The MacBook Neo is one of Apple's most intriguing products in years. The company took an iPhone 16 Pro chip, put it inside a colorful chassis, installed macOS, and presto: You have a brand-new MacBook for only $599 ($499 with an education discount). It's a no-brainer for anyone looking for a basic Mac at a great price, but to get it to that price, Apple had to cut some serious corners. As such, you can't buy a MacBook Neo and expect the exact same experience you'd get with a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro—though that doesn't mean you can't make some improvements on your own.
The Neo might be a stripped-down Mac, but it's still a computer, and all computers can be pushed beyond their defaults. To that end, I've compiled a list of 10 hacks all MacBook Neo owners should know about—adjustments and strategies you can take to make your Neo run longer, perform better, and get a bit closer to the flagship MacBook experience.
MacBook Neo (256 GB) $599.00 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $599.00 at AmazonSee, your Mac has 8GB of RAM. That's not a lot. When macOS runs out of RAM to work with, however, it won't just stop working; instead, it'll start using your SSD for additional memory, a process known as "swap." That said, if you don't have enough available storage, you'll start to run into issues: macOS will slow down, apps will be less responsive, and the system may even warn you you're dangerously close to running out of space.
General > Storage. You'll be able to see a full breakdown of your Macintosh HD, plus some tips from macOS to optimize your storage: e.g. "Store in iCloud," if you have enough cloud space, or "Empty Trash automatically" if you tend to keep large files in the trash.
Pick up an external SSD to expand your storage
If you're struggling to make due with your limited storage, pick up an external SSD. You can buy these devices in any number of configurations, adding 1TB, 2TB, even 4TB of storage space to your setup. While it's less convenient than keeping files on your MacBook locally, it'll help you keep the available space on your Neo for everything to run properly. Plus, they're small, and many connect via a single USB-C cable, so there's no need for additional power cables or dongles.
You can pair your Apple Watch with your MacBook, so that when you're wearing the watch, it automatically unlocks your Mac—just like Touch ID would. To set it up, head to System Settings, then search for "Apple Watch." Choose "Allow Apple Watch to unlock your Mac," then tap the toggle next to your watch. Note that both the watch and your MacBook need to be connected to the same Apple Account.
Use Activity Monitor to kill demanding apps and processes
The MacBook Neo's built-in webcam is actually pretty solid—especially for a laptop at this price point. But it's not quite as good as the ones you'll find on Apple's M-series MacBooks. If you have an iPhone, however, you're set, since macOS lets you tap into its camera for all your video call needs. For setup instructions, follow the steps in our guide here. You may just want to invest in a stand, or perhaps a camera mount for your Mac.
Use lightweight apps to make the most of your Mac's limited RAM
Perhaps the easiest place to start is with your browser. Chrome is the most popular web browser in the world. It's also a major memory hog. Google isn't all that concerned with making its browser a light and efficient option, especially since so many users rely on it for its performance and extensions library. But if you're rocking a MacBook Neo, you might want to consider switching out your browser. Safari is honestly a great choice in 2026, and, since it's Apple-made, it's optimized to work well with macOS. But it's limited compared to Chrome—while it has extensions, there aren't as many, so you may find the experience lacking. In that case, I'd recommend Firefox: It offers a similar extensions experience to Chrome, but runs lighter, and more private to boot.
Even if you think you could get away with relying on the MacBook Neo's two USB-C ports, you really only have one worth using. The port closest to the hinge is USB 3.0, which you can use for connecting to a display, charging, and for transferring data up to 10Gb/s. The other port, however, is USB 2, which can only charge and transfer data at speeds of 480Mb/s. That's super slow by today's standards. In fact, if you plug a demanding piece of hardware into this port, macOS will send you a pop-up advising you to use the other port.
Use Low Power Mode on battery power to keep your MacBook running longer
The MacBook Neo seems to have a pretty solid battery life, but that doesn't mean it's perfect. If your main goal is extending your time in between charges and you're OK taking a small hit to performance, you should use Low Power Mode any time your MacBook is on battery power—not just when it's low on energy.
Battery, then set "Low Power Mode" to "Only on battery." Now, anytime you disconnect from the charger, your MacBook will run on Low Power Mode. You may notice some slowdowns and stuttering, but it's all the name of elongated battery power.
In order to help keep that A18 Pro chip from overheating, you'll want to mind where you keep your Neo when using it—especially if it's working hard. Despite being a laptop, your lap is not the optimal surface for heat dissipation. Instead, try to use the Neo on a flat, cool surface that can help move that heat away from the laptop as much as possible. If you want something that is actively moving that heat away, consider a cooling pad, like this option from Targus. This pan has fans built into it, which can offer some additional help cooling your machine.
You can install a thermal pad to improve performance (but you probably shouldn't)
Just know, this involves opening up your MacBook, and installing something Apple doesn't approve of. The risk here is pretty low, aside from accidentally damaging your machine while it's opened, but this violates your MacBook's warranty, so really only proceed with this hack if you're comfortable with the risks.
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