple executives said the MacBook Neo has received a positive early response a month after its launch, while also citing past failures such as the first MacBook Air released in 2008 and Apple Maps at launch. In an interview with Tom’s Guide, hardware chief John Ternus and marketing head Greg Joswiak discussed product strategy and lessons from missteps. They said Neo’s competitiveness goes beyond value for money and rests on overall product quality.

Apple’s entry-level laptop, the MacBook Neo, can deliver noticeably better performance without added spending by adjusting settings and improving usage habits. TechRadar highlighted steps such as managing storage space, keeping macOS updated, restarting to clear memory and cache, closing unused apps and checking login items. It also pointed to differences between the two USB-C ports, reducing visual effects, monitoring resource-heavy processes and managing heat on the fanless device.