Keyboard and Trackpad

The MacBook Neo is also a throwback to a bygone era when MacBooks lacked Force Touch trackpads and backlit keyboards. Of course, many folks might not remember those halcyon days, as both have been standard on MacBooks for a very long time.

Apple introduced Force Touch on the 2015 MacBook Pro, and even released a new Force Touch Magic Trackpad that same year. Even the short-lived 12-inch MacBook featured it, although it took a bit longer to come to the MacBook Air, arriving with the Retina Display models in 2018. Still, that’s nearly eight years.

Backlit keyboards have an even longer history, having been standard on Apple’s higher-end laptops since the PowerBook G4 was released in early 2003. The MacBook Air also launched with a backlit keyboard, although it briefly lost it in 2010 during its transition from high-end luxury laptop to the new base model, returning in 2011.

While the MacBook Neo is arguably in good legacy company when it comes to the trackpad, it’s only the second MacBook in Apple history to lack a backlit keyboard. Some have likened it to the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air, which might not be a bad comparison, considering its price tag.