2026 Macbook Neo

[xiaofan]

Got the delivery of MacBook Neo 8GB/256GB version yesterday and just set it up today.

I am tying this post using MacBook Neo. I am using a XikeStor multiple function USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C Hub (10Gbps) connectede to the MacBook Neo USB 3.2 Type C port. The Type C Hub has one 2.5Gbe port, SD card slot, one HDMI port and two USB 3 Type A port. It has also one USB charging port. I am not using the 20W charger which comes with the MacBook Neo but rather a Xiaomi 90W Type C charger (for my Poco X7 Pro).

The MacBook Neo USB 2.0 port is not used yet.

Then I am also using a Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse. I have not connected an external monitor and keyboard yet.

First thing need to get used to is to use Fn+BackSpace key to function as "Del" key. Take note I have only used Mac Mini 2011 and Mac Mini M1 before. This is the first time I use a MacBook.

Not doing much yet. No problem using it for my use cases (no photo editing, no video editing).
1) Upgraded from macOS 26.3.0 to 26.3.2
2) Installed Command Line tool and Chrome (my most important apps are Chrome and Terminal).
3) Installed Homebrew and from there I can install the tools I needed for my Open Source projects related activities (not a software developer but I help out on testing, support, documentation and admin).

Last login: Thu Mar 19 20:01:52 on console
mcuee@mcuees-MacBook ~ % sw_vers
ProductName:        macOS
ProductVersion:        26.3.2
BuildVersion:        25D2140

mcuee@mcuees-MacBook ~ % gcc -v
Apple clang version 17.0.0 (clang-1700.6.4.2)
Target: arm64-apple-darwin25.3.0
Thread model: posix
InstalledDir: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin

 

[xiaofan]

More tools installed: VScode, CotEditior, geany, iTerm2, OOKla SpeedTest app, OOKla SpeedTest CLI, wireguard, Tailscale, etc

Network performance:
SingTel 5Gbps Internet
Wireless router -- Asus TUF-BE6500

1) Wired Ethernet, 2.5Gbe adapter with the XikeStor Type C Hub -- Okay

mcuee@mcuees-MacBook ookla % ./speedtest -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel, Singtel Broadband
Idle Latency:     2.59 ms   (jitter: 0.18ms, low: 2.31ms, high: 2.82ms)
    Download:  2356.04 Mbps (data used: 1.1 GB)                                              
                 47.39 ms   (jitter: 51.56ms, low: 1.81ms, high: 423.56ms)
      Upload:  2352.54 Mbps (data used: 3.8 GB)                                              
                  2.50 ms   (jitter: 10.02ms, low: 2.03ms, high: 1363.84ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/0e2634a5-02ad-4f3f-83a5-e802321fc4a8

2) 5GHz WiFi -- 4m, so-so

mcuee@mcuees-MacBook ookla % ./speedtest -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel, Singtel Broadband
Idle Latency:     4.65 ms   (jitter: 0.77ms, low: 4.30ms, high: 5.36ms)
    Download:   720.83 Mbps (data used: 991.8 MB)                                              
                 32.93 ms   (jitter: 9.78ms, low: 4.97ms, high: 107.19ms)
      Upload:   652.30 Mbps (data used: 1.1 GB)                                              
                 82.99 ms   (jitter: 21.43ms, low: 7.61ms, high: 217.15ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/8b5adfad-3e0b-42ac-9755-3258cfab96e0

One more test on Saturday Morning, a bit better.

mcuee@mcuees-MacBook ookla % ./speedtest -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla
      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel, Singtel Broadband

Idle Latency:     4.31 ms   (jitter: 0.35ms, low: 4.14ms, high: 4.78ms)
    Download:   864.25 Mbps (data used: 476.4 MB)                                                 
                 29.61 ms   (jitter: 10.31ms, low: 4.70ms, high: 68.91ms)
      Upload:   792.58 Mbps (data used: 1.0 GB)                                                 
                 47.12 ms   (jitter: 14.66ms, low: 5.97ms, high: 202.07ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/d5360569-062b-4e6c-b5db-b3dd293603dc

I will test 5GHz/6GHz WiFi later using TP-Link Archer BE805 router.

 

[xiaofan]

As MacBook Neo has no TB4/USB4/TB3 port, my 10Gbe TB4/USB4/TB3 adapters become useless.

