Versus Engine
Apple MacBook Neo vs MacBook Pro 16" M4 Max
Specs, price and the one trade-off that actually decides it — Apple MacBook Neo against MacBook Pro 16" M4 Max, side by side.
Cheaper to start
Apple MacBook Neo
Starts about $2,700 lower.
Rated higher
MacBook Pro 16" M4 Max
9.2 vs 8.8 on our design scale.
Standout
Apple MacBook Neo
All-aluminium build at $699
Apple MacBook Neo
Apple's entry laptop from $699 — the first MacBook running an iPhone chip.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- All-aluminium build at $699
- A18 Pro delivers iPhone-class efficiency and battery life
- Cheapest credible path into macOS
Cons
- 8GB of memory and a 256GB base, neither upgradeable
- Display is a step below the Air
- A18 Pro is a phone chip — sustained workloads are not its job
Specifications
- ChipApple A18 Pro chip 6‐core CPU with 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores 5‐core GPU Hardware‐accelerated ray tracing 16‐core Neural Engine 60GB/s memory bandwidth
- DisplayLiquid Retina display 13.0-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2 2408-by-1506 native resolution at 219 pixels per inch 500 nits brightness Support for 1 billion colors sRGB color
- Memory8GB 8GB unified memory
- Storage256GB 256GB SSD
- adapter—
- Audio PlaybackSupported formats include AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Atmos
- Battery—
- Battery and PowerUp to 16 hours video streaming Up to 11 hours wireless web Built-in 36.5‐watt‐hour lithium‐ion battery 20W USB-C Power Adapter USB-C Charge Cable (1.5 m)
- battery_life_max—
- battery_life_pro—
- Built-in AppsApp Store Books Calendar Contacts FaceTime Find My Freeform Games GarageBand Home iMovie iPhone Mirroring Journal
- cable—
- Charging and ExpansionOne USB 3 (USB-C) port with support for: Charging DisplayPort USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s) One USB 2 (USB-C) port with support for: Charging USB 2 (up to 480Mb/s) 3.5 mm headphone jack
- charging_ports—
- chassisAluminium, no plastic parts
- coloursIndigo, blush, citrus, silver
- configurable_memory—
- cores—
- External Display SupportSupports one external display with up to a native resolution of 4K at 60Hz 4 Simultaneously supports the built-in display at full native resolution USB 3 (USB-C) port supports native DisplayPort 1.4 speeds (up to HBR3)
- gpu—
- Keyboard and TrackpadMagic Keyboard 78 (ANSI) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 full-height function keys – Not available, Touch ID Multi-Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and support for gestures Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
- memory_bandwidth—
- neural_engine—
- NPU—
- Operating SystemmacOS
- operating_requirements / frequency—
- operating_requirements / line_voltage—
- operating_requirements / maximum_shipping_altitude—
- operating_requirements / maximum_storage_altitude—
- operating_requirements / operating_altitude—
- operating_requirements / operating_temperature—
- operating_requirements / relative_humidity—
- operating_requirements / storage_temperature—
- Ports—
- Processor—
- RAM—
- Size and WeightHeight: 0.50 inch (1.27 cm) Width: 11.71 inches (29.75 cm) Depth: 8.12 inches (20.64 cm) Weight: 2.7 pounds (1.23 kg) 6
- size_and_weight / depth—
- size_and_weight / height—
- size_and_weight / weight_max—
- size_and_weight / weight_pro—
- size_and_weight / width—
- storage_base256GB (512GB at $799)
- storage_max—
- storage_pro—
- Video PlaybackSupported formats include HEVC, H.264, AV1, and ProRes HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10+/HDR10, and HLG
- Weight—
MacBook Pro 16" M4 Max
A flagship mobile workstation designed for peak performance-per-watt and heavy local AI inference.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Up to 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU for heavy workloads
- Up to 24 hours of battery life for extended use
- Multiple high-speed ports for versatile connectivity
Cons
- Expensive price point of $3399
- Limited storage options starting at 512GB
Specifications
- ChipApple M4 Pro chip, Apple M4 Max chip
- Display16.2" Liquid Retina XDR
- Memory24GB unified memory, 36GB unified memory
- StorageUp to 8TB SSD
- adapter140W USB-C Power Adapter
- Audio Playback—
- BatteryUp to 22 hours
- Battery and Power—
- battery_life_maxUp to 21 hours video streaming, Up to 14 hours wireless web
- battery_life_proUp to 24 hours video streaming, Up to 17 hours wireless web
- Built-in Apps—
- cableUSB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable
- Charging and Expansion—
- charging_portsSDXC card slot, HDMI port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port, Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports
- chassis—
- colours—
- configurable_memory36GB, 48GB, 64GB, 128GB
- coresUp to 36-core CPU with 12 super cores and 24 performance cores
- External Display Support—
- gpuUp to 80-core GPU
- Keyboard and Trackpad—
- memory_bandwidth1.2TB/s memory bandwidth
- neural_engine32-core Neural Engine
- NPU38 TOPS (Neural Engine)
- Operating System—
- operating_requirements / frequency50Hz to 60Hz
- operating_requirements / line_voltage100V to 240V AC
- operating_requirements / maximum_shipping_altitude35,000 feet
- operating_requirements / maximum_storage_altitude15,000 feet
- operating_requirements / operating_altitudetested up to 10,000 feet (3000 meters)
- operating_requirements / operating_temperature50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
- operating_requirements / relative_humidity0% to 90% noncondensing
- operating_requirements / storage_temperature-13° to 113° F (-25° to 45° C)
- Ports3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3
- ProcessorApple M4 Max
- RAMUp to 128GB Unified
- Size and Weight—
- size_and_weight / depth9.77 inches (24.81 cm)
- size_and_weight / height0.66 inch (1.68 cm)
- size_and_weight / weight_max4.7 pounds (2.15 kg)
- size_and_weight / weight_pro4.7 pounds (2.14 kg)
- size_and_weight / width14.01 inches (35.57 cm)
- storage_base—
- storage_max1TB SSD, Configurable to: 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB
- storage_pro512GB SSD, Configurable to: 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB
- Video Playback—
- Weight2.14 kg