DAMN, Apple - MacBook Neo

Quick Overview

The MacBook Neo, despite its lower $599 base price and inclusion of an A18 chip derived from iPhone technology, performs slightly worse than the M1 MacBook Air in multi-threaded Cinebench tests (1410 vs 1721) but slightly better in single-threaded tests (479 vs 429), features a 13-inch 2408x1506 IPS display with 500 nits, includes a 20W USB-C charger and a 1.5m cable, retains a headphone jack, and notably lacks MagSafe charging, making it a colorful but somewhat compromised entry point into the macOS ecosystem.

Key Points: The MacBook Neo's A18 chip scores 479 in single-threaded Cinebench 2026, slightly exceeding the M1 MacBook Air's score of 429, but trails the M4 (644) and M5 (733) Airs. In multi-threaded Cinebench 2026, the Neo scores 1410, falling behind the M1 Air (1721), M4 Air (3180), and M5 Air (3653). The device features a 13-inch, 2408x1506 (219 ppi) IPS display with up to 500 nits brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate. The base model is priced at $599 ($499 for education), and it includes a 20W USB-C Power Adapter and a 1.5m USB-C charge cable. The MacBook Neo features two USB-C 3.0 ports (up to 10Gbps) and retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, but omits MagSafe charging. The keyboard uses white keys instead of black, lacks backlighting, and the trackpad uses a haptic engine instead of a mechanical click. Battery life endurance tested via Plex playback resulted in 6 hours and 46 minutes (406 minutes), significantly less than the M4 (8h 19m) and M5 (8h 52m) MacBook Airs.

Context: The video presents a hands-on review and initial impressions of a leaked/hypothetical product called the 'Apple MacBook Neo,' which is positioned as a budget-friendly entry-level Apple laptop ($599 base price) utilizing an A18 chip similar to those in iPhones. The reviewer, who admits to being a long-time Windows user, unboxes the device and subjects it to initial performance benchmarks (Cinebench, JetStream) and thermal testing, comparing its features and performance against existing MacBook Air models (M1, M4, M5).