MacBook Neo’s early sales numbers mean Google has a massive battle on its hands

Since the introduction of Chromebook Plus, the narrative has been pretty simple: if you wanted a fantastic laptop experience for under $600, just buy a Chromebook Plus. Apple simply didn’t play in that sandbox. But the MacBook Neo has changed the rules of the game. Early reviews aren’t just positive; they are glowing, and retail reports suggest the Neo is selling at a pace that should make every Chromebook OEM nervous.

The Neo’s success proves that the Chromebook Plus model (focusing on great screens, fast boot times, and solid build quality at a mid-range price) was 100% the right idea. The problem for Google is that Apple just validated that market with a device that carries the most recognizable logo in tech.

As we look toward the hopeful launch of ‘Project Aluminium’ this fall, the pressure has shifted from “can Google build a better laptop experience?” to “can Google survive the Neo’s wild success?”

The $600 Battleground

The MacBook Neo has effectively bookended the ChromeOS market. On one side, you have the Neo at $599, and on the other, the MacBook Air often dipping to $799/$899. This leaves ‘Project Aluminium’ devices in a tight spot. To compete, Google’s new unified OS needs to launch on hardware that doesn’t just meet the spec, but actually feels as premium as the aluminum chassis of a Mac.

We’ve seen a bit of what’s coming: devices like ‘Sapphire’ with its 13-inch high-res screen and quad-speaker setup are a great start. But hardware is only half the battle. If Google wants a user to pick an Aluminium-based laptop over a Neo, the software experience has to be flawless and ultimately useful to the end user.

Capability vs. Simplicity

The Neo’s primary advantage is macOS; a full-blown desktop OS that people already know and love. Google’s counter-move is the re-baselining of ChromeOS onto Android. This ‘Project Aluminium’ approach promises a level of mobile-to-desktop continuity that Apple currently refuses to match.

If ‘Project Aluminium’ can deliver a robust, desktop-class Android experience that feels faster and more versatile than the walled garden of macOS, Google has a fighting chance. But if it launches with the beta feel of early Android-on-ChromeOS attempts, users will likely stick with the proven reliability of the Neo.

Is Google Prepared?

The door is wide open for Google because Apple still refuses to put a touch screen on the Neo or merge it with iPadOS. Google is attempting to build the “everything device” that Apple fans have been asking for and Google fans have known was possible for years.

However, the clock is ticking. The MacBook Neo is already here, it’s already winning, and it’s proving that the mid-range laptop market is as hungry as ever. Google and its partners like Lenovo, Acer, and HP don’t just need to be ready when ‘Project Aluminium’ arrives; they need to totally stick the landing, too.