MacBook Neo is the first Apple product with these three different technologies

The MacBook Neo is a new type of laptop priced at $599, which qualifies as Apple’s first “Neo” product. The new computer is also the first Apple product to use three different technologies.

The MacBook Neo has a new trackpad

Apple has had a strong trackpad game for nearly two decades. The multi-touch trackpad on the original MacBook Air from 2008 was a step forward. Some portable trackpads have mouse trackpads and large click buttons. Apple is modernizing the trackpad with a single, multi-touch area.

However, the first years of Apple’s multi-touch trackpads still had dedicated click areas: the bottom half of the area. Apple eventually moved away from mechanical clicks in favor of simulated clicks using haptic feedback, making any part of the trackpad feel like clicking a physical button.

The MacBook Neo is Apple’s first laptop in years to not use simulated clicks. Its trackpad doesn’t fall back on the “diving board” style click design, though. Instead, Apple made a new trackpad that includes both physical clicks and the ability to click anywhere, not just the bottom part.

Apple uses a different A18 Pro chip than the iPhone 16 Pro version

The MacBook Neo is most notable for being the first Mac to run on a chip that was first used in the iPhone. But it is also the first Apple product to use this particular version of the A18 Pro chip.

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

Built with second-generation 3-nanometer technology and featuring a new architecture with smaller, faster transistors, the A18 Pro delivers unprecedented performance. The new Neural Engine 16 is faster and more efficient than the previous generation, enabling incredible on-device Apple Intelligence functionality. A 17 percent increase in system memory bandwidth – the highest ever on an iPhone – enables a faster experience when using Writing Tools and the photo gallery, and helps deliver stunning graphics.

Apple specifically named the A18 Pro’s 6-core GPU:

The increase in bandwidth also benefits the 6-core GPU, which is 20 percent faster than the previous generation, driving the graphics offered by Apple Intelligence and the stunning visuals of the games. Hardware-accelerated ray tracing is up to 2x faster to detect even more realistic light sources, and Game Mode in iOS 18 enables consistent frame rates while making AirPods, game controllers, and other wireless accessories incredibly responsive.

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

MacBook Neo with A18 Pro is up to 50 percent faster in daily tasks than the best-selling PC with the latest shipment of Intel Core Ultra 5.1 And for the most demanding tasks, it is up to 3 times faster in the load of AI on the device2 and up to 2x faster in tasks such as photo editing.4 The integrated 5-core GPU brings experimental artistic games or the experimental GPU plays artistic life. And the 16-core Neural Engine supports fast on-device Apple Intelligence features and everyday AI tasks like summarizing notes in Bear or using the Cleanup tool in the Photos app, while ensuring user data remains private and secure. The MacBook Neo also has no fan, so it runs completely silently.

Both share the same 6-core CPU system, but the MacBook Neo is Apple’s first product with a 5-core GPU version of the A18 Pro so far.

The MacBook Neo is the first product to be sold with an A-series chip and more than one data port

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

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

The MacBook Neo doesn’t have the best gaming port of any Mac. One of its two USB-C ports is limited to slower USB 2 data speeds and doesn’t support external displays. But it is the first Apple computer of any kind with at least two data ports.

The advanced USB 3/DisplayPort is ideal for data transfer or connecting an external display while the slower data port is ideal for charging during data transfer.

The MacBook Neo is available for pre-order starting at $599 ahead of the release date on Wednesday, March 11.