But cheap 5Gbe USB 3.2 Type C adapter (WaveLink) works fine.

Singtel ONR bridged --> OpenWRT main router with dual 10Gbe SFP+ ports and dual 2.5Gbe ports --> Fibre Cable --> 10Gbe/2.5Gbe switch with one 10G SFP+ port, one 10Gbe RJ45 port and quad 2.5Gbe ports --> MacBook Neo with 5Gbe adapter

mcuee@mcuees-MacBook ookla % ./speedtest -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel, Singtel Broadband
Idle Latency:     2.85 ms   (jitter: 0.33ms, low: 2.47ms, high: 3.00ms)
    Download:  4675.00 Mbps (data used: 5.5 GB)                                                  
                 91.18 ms   (jitter: 62.25ms, low: 1.96ms, high: 794.21ms)
      Upload:  3849.34 Mbps (data used: 3.6 GB)                                                  
                  2.21 ms   (jitter: 0.47ms, low: 1.72ms, high: 9.94ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/e1df6e2d-e8f2-4d40-842e-422a69ff564f

mcuee@mcuees-MacBook ookla % ./speedtest -s 13623

   Speedtest by Ookla

      Server: Singtel - Singapore (id: 13623)
         ISP: Singtel, Singtel Broadband
Idle Latency:     2.48 ms   (jitter: 0.16ms, low: 2.23ms, high: 2.65ms)
    Download:  4678.88 Mbps (data used: 4.5 GB)                                                  
                 77.56 ms   (jitter: 56.28ms, low: 2.53ms, high: 1700.17ms)
      Upload:  3460.47 Mbps (data used: 4.0 GB)                                                  
                  2.46 ms   (jitter: 0.26ms, low: 2.05ms, high: 3.49ms)
 Packet Loss:     0.0%
  Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/3029fce8-052f-45ac-9816-166c9c4ed072

 

[xiaofan]

So much for today.

Overall impression -- perfectly fine for my use cases:
1) Internet Broawing, Gmail, Youtube, etc
2) Home Networking related testing
3) Open Source projects testing (mostly USB and Microcontroller related, also some networking related stuff).

 

[twosix]

Many have tested. Another one...

MacBook Neo Handles Video Editing and Heavy Multitasking

• Contrary to some tech reviewer opinions, the MacBook Neo is capable of handling 4K video editing and running numerous Chrome tabs simultaneously.

• Tests with Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro showed that while the machine utilizes swap memory, performance is not noticeably impacted.

• Even with 59 Chrome tabs open, leading to significant swap memory usage, the MacBook Neo maintained smooth performance and responsiveness.

https://9to5mac.com/2026/03/18/macbook-neo-is-just-fine-with-4k-video-editing-and-59-chrome-tabs/

 

[limmk]

 

[twosix]

Such a powerful soc but on the iphone, multitasking is still disabled. Sad... Android camp is attacking the iphones on this missing "feature".

 

[hereiam7788]

that's good to hear about the review. at least it proves that this new macbook neo is totally ok for normal light users.

one can save money by buying it to meet their needs, while keep the saved cash by not buying something exceed their needs for the next macbook neo purchase.

 

[hereiam7788]

Such a powerful soc but on the iphone, multitasking is still disabled. Sad... Android camp is attacking the iphones on this missing "feature".

in the first place, the things u can do on such a small screen device is limited in the first place, but having powerful SoC on iphones still have the advantage over android camp is that one can use it for many years (if u really dun need the new features, i have a colleague until today still use his iphone 11).

one can easily get 5 to 7 years of iOS update on their iphones, it is really impressive.

not to mention apple products have significant high durability over the rest of brands.

 

[twosix]

in the first place, the things u can do on such a small screen device is limited in the first place, but having powerful SoC on iphones still have the advantage over android camp is that one can use it for many years (if u really dun need the new features, i have a colleague until today still use his iphone 11).

one can easily get 5 to 7 years of iOS update on their iphones, it is really impressive.

not to mention apple products have significant high durability over the rest of brands.

I'm not talking about the long term usability. I was also using ip11 until I changed to the 17.

Iphone pro max is similar in screen size to Android flagship phones. So screen size is also not an excuse. I can have the calculator open as a floating window and not affect anything. Multitasking is definitely doable.

