The Sundarban
Jake Peterson
Senior Technology Editor
Abilities
Jake Peterson is Lifehacker’s Tech Editor, and has been covering tech news and how-tos for virtually a decade. His team covers all issues know-how, together with AI, smartphones, computer methods, sport consoles, and subscriptions.
April 2, 2026
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Desk of Contents
The MacBook Neo is one of Apple’s most vigorous merchandise in years. The company took an iPhone 16 Pro chip, do it interior a brilliant chassis, installed macOS, and presto: You’ve got a do-unusual MacBook for perfect $599 ($499 with an education prick price). It be a no brainer for someone searching for a popular Mac at a immense do, nevertheless to get it to that do, Apple had to prick some extreme corners. As such, that that you need to’t buy a MacBook Neo and search files from the categorical identical abilities you’d get with a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro—though that does not imply that that you need to’t style some improvements in your hold.
The Neo is perhaps a stripped-down Mac, then as soon as more it’s unruffled a computer, and all computer methods could perhaps even be pushed beyond their defaults. To that cease, I’ve compiled a list of 10 hacks all MacBook Neo owners could furthermore unruffled know about—adjustments and solutions that that you need to furthermore rob to style your Neo creep longer, develop better, and get a bit closer to the flagship MacBook abilities.
Give your Mac extra “RAM” by optimizing your storage
Right here’s the biggest consideration it’s no longer in fact important what Mac that that you need to furthermore private, then as soon as more it’s specifically important when your laborious force is as small as the irascible MacBook Neo. Whereas that that you need to furthermore train that that you need to furthermore private the flexibleness to contain that 256GB of storage to the brim, that that you need to furthermore private some distance less of it than you’re thinking that. Portion of that is because macOS takes up a certain quantity of storage by itself (the OS takes up roughly 35GB on my MacBook, for instance), nevertheless even the free dwelling you can spend, you truly shouldn’t.
Peep, your Mac has 8GB of RAM. That’s no longer lots. When macOS runs out of RAM to work with, then as soon as more, it gained’t simply live working; as an alternative, it’ll launch the usage of your SSD for added memory, a direction of identified as “swap.” That acknowledged, whereas you happen to style no longer private ample accessible storage, that that you need to launch to creep into points: macOS will decelerate, apps will likely be less responsive, and the diagram could furthermore even warn you you are dangerously almost about operating out of dwelling.
So, one of many perfect stuff that that you need to furthermore cease to style basically the most of your Neo’s restricted RAM is by limiting how noteworthy storage you’re the usage of. Audit your contemporary SSD peril by going to Device Settings > Standard > Storage. That you simply need to peek a chunky breakdown of your Macintosh HD, plus some pointers from macOS to optimize your storage: e.g. “Store in iCloud,” whereas you happen to could furthermore private ample cloud dwelling, or “Empty Trash automatically” whereas you happen to are inclined to lift graceful files within the trash.
That you simply need to furthermore jog deeper whereas you happen to click on the (i) subsequent to any of the file forms listed below. Let’s recount, I in fact private 226.43 GB of “Documents” on my MacBook. I will detect which files are basically the most involving, and delete any I no longer need.
Bag an external SSD to elongate your storage
Must you are struggling to style due along with your restricted storage, collect an external SSD. That you simply need to furthermore buy these gadgets in any preference of configurations, together with 1TB, 2TB, even 4TB of storage dwelling to your setup. Whereas it’s less convenient than keeping files in your MacBook within the community, it’ll succor you luxuriate in the accessible dwelling in your Neo for all the pieces to creep effectively. Plus, they’re small, and masses connect by the usage of a single USB-C cable, so there is no need for added strength cables or dongles.
Pair your Apple Gaze for easy unlocking and authentication
For years, Apple has incorporated Touch ID buttons on its MacBooks. It be a speedily come to unlock your laptop and it beats having to style your password in each time. Whereas the Neo does private an possibility that incorporates Touch ID, the irascible mannequin sadly doesn’t. Must that that you need to furthermore private an Apple, then as soon as more, it doesn’t truly topic.
That you simply need to furthermore pair your Apple Gaze along with your MacBook, so that within the occasion you are wearing the survey, it mechanically unlocks your Mac—simply love Touch ID would. To device it up, head to Device Settings, then search “Apple Watch.” Decide “Allow Apple Watch to unlock your Mac,” then faucet the toggle subsequent to your survey. Display that both the survey and your MacBook private to be linked to the identical Apple Yarn.
Expend Activity Video show to waste annoying apps and processes
As someone who obsesses over their Mac’s performance, Activity Video show is my ally. It be about to be yours, too. This utility allows you to salvage the entire apps and processes on the second operating in your Mac, and how annoying they’re on its CPU, memory, energy, disk, and the community. Whereas it could in point of fact furthermore seem specifically technical, style no longer peril: The most life like possible come to make spend of Activity Video show is to peek if any app is with out note the usage of too noteworthy energy, memory, or CPU performance. If Messages, for instance, is on the cease of the list, and is the usage of some distance extra energy than any various app around it, that that you need to furthermore guess something’s up. From here, that that you need to furthermore Power Quit the app, or click the app name from the list and hit the (X) live button in Activity Video show to get issues working as soon as more.
Expend your iPhone as an improved webcam
The MacBook Neo’s built-in webcam is de facto graceful stable—specifically for a laptop at this do point.
