If you’ve been paying attention to tech news over the past week, you may have noticed the mutterings over the MacBook Neo, Apple’s budget MacBook that is set to eat Chromebooks for breakfast.
Initial reviews are almost wholly positive, and all have expressed their belief that this laptop will drive new users to the Apple ecosystem and disrupt the mid-range laptop space that has been Apple-free for decades.
For me, the MacBook Neo comes at the right time. I bought a cheap Chromebook in 2022 for when I wasn’t able to access my computer, and while it was adequate for a while, recent months have seen me traveling more and relying on it.
However, it’s not up to the task for anything beyond light work, so I’ve been hunting for an affordable replacement. But despite its excellence, I won’t be buying a MacBook Neo (not yet, at least), and here’s why.
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The reason I use Chromebooks
Cheap, versatile, effective
I’ve owned two Chromebooks in my life. The one I’m using now, and another, equally cheap, one I bought in 2016 for university work.
My needs were similar for both devices: light writing and editing for when I couldn’t, or wasn’t able to, access my PC at home. However, I never considered buying a Windows laptop for on-the-go use.
Android has been my mobile OS of choice since my first smartphone, and I’ve always considered it a companion to my work. I’ve written essay paragraphs, edited articles, managed emails, and held meetings on it.
It’s an invaluable part of my life. So when it came to picking a laptop, I needed something that worked with my phone.
Hence, Chromebooks. While I know that nearly all of a Chromebook’s functionality is available through any web browser, the Android integration is, unsurprisingly, phenomenal.
I love how easy it is to link my Android phone to my Chromebook and manage my texts, share files, open recent Chrome tabs, and continue using apps without missing a beat.
However, Chromebooks are limited in their functionality. Great for work you traditionally do in a browser, not ideal for many apps.
This is why I’ve been eyeing up the MacBook Neo, as my desire for more functionality has made me look beyond Chromebooks.
Or it would have if the biggest Android release of the decade wasn’t right around the corner.
Android laptops could be the MacBook competitor we’ve been waiting for
Sounds crazy, but there is a lot of potential for AluminiumOS
Ten years ago, when I bought my first Chromebook, the idea that one could compare it to a MacBook was laughable. Chromebooks were cheap, low-performance, functional devices built for students.
However, in 2023, Google launched the Chromebook Plus program. Laptops that met minimum specifications gained access to features like higher quality video calling, AI photo editing features, Gemini on your home screen, offline Workspace files, and more.
Still, more features didn’t mean better laptops, so while many Chromebook Plus devices are great buys, they still can’t compare to the sheer power and functionality of MacBooks, even the MacBook Neo.
All this is about to change. Google is set to launch Aluminium OS soon, which will merge ChromeOS and Android into a single, unified operating system.
It’s clearly an attempt to compete with Apple’s ecosystem, and with the MacBook Neo trying to win over Apple skeptics, it couldn’t come at a better time.
If you own an Android phone and a USB-C to HDMI cable, I highly recommend giving Android’s desktop mode a whirl.
While this isn’t Aluminium OS, it shows how far Google has come in developing Android to work as a desktop platform.
It doesn’t come close to the functionality of macOS or Windows. For example, you can’t pin files and folders to the desktop, but it’s impressive regardless.
The simplicity of ChromeOS, married with the power and versatility of Android? Count me in.
Android laptops could be the midrange laptop we need
Versatile, accessible, and powerful
I respect Apple’s MacBook Neo, but I’m not ready to dive into the Apple ecosystem. I dislike the idea of being locked into a single manufacturer’s devices.
Sticking with Android gives me the flexibility to switch when things go awry. It’s a sentiment shared by many members of the Android community, but we’ve always lacked the excellent ecosystem of Apple devices.
I don’t expect AluminiumOS and Android laptops to replace MacBooks, but I do expect them to mark a new stage for Android devices.
Android phones are now just as powerful and stylish as iPhones, and WearOS devices are more than a match for Apple Watches. It’s only in the laptop sphere that Android has failed to compete, and all that’s about to change.
I’m excited about Android laptops more than any smartphone this year
There are going to be exciting Android phones launched this year, for better and for worse.
Motorola’s Razr Fold could be a serious Z Fold competitor, and Honor’s Robot Phone could be a serious privacy nightmare.
But I don’t expect we’ll see a smartphone launch this year that will change how I use my devices.
Android laptops, on the other hand, could completely change my workflow as I switch to them for my work rather than Windows.
We still have a while to wait before AluminiumOS becomes reality, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it.
