THE CRUNCH
The MacBook Neo proves a repurposed iPhone processor can run a laptop, according to Engadget's review, though the compromises are real. The $700 machine uses an A18 Pro, the chip from 2024's iPhone 16 Pro, scaled down slightly to five GPU cores instead of six. In Engadget's testing it juggled multiple browsers, a TV show, photo editing in Pixelmator Pro and the game Oceanhorn 3 without much trouble.
The limits show up under pressure. With 8GB of RAM, the Neo can handle basic 4K video editing but grinds to a crawl when adding visual effects, and some apps and games, including Assassin's Creed Shadows, require an M1 chip or better. Ports are sparse too: a 10Gbps USB 3 port, a 480Mbps USB 2 port and a headphone jack, with no Thunderbolt support. The MacBook Air, by comparison, offers an M5 chip, at least 16GB of RAM and 40Gbps USB 4 ports.
The timing looks deliberate. Engadget notes the Neo arrived just three months before the MacBook Air's price rose by $200 to a $1,300 baseline amid tariffs and soaring memory prices, making the $700 Neo a comparative bargain even with its cuts.
For buyers, the calculus hinges on patience. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports a 2027 refresh will move the Neo to the A19 Pro chip and 12GB of RAM, which could smooth out some edge cases. Since RAM cannot be upgraded after purchase and some macOS 27 AI features already require an M3 chip and 12GB, waiting may pay off, though Engadget suggests anyone who needs a Mac now will be fine, and could hunt for a refurbished model.