Stuck in the Middle
I’ve been thinking about upgrading my MacBook for a while now. I’m currently using a 2018 MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar and it’s pretty much on its last leg.
Up until about 2–3 months ago it was still usable. The fans would go crazy but I could still get work done. Lately though, it’s been a different story. Constant fan noise, more lag, and my productivity has definitely dropped.
I know it’s time to move on. Just hard to let it go 😅
Right now I’m looking at the MacBook Neo, MacBook Air (MBA), and MacBook Pro (MBP), all with the newer M-series (M5).
I feel like I’m stuck in the middle and trying not to underbuy or overspend.
Here’s how I’m thinking about each:
MacBook Neo:
This is the one I want to be enough. I like the idea of it, but I’m worried it might not have enough headroom long-term, especially as I start doing more like podcasting and editing.
MacBook Air:
This feels like it could be the sweet spot. My only concern is the fanless design. I’m used to my current MBP ramping up the fans and pushing through when things get heavy, so I don’t know what that looks like on the Air.
MacBook Pro:
I know this would handle everything I throw at it, no problem. But it also feels like overkill for where I’m at right now. I’m not doing heavy 4K editing or intense coding, at least not yet.
What I use my laptop for:
Light video editing (no 4K)
Photo editing
Writing (scripts, content)
Planning to start podcasting
Light coding (learning and small projects)
Main concerns:
If I go Neo, will I outgrow it too fast?
If I go Air, what actually happens under sustained load with no fan?
If I go Pro, am I just paying extra for power I won’t really use?
One thing I’ve always relied on with my current MacBook is that when things get tough, the fans kick in and it pushes through. I’m trying to understand what that experience feels like on the newer machines, especially the Neo and Air.
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone using the Neo, especially if your workload is similar 🙏