Members of the media view MacBook Neo laptop computers on display during an Apple unveil event, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in New York (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey) ,
Apple disrupted the laptop market with the launch of the MacBook Neo in March 2026. Now the competition is getting ready to strike back with Qualcomm’s recently announced Snapdragon C, an ARM-based chipset for entry-level laptops and budget computing. What issues will Qualcomm face as the industry looks for a response to Apple?
MacBook Neo Performance vs Snapdragon C Thermals
The Apple MacBook Neo uses a fanless configuration to offer efficient everyday use.
One simple decision by Apple unlocked the MacBook Neo, the use of the A18 Pro chipset. Originally designed with 6 CPU cores and 6 GPU cores for the iPhone 16 Pro, the MacBook Neo recycles the "binned” chipsets that had a single failed GPU core. That significantly reduced component costs while leveraging Apple’s tight integration of software and hardware to deliver high performance without exceeding temperatures that require active cooling.
