First MacBook Neo Benchmarks Are In: Here's How It Compares to the M1 MacBook Air

[MacRumors]

Benchmarks for the new MacBook Neo surfaced today, and unsurprisingly, CPU performance is almost identical to the iPhone 16 Pro. The MacBook Neo uses the same 6-core A18 Pro chip that was first introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro, but it has one fewer GPU core.

The MacBook Neo earned a single-core score of 3461 and a multi-core score of 8668, along with a Metal score of 31286.

Here's how the Neo's scores compare to iPhone 16 Pro and other devices that make apt comparisons:

• iPhone 16 Pro - 3445 single-core, 8624 multi-core, 32575 Metal
• M1 MacBook Air - 2346 single-core, 8342 multi-core, 33148 Metal
• M4 MacBook Air - 3696 single-core, 14730 multi-core, 54630 Metal
• M3 iPad Air - 3048 single-core, 11678 multi-core, 44395 Metal
• iPad 11 - 2587 single-core, 6036 multi-core, 19395 Metal

Since the MacBook Neo has one fewer GPU core than the iPhone 16 Pro, it makes sense to see a slightly lower Metal score.

When comparing the MacBook Neo's performance to existing Macs, the A18 Pro's multi-core performance is on par with the M1 chip in the MacBook Air, but single-core performance is much higher than it was with the M1. It's closer to the M3 or M4 chip.

High single-core performance is a good fit for the MacBook Neo audience, because single-core speeds are important for activities like web browsing, using document apps, and streaming video. The MacBook Neo isn't really built for video editing, music creation, 3D modeling, and similar tasks where multi-core performance makes more of a difference.

Apple does not compare MacBook Neo performance to other Macs, iPads, or iPhones. The company's low-cost MacBook focuses on competing with similar-priced Windows PCs and Chromebooks. In its marketing materials, Apple says the A18 Pro is up to 50 percent faster for "everyday tasks" than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5. It's also up to 3x faster for on-device AI workloads and up to 2x faster for photo editing.

We're only seeing one benchmark result so far, so averages could be slightly different when more Neo machines are benchmarked, but the scores are right in line with what's expected.

The MacBook Neo is priced starting at $599, and it is available for preorder now. It is set to launch on March 11.

Article Link: First MacBook Neo Benchmarks Are In: Here's How It Compares to the M1 MacBook Air

 

[Apple_Robert]

As many have already espoused, there is nothing inferior about the Neo chip. You hear that MBP people?

 

[JPack]

This thing will clearly be a hit for everyday computing tasks.

More interested to see the SSD benchmarks and a teardown.

 

[abatabia]

It won’t replace my m1 air but this is very much that beloved machines spiritual successor, not the 2015 12”.

 

[jz0309]

Looks pretty good, as predicted by folks here ...

 

[Blackstick]

Solid enough for millions of users who don’t have a clue what ram is.

If my daughters needed a Mac? This is what I’d buy. They’re gonna sell these by the pallet.

Best Mac value Apple has ever shipped. Even the Mini when it was $499 (in the mid ‘00s) didn’t touch this because you’d still need to add display, keyboard and mouse.

Basically if you’re anyone who has to ask a parent or in the case of the elderly, their children for a Mac? It’s gonna be a Neo.

 

[TVreporter]

My kids want to know how well Minecraft will work on it … someone post a video!

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

I'd still pick the m1 tbh. I care more about the experience than power. my m1 air is still holding strong.

truetone, 4k144hz, touchID, perhaps battery too, 16gb, speakers, backlight keyboard.

still it looks like reasonable compromises, except for touchID.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Sounds fine for who it's for.

Single core is all they'll be really doing and benefit from.

Hard to argue that an M1 Air, particularly a 16GB RAM one, wouldn't be better for the user though.
Way better machine overall.

 

[jz0309]

This thing will clearly be a hit for everyday computing tasks.

More interested to see the SSD benchmarks and a teardown.

SSD speed will of course not be the best but it will be sufficient for the core target folks.

 

[zahuh]

Everyone here acting like they can't get their work done on the Neo which probably has a single core score higher than the machine they are currently on LOL
Can't wait to see the YouTube reviews showing how surprisingly amazing and capable this thing is

News flash, Apple Silicon is insanely great!

 

[turbineseaplane]

...the Neo which probably has a single core score higher than the machine they are currently on LOL

Maybe?
Might be unlikely with the numbers shown above.

And the overall machine is pretty "meh" compared to basically any other Apple machine the user may have or be comparing to.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I have to say, I'm impressed. Realistically, it would anything and everything I need my personal computer to do. I use my Mac a lot, but I'm not a power user.

The 512gb is a bummer, however, but I tend to keep most things local.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I have to say, I'm impressed. Realistically, it would anything and everything I need my personal computer to do.

The 512gb is a bummer, however, but I tend to keep most things local.

Nah - you want way more multicore than "on par with a 6 year old M1 MBA", at least for anything you're keeping looking forward.

 

[JohnC1959]

Reading between the lines I find it amazing that my iPhone 16 pro likely has faster single core performance than my M2 MacBook Air which I find pretty speedy. Lot of power in these phones.

 

[Gix1k]

Great entry into the Mac ecosystem for those curious.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Nah - you want way more multicore than "on par with a 6 year old M1 MBA", at least for anything you're keeping looking forward.

Well, good point..

..and I forgot about that 8gb ram. I was thinking back to my M1 Air and how well it ran, but it had 16gb.

 

[yaddam205]

Nah - you want way more multicore than "on par with a 6 year old M1 MBA", at least for anything you're keeping looking forward.

6 years old? That can't be! *checks Internet* how the hell did that happen?

 

[Spock]

With the performance being so close to the M1, it makes me feel like my M2 Pro MacBook Pro will be supported for some time.

 

[mulatosnarf]

I hope to find a used 512gb neo for 300-400

 

[syklee26]

This actually shows how M chips get exponentially more powerful as new iterations become available. Neo doesn't look that slow compared to Mac Studio M1 Max.

Looks like Neo is at least on par with mid range Lenovo laptops. Quite impressive!

 

[turbineseaplane]

6 years old? That can't be! *checks Internet* how the hell did that happen?

I know, right?

I have a friend who still rocks a maxed out M1 MBA (16/2TB)
Amazing machines and timeless design.

I love that wedge!

 

[BeatCrazy]

I've had a base model M1 Air and my wife daily drives a base M2 Air (8GB). This Neo will be more than sufficient for anyone shopping at the $600 price point. With the fun colors, I bet that will quickly become a favorite device for its intended audience.

 

[zahuh]

Maybe?
Might be unlikely with the numbers shown above.

And the overall machine is pretty "meh" compared to basically any other Apple machine the user may have or be comparing to.

No need to say maybe, just look up your mac's geekbench single core score, see if it's higher than 3400. My M2 Max is around 2700.

 

[Le0M]

I hope to find a used 512gb neo for 300-400

People who will find the Neo to be less capable than they expected are gonna be extremely scarce.
I wouldn't hype my expectations if I were you