The MacBook Neo achieved surprising performance in the Windows 11 gaming test, despite its reliance on a processor dedicated to phones.
The computer comes with the Apple A18 Pro chip used in the iPhone 16 Pro series, which has led some to believe that performance will be limited, especially when running macOS, but practical results have shown otherwise.
Tests demonstrated the device’s ability to run games relatively smoothly, even when using Windows 11 via virtualization. The test was based on the Parallels Desktop application, with only 5 GB of memory allocated to the default system, while the device comes with a total of 8 GB of memory.
The tests included a number of games that are not available in a native macOS version. Marvel Cosmic Invasion achieved about 60 frames per second at maximum resolution, while Dirt 3 ran at 1200p and High settings at an average of approximately 75 frames per second.
Portal 2 also exceeded the 100 frames per second barrier on medium settings, while Skyrim was able to operate at about 60 frames per second at 1200p resolution and medium settings.
In contrast, GTA V did not achieve playable performance via Parallels Desktop, but it can be played smoothly using the Crossover app.
Overall, the performance is interesting considering the device’s reliance on a mobile processor and limited memory, which outperforms expectations in running Windows 11 games.
