Apple MacBook Neo vs Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)
40.4Performance30.7
29.8Display26.5
20Battery33.3
86.4Portability76.6
4 spec wins — Apple MacBook Neo3 spec wins — Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple MacBook Neo wins this laptop face-off, 41.6 to 38.5, pulling ahead mainly in portability (+10) and performance (+10). Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Apple MacBook Neo
- Stronger performance score: 40 vs 31
- Stronger display score: 30 vs 27
- Stronger portability score: 86 vs 77
- 31% lower thickness: 12.7 mm vs 18.5 mm
- 25% higher Peak brightness: 500 nits vs 400 nits
- Lower launch price: $599 vs $699
Reasons to pick the Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)
- Stronger battery score: 33 vs 20
- 200% higher charging: 60 W vs 20 W
- 100% higher storage: 512 GB vs 256 GB
- 37% higher capacity: 50 Wh vs 37 Wh
Display
| Spec | Apple MacBook Neo | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13 ″+7% | 12.2 ″ |
| Panel type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | LCD (glass, convertible touchscreen, MPP 2.0/USI 2.0 stylus support) |
| Resolution | 2408x1506 | 1920x1200 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits+25% | 400 nits |
Performance
| Spec | Apple MacBook Neo | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A18 Pro (6-core) | Intel Core 3 304 |
| Graphics | Apple A18 Pro 5-core GPU | Intel Graphics (1 Xe3 core, up to 2.3GHz) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| RAM type | LPDDR5X (unified) | DDR5-6400 (SO-DIMM) |
| Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB+100% |
| Storage type | SSD | M.2 2230 NVMe SSD |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple MacBook Neo | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,535Top 24% | — |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 8,920Bottom 6% | — |
Battery
| Spec | Apple MacBook Neo | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 37 Wh | 50 Wh+37% |
| Charging | 20 W | 60 W+200% |
Design
| Spec | Apple MacBook Neo | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.23 kg+5% | 1.3 kg |
| Thickness | 12.7 mm+31% | 18.5 mm |
| Material | Aluminum | Overmolded shock-absorbing TPU over plastic with an internal metal structure |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple MacBook Neo | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | USB-C 3 (10Gb/s, DisplayPort), USB-C 2 (480Mb/s), 3.5mm | 4x swappable Expansion Cards (2x rear Thunderbolt 4, 2x front USB 3.2 Gen 2; USB-C/USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, microSD/SD options), 3.5mm combo jack |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 (Intel BE213) |
| Bluetooth | 6 | 6.0 |
| Webcam | 1080p FaceTime HD | 1080p 30fps (2MP OmniVision OV02C sensor, 80° FOV), hardware privacy switch |
| Biometrics | Touch ID (512GB model only) | None on this configuration — fingerprint reader is bundled only with the Core 5 320/Core 7 350 pre-built tiers, not Core 3 304 |
Software
| Spec | Apple MacBook Neo | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS Tahoe | Fedora 44 (KDE Plasma) (Windows 11 Home/Pro option available) |
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