MacBook Neo is Apple’s first product with these three unique technologies

Source: 9to5Mac

MacBook Neo is an all‑new kind of laptop for the $599 price, making it worthy of being Apple’s first‑ever “Neo” product. The new computer is also Apple’s first product to use three distinct technologies.

MacBook Neo features a new trackpad

Apple has had a strong trackpad game for nearly two decades. The multi‑touch trackpad in the original MacBook Air from 2008 was a leap forward. Other laptop trackpads had tracking surfaces for mousing and big buttons for clicking. Apple modernized the trackpad with a single, multi‑touch surface.

Early Apple multi‑touch trackpads still had dedicated click areas: the lower part of the surface. Apple eventually moved on from mechanical clicks in favor of simulated clicks using haptic feedback, making any part of the trackpad feel like a physical button click.

MacBook Neo is the first Apple laptop in years to not use a simulated click. Its trackpad features both a physical click and the ability to click anywhere, not just the bottom portion.

Apple is using a different A18 Pro chip than the iPhone 16 Pro version

MacBook Neo is most notable for being the first Mac that runs on a chip first used in an iPhone, and it’s also the first Apple product to use this specific version of the A18 Pro chip.

Apple introduced the A18 Pro chip as part of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max line in September 2024:

Built with second‑generation 3‑nanometer technology and featuring a new architecture with smaller, faster transistors, A18 Pro delivers unprecedented efficiency. The new 16‑core Neural Engine is faster and more efficient than the previous generation, powering remarkable on‑device performance for Apple Intelligence. A 17 percent increase in total system memory bandwidth — the highest ever in iPhone — enables faster experiences when using Writing Tools and Image Playground, and helps deliver astounding graphics.

Apple specifically called out the A18 Pro’s 6‑core GPU system:

The bandwidth increase also benefits the 6‑core GPU, which is up to 20 percent faster than the previous generation, driving graphics rendering for Apple Intelligence and stunning visuals for gaming. Hardware‑accelerated ray tracing gets up to 2× faster for even more realistic light sources and reflections, and Game Mode in iOS 18 unlocks more consistent frame rates while making AirPods, game controllers, and other wireless accessories incredibly responsive.

However, the A18 Pro chip inside MacBook Neo features a 5‑core GPU system:

MacBook Neo with A18 Pro is up to 50 percent faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5.1. For more demanding activities, it’s up to 3× faster for on‑device AI workloads and up to 2× faster for tasks like photo editing. The integrated 5‑core GPU brings graphics to life while playing action‑packed games or exploring creative hobbies. A 16‑core Neural Engine supports fast on‑device Apple Intelligence features and everyday AI tasks while ensuring user data stays private and secure. MacBook Neo is also fanless, so it runs completely silent.

Both versions share the same 6‑core CPU system, but MacBook Neo is the first and only Apple product with the 5‑core GPU version of the A18 Pro so far.

MacBook Neo is the first product sold with an A‑series chip and more than one data port

Another difference with the A18 Pro chip inside MacBook Neo is its support for more than one data port. MacBook Neo is the first A‑series chip‑based product sold with multiple data ports.

Every iPhone and iPad sold has had just one data point, whether that’s 30‑pin, Lightning, or USB‑C.

MacBook Neo doesn’t have the best port game of any Mac. One of its two USB‑C ports is limited to USB 2 data speeds and doesn’t support external displays. However, it’s the first Apple computer of any kind to offer at least two data ports.

The superior USB 3/DisplayPort port is good for data transfer or connecting an external display, while the slower data port is fine for charging during data transfer.

MacBook Neo is available for pre‑order from $599 ahead of release day on Wednesday, March 11.