You can stop worrying whether the new entry-level MacBook Neo is too slow to be useful. The first benchmark scores are out, and they confirm that Apple’s low-cost notebook offers all the performance needed by average computer users, even though it is powered by an A18 Pro chip with 8GB of RAM.
The computer is actually faster than a MacBook Pro model still widely in use. Here’s the proof.
MacBook Neo performance: More than good enough
Entry-level notebooks like the MacBook Neo are typically used for everyday computing tasks rather than demanding professional workloads. Many buyers rely on them for web browsing, email, streaming video, social media and basic productivity work.
None of that requires a cutting-edge processor and loads of expensive RAM. Which is why Apple built the MacBook Neo around an A18 Pro, a processor that first appeared in an iPhone.
Still, many people expressed concern that an A-series chip couldn’t give macOS usable performance, especially when paired with 8GB of RAM.
Proof that it can emerged late Thursday when the results of a Geekbench 6 benchmarking test appeared online. According to these results, a MacBook Neo with an A18 Pro and 8GB of RAM scored 3,461 on Geekbench’s Single Core test and 8,668 on the Multi Core test — just what was expected. For comparison, the Apple M1 chip doesn’t do as well, scoring 2,323 on Geekbench’s Single Core test and 8,187 on the Multi Core test.
Having the A18 Pro beat the M1 is important because there are still many M1-powered MacBook Pro units in use around the world, even though they date back to 2020. And plenty of people who own them post online that they don’t need a new computer because the M1 is fast enough.
Apple’s M2 processor scored 2,587 on the Geekbench 6 Single Core test, still slower than the A18 Pro. That said, its Multi Core score hit 9,644, exceeding the A18 Pro.
Looking further afield, the Intel N100, a chip commonly used in entry-level Windows laptops, scored just 3,129 on the Geekbench 6 Multi Core test, way behind the A18 Pro.
Performance just right for home use
Having the A18 Pro outperform the M1 shows that Apple picked the right chip for an entry-level computer. Although no MacBook Neo hands-on reviews have been published yet, and the device won’t reach consumers’ hands until Wednesday, March 11, this benchmark score is very promising.
There’s every reason to believe that the affordable computer will be fine for online shopping, tracking personal finances and making video calls, while students can use it for writing documents and preparing presentations.
That said, the MacBook Neo has the sort of limitations predictable in a laptop that costs $599 (or $499 for college students).
And it seems many buyers are opting for the version of the Neo configured with 512GB of storage, even though it adds to the price.
The MacBook Neo is Apple’s entry-level laptop. It has Apple’s signature all-day battery life and ease of use. It can swim through web browsing, document editing and other basic work tasks.
But if you want higher specs than its 8 GB memory or the maximum 512 GB storage, the MacBook Air may be a better choice.
- 16-hour battery life
- Bright, fun colors
- Thin and light design
- No MagSafe
- USB 3 and USB 2 ports
- No support for high-resolution displays
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
