Apple has been actively exploring the gaming market in recent years, and its chip performance has continued to improve. However, the gaming capabilities of entry-level Mac products have always been questioned. The MacBook Neo, priced at only NT$19,900, is equipped with an A18 Pro chip, adopts a fanless design, and is equipped with 8GB of unified memory. This uses a mobile phone processor; it is positioned as a notebook for daily use and light creation. I believe many people will be curious about what level it can achieve in terms of game performance. foreign Andrew Tsai The channel has conducted tests on many popular games, let’s find out together.
MacBook Neo 20 game performance test
This test includes 20 games covering different types and hardware requirements to comprehensively evaluate the gaming performance of MacBook Neo. This model is equipped with the Apple A18 Pro mobile phone processor. The memory capacity is the same as the M1 ~ M3 series entry-level models at 8GB. It adopts a fanless passive cooling design and the operating system is macOS. The sources of test games are divided into three major categories: games that natively support macOS, Windows games simulated through CrossOver 26, and exclusive works for the Apple Arcade platform. Testers actually ran each game and recorded its frame rate performance and smoothness experience.
CrossOver translation 3A game actual test
For gamers, the most important thing is whether they can run mainstream AAA titles on MacBook Neo. The test first selected two works with extremely high hardware requirements: “Grand Theft Auto V” (GTA 5) and “Red Dead Redemption 2” (RDR2) through CrossOver 26 simulation.
“Grand Theft Auto V” is run through CrossOver 26 simulation and can achieve a playable level of 30 to 45 FPS at 1080p low quality settings. However, it must be noted that this version only supports offline mode, and the online mode cannot be used because the anti-cheating program does not support it.
“Red Dead Redemption 2” due to the small 8GB memory capacity and the limitation of GPU processor power, the resolution must be reduced to 720p and further scaled from the ultra-low resolution of 360p, which is also less than 30FPS rate. The image quality is reduced to a very low level, the system swap files are used a lot, and the overall experience is far from smooth. This test result shows that memory capacity has become the biggest bottleneck for MacBook Neo to run AAA masterpieces.
“Metro Exodus” is also a work with extremely high hardware requirements. It can run smoothly (about 30FPS) at 1080P low-quality settings. It is a game with good graphics performance.
In addition, “Kiss in the Sky FC”, a transplanted and remastered version of the classic Japanese RPG, performs smoothly at about 30 to 40FPS at 1080P low image quality.
Native Mac gaming: Exceeding expectations
Compared to Windows games that need to be run through an emulator, games that natively support macOS perform very differently on MacBook Neo. This type of game is deeply optimized for Apple chips and can fully utilize the GPU performance of the A18 Pro (although one core is missing), while managing memory more efficiently.
“Hades 2” can be said to be one of the most outstanding results in this test. This much-anticipated sequel to the roguelike has a smooth performance of about 60FPS when running at 1080P medium quality on MacBook Neo. The relatively uncomplicated graphics and the optimization of the native Mac version are indispensable.
GRID Legends also brings surprises. This racing game developed by Codemasters performed “extremely smooth” in the test (around 50 FPS, 1080P extremely low image quality). As a native Mac masterpiece, its graphics performance and operating experience have reached a satisfactory level.
“Lies of P”, as a representative of Souls-like action games, showed “excellent” performance in the test (540P resolution increased to 1080P low image quality). This Souls-like game developed in South Korea has exquisite graphics and a complex combat system. The optimization of the native Mac version allows it to maintain a good experience on entry-level hardware.
Other native Mac games such as “Stray”, “No Man’s Sky”, and “Batman Arkham City” all show good compatibility and game performance under 1080P low image quality settings.
Casual and indie games: areas of total control
If evaluated from the perspective of CP value, MacBook Neo’s performance in casual and indie games with relatively simple graphics or 2D games can be said to be perfect. Such games generally have low hardware requirements and generally have excellent port quality on Apple silicon.
“Slay the Spire 2” was “quite smooth” in testing (1080P; nearly 60FPS). This second-generation work of this construction-based card game has an exquisite art style and in-depth strategic content. The native Mac ported version allows players to fully experience its charm.
“Balatro”, a much-discussed alternative card game, also performed “excellent”, with native support allowing it to run on the A18 Pro chip without any hindrance.
You can watch the video directly for the complete content of this test. I recommend you watch it:
Conclusion: Playable but don’t expect too much
Based on the test results of 20 games, MacBook Neo demonstrated gaming capabilities that exceeded market expectations. The GPU performance of the A18 Pro chip is sufficient for most native Mac games and Apple Arcade content, especially casual, indie, and strategy games. However, the limitation of 8GB of unified memory makes it insufficient to challenge Windows 3A masterpieces simulated by CrossOver, especially games that require a lot of graphics operations and memory space.
For consumers considering purchasing MacBook Neo as a gaming device, it is recommended to give priority to games that natively support macOS, or to explore the rich game lineup through Apple Arcade. If you are a heavy player on the Steam or Epic Games platforms, you may need to re-evaluate whether you should choose a higher-end MacBook Pro model or wait for a future updated version with larger memory capacity.
Overall, the MacBook Neo proves the potential of Apple’s entry-level products in the gaming field, but the answer to whether it can challenge the gaming masterpieces still depends on the type of game. For casual gamers and indie game enthusiasts, this is an option worth considering; for hardcore gamers looking for a smooth experience in AAA gaming, this machine is not for you (or not for Mac).
Source: KOCPC Chinese