iPad Pros iPad Neo with Riley Hill (iPad Pros - 0245)
Mar 12, 2026
Riley Hill, writer behind SlatePad who covers Apple gear and iPad trends, returns to weigh in on the MacBook Neo and what it means for iPad users. They discuss Neo pricing and education impact. They explore detachable iPad screens, using Neo with Universal Control, Vision Pro integration, developer incentives, and Riley’s new M4 iPad Air purchase.
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MacBook Neo Reframes Low Cost Apple Hardware
- The MacBook Neo repositions Apple with a genuinely low-cost Mac that targets education and budget buyers.
- Riley Hill and Tim Chen note $500 education pricing makes it competitive with Chromebooks and the Mac mini, shifting buying decisions.
Bundled Keyboards Could Change iPad's Identity
- Including a keyboard with an iPad signals it's a laptop and could shift expectations toward Surface-like use.
- Tim Chen warns bundling keyboards risks positioning iPad as a laptop and losing tablet differentiation.
Choose Devices By Workflow Not Price
- Use the best tool for the job: buy a Neo if you want a cheap mac experience and keep using iPad if you value tablet workflows.
- Riley and Tim both stress different users will prefer Mac-centered or iPhone/iPad-centered setups.