 

[hereiam7788]

I'm not talking about the long term usability. I was also using ip11 until I changed to the 17.

Iphone pro max is similar in screen size to Android flagship phones. So screen size is also not an excuse. I can have the calculator open as a floating window and not affect anything. Multitasking is definitely doable.

from the screenshot, the overlapping app has covered half of the screen of the app behind.

dun see a point to do multi-tasking on phone at all. iPad makes more sense.

and so far i also did not hear anyone complains about iphone cannot do apps overlay.

 

[xiaofan]

1) For those who really want to run Parallels and Windows on ARM64. I don't want to do that myself. I don't even want to pay for Parallels in general.

https://www.parallels.com/blogs/apple-macbook-neo/

Can MacBook Neo run Windows apps?
Short answer, yes!

2) I do not use Parallels myself. I used free UTM to run Linux ARM64 VMs last time on my Mac Mini M1 8GB/256GB. Now I just use Rasberry Pi 500 and 400 to run Linux on ARM64.

3) I used my Mac Mini 2011 8GB RAM (self upgraded from 2GB base model ) and 512GB HDD to run Linux and Windows 7 VM last time using VirtualBox and it was quite okay.

 

[twosix]

from the screenshot, the overlapping app has covered half of the screen of the app behind.

dun see a point to do multi-tasking on phone at all. iPad makes more sense.

and so far i also did not hear anyone complains about iphone cannot do apps overlay.

u probably never used multitasking on a phone before. haha.

 

[hereiam7788]

u probably never used multitasking on a phone before. haha.

i am iPhone user all the while and similar to anyone else who uses iPhone.

I dun envy anything not useful from android.

As my only choice is iPhone and nothing else.

 

[twosix]

i am iPhone user all the while and similar to anyone else who uses iPhone.

I dun envy anything not useful from android.

As my only choice is iPhone and nothing else.

Well u missing out. I use both n get to experience the best of both worlds. Haha.

 

[xiaofan]

Well u missing out. I use both n get to experience the best of both worlds. Haha.

I am more or less OS neutral for either computers (Windows , macOS, Linux, or even BSDs) or mobile phones (Android and iOS), or even tablets (Android and iPadOS).

But to be honest, I have never used the multi-tasking feature you mentioned on Android phones, as I do not feel the need.

My wife is iPhone only type of users since 2015 but I bought her an Poco X6 Pro 12GB/512GB just for video recording purpose, as she fills the iPhone 14 512GB storage too fast.

 

[Jurong640]

Well u missing out. I use both n get to experience the best of both worlds. Haha.

Yes. Best of both worlds. I don't have iPhone, but i have Androids.

I have best of both worlds for me is MacOS and WindowsOS. One desktop one Laptop. Best of both worlds

 

[twosix]

I am more or less OS neutral for either computers (Windows , macOS, Linux, or even BSDs) or mobile phones (Android and iOS), or even tablets (Android and iPadOS).

But to be honest, I have never used the multi-tasking feature you mentioned on Android phones, as I do not feel the need.

My wife is iPhone only type of users since 2015 but I bought her an Poco X6 Pro 12GB/512GB just for video recording purpose, as she fills the iPhone 14 512GB storage too fast.

Dun have to use all the features but it is available to those who wants to. Imagine a wireless router that can only do wireless and not wired connections. Haha.

 

[twosix]

Yes. Best of both worlds. I don't have iPhone, but i have Androids.

I have best of both worlds is MacOS and WindowsOS. One desktop one Laptop. Best of both worlds

I do not limit myself n have no Brand loyalty. I have almost all the tech gadgets. I change my ootd when I feel like it. And I use them. I dun buy and put them one side to rot. Thats why i am considering how the neo can fit in. I dun want it to become a white elephant. Haha.

 

[Jurong640]

I do not limit myself n have no Brand loyalty. I have almost all the tech gadgets. I change my ootd when I feel like it. And I use them. I dun buy and put them one side to rot. Thats why i am considering how the neo can fit in. I dun want it to become a white elephant. Haha.

Same ah. I got my Macbook Pro initially just to try out, as an alternative to my windows desktop PC. Initally, i got MacBook Air, i returned and got the Pro. I cannot take the screen and sound quality of the Air. Thought Pro is abit heavy, but i can really do heavy stuffs.