From AAA games designed for Macs to Windows games running through workarounds, Andrew Tsai tested whether the new MacBook Neo can handle gaming. Here’s what he found.
The MacBook Neo, powered by Apple’s A18 Pro chip with a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, sparked curiosity: Will it be good enough for gaming? The answer often depends on what you want to do.
As reviews rolled in, it became clear that the MacBook Neo performs well in productivity tasks, but its gaming capabilities sparked debate. Despite Apple’s efforts to make the Mac appealing to gamers, the gaming community hasn’t fully embraced it.
Andrew Tsai decided to run ten games on a 512GB MacBook Neo, including:
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Minecraft
- World of Warcraft
- Control
- Resident Evil Requiem
- Resident Evil 2 Remake
- Counter-Strike 2
- Elden Ring
- Dark Souls Remastered
- Mewgenics
Overall, the MacBook Neo performed better than expected, though it struggled with memory-intensive games—having only 8GB of memory. Games designed for macOS ran smoother than those played through Windows emulation, which can add extra layers of difficulty.
Take Cyberpunk 2077, for instance. It only worked on the lowest settings at 720p, while Minecraft managed between 50 and 300 fps at 1080p, depending on the settings.
When using translation layers for Windows games, results varied widely. For example, Counter-Strike 2 was “completely unplayable,” whereas Mewgenics ran smoothly. This highlights that simpler games have an easier time on the Mac.
Gaming expert Jon Grall notes that a computer’s GPU performance is crucial for a good gaming experience. He suggests that despite the MacBook Neo’s limitations, it can still fill a niche for casual gamers or those who enjoy less demanding titles.
A survey by TechRadar indicated that 42% of gamers believe that Macs are improving for gaming but still aren’t quite there compared to dedicated gaming PCs. This sentiment reflects the ongoing challenges Apple faces in attracting serious gamers.
It’s worth checking out Tsai’s video for deeper insights into how the MacBook Neo fits into the current gaming landscape and what it might mean for the future of Mac gaming.
Whether you’re a curious gamer or considering a tech upgrade, the MacBook Neo offers an interesting choice, even if it may not yet lead the pack in performance.
