Can a MacBook Neo handle everyday work? I tested it — and it’s very good news

Does affordable still mean usable?

06 Apr 2026, 15:30 by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/lance-ulanoff · TechRadar

Features By Lance Ulanoff published 6 April 2026

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Become a Member in Seconds

Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful

Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.

Explore

An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter

If I'm being honest, I'm not surprised. I set out to see if the new MacBook Neo, a sub-$600 laptop running a smartphone CPU, could get through one or more of my workdays, and the results were even better than I expected.

When I announced the test on social media last week, I got a lot of feedback. Many were excited to see how Apple's first new MacBook model in more than a decade performed. Others questioned my use of the word "everyday". What kind of work did I mean? Basically, I was talking about my average workday.

If you're reading this, you know I'm a tech editor and much of my day revolves around writing, editing, and researching. I do video calls, I edit photos, I write scripts, work on reports, communicate in Messages, work and play in AI, and stream video content (for research, I swear!).

Article continues below

Put another way, this is not a heavy-duty workday with 4K video editing, Logic Pro music mixing, and Final Cut Pro video production. I'm not a game designer or 3D artist. Of course, the MacBook Neo, which Apple launched in March, is not designed for or aimed at Pro users: they can choose from an array of MacBook Pro and even MacBook Air models (or Mac Minis and Studios).

Apple built the MacBook Neo as an alternative to affordable Windows 11 laptops from HP, Asus, Acer, Lenovo, and others, as well as bargain-basement Chromebooks. Many of these sub-$600 systems are either built with cheaper materials or feature under-performing processors and graphics.

The MacBook Neo instantly stood out with its uncanny mix of attractive materials, excellent craftsmanship, and a big question mark: the use of the A18 Pro CPU last seen in the iPhone 16 Pro.

If you've never used an iPhone or even one of Apple's laptops, you might've considered that a risky move. I knew better. For as long as I've been writing about Apple Silicon on smartphones (and systems), I've said they have headroom to spare. It was usually impossible to push a chip like the A18 Pro to its limits.

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors