Early benchmark results for Apple’s upcoming MacBook Neo have appeared online, offering the first look at how the company’s new low-cost laptop may perform.
The results suggest the device delivers performance very close to the iPhone 16 Pro, which is not surprising as both products use the same A18 Pro processor.
According to the test results, the MacBook Neo recorded a single-core score of 3461 and a multi-core score of 8668. It also achieved a Metal graphics score of 31286.
Performance similar to iPhone 16 Pro
The MacBook Neo runs on a 6-core A18 Pro chip, the same processor introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro. However, the laptop has one fewer graphics core.
This difference appears to affect graphics results slightly. The iPhone 16 Pro recorded a Metal score of 32575, which is somewhat higher than the Neo’s score.
CPU performance between the two devices is almost identical. The iPhone 16 Pro scored 3445 in single-core tests and 8624 in multi-core tests, placing it very close to the Neo’s results.
Comparison with other Apple devices
When compared with other Apple products, the MacBook Neo appears competitive with older Mac models.
For example, the M1 MacBook Air scored 2346 in single-core tests and 8342 in multi-core tests. This means the Neo’s multi-core performance is similar, while its single-core speed is noticeably higher.
However, newer Apple chips remain significantly more powerful. The M4 MacBook Air recorded a multi-core score of 14730, while the M3 iPad Air reached 11678.
The MacBook Neo therefore sits somewhere between Apple’s entry-level devices and its more powerful machines.
Built mainly for everyday use
The laptop appears to focus on strong single-core performance rather than heavy multi-core workloads.
Single-core speed plays a major role in common tasks such as web browsing, using document apps, and streaming video. These are the activities many everyday users rely on.
More demanding work such as video editing, music production, or 3D design usually benefits more from stronger multi-core processing. The MacBook Neo is not primarily aimed at those types of tasks.
Apple targets affordable laptop market
Apple has not directly compared the MacBook Neo with its other Macs, iPads, or iPhones in official marketing.
Instead, the company positions the device against similarly priced Windows laptops and Chromebooks.
Apple says the A18 Pro chip can be up to 50 percent faster for everyday tasks than the best-selling PC powered by Intel’s latest Core Ultra 5 processor. It also claims the chip can be up to three times faster for on-device AI work and twice as fast for photo editing.
So far only a single benchmark result has appeared online, meaning average performance may change slightly once more devices are tested.
The MacBook Neo starts at $599 and is available for pre-order. The laptop is expected to go on sale on March 11.
