MKBHD explains why MacBook Neo is “better than you think”

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The new MacBook Neo from Apple might seem like a standard, affordable laptop, but tech reviewer Marques Brownlee has found that it actually delivers surprisingly good performance.

Marques Brownlee, known as MKBHD online, recently reviewed the $599 MacBook Neo after a week of use. This new laptop runs on Apple’s powerful A18 Pro chip – the same one found in the latest iPhone 16 Pro models – and is Apple’s most budget-friendly Mac laptop in a long time.

Marques Brownlee mentioned in his review that the laptop performed better than he anticipated when he started using it for everyday tasks.

“But it turns out this Neo is better than you think. Even better than I expected.”

MKBHD breaks down MacBook Neo verdicts by use case

So, I’ve been checking out the MacBook Neo, and honestly, it feels surprisingly snappy. MKBHD (Marques Brownlee) did some testing, and it seems like the performance is really close to the original M1 chip – we’re talking similar scores in Geekbench and Cinebench. For me, that means it handles everything I normally do – browsing the web, working on spreadsheets, emails, writing – totally smoothly. No lag or anything like that.

He also noted that the laptop runs particularly well with Apple’s own apps. Its fast single-core performance means programs launch quickly and continue to respond smoothly even when you’re doing multiple things at once.

To give people a better idea of who the laptop is for, Brownlee rated it based on different user types.

Okay, so I checked out the MacBook Neo, and Brownlee gave it a solid A+ for students like me. He thinks it’s perfect for schoolwork and just general everyday stuff. He even said college students will be really happy with it – it should handle pretty much any assignment unless your major needs some super powerful, specialized software. Basically, it’s a great all-around laptop for getting things done.

Reviewers particularly liked the laptop for writing, internet browsing, and email. They noted its keyboard is similar to the one found on Apple’s more expensive MacBook Pro laptops.

The Neo received a middling grade (B) for photography. While it can run photo editing programs like Pixelmator and Lightroom, the screen doesn’t display the full range of colors professionals often need, so using an external monitor is recommended.

Brownlee gave the coding performance a B grade, noting it’s good for simple tasks but the 8GB of RAM might struggle with more complex projects. Video editing received a lower score. While basic 4K editing in Final Cut Pro was possible, demanding projects with effects and plugins quickly overloaded the system.

Podcasting received a B+ rating. While the laptop can manage simple podcasting setups, you might need a USB-C adapter because it doesn’t have many ports.

Okay, so gaming on this laptop? Not great, honestly. MKBHD pointed out that the screen only refreshes at 60Hz, it doesn’t have a ton of memory, and the selection of games available for macOS just isn’t huge. Basically, it struggles with most newer titles, and it’s not really built for a good gaming experience.

The laptop could also be a great option for seniors or anyone choosing between a Chromebook and a Mac, as it’s affordable and easy to use.

In his initial review of the affordable laptop, MKBHD pointed out that the new MacBook Neo isn‘t ideal for viewers of his YouTube channel.

He clarified that if you’re questioning why this device uses USB-C instead of Thunderbolt, or if you’re watching this review as soon as it’s released because you follow tech channels, then this computer likely isn’t a good fit for your needs.

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2026-03-11 19:21