In a head-to-head comparison, the MacBook Neo has demonstrated superior performance over the Dell XPS 13 in the demanding Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark, though neither machine is recommended for serious gaming. Both notebooks are positioned as affordable entry-level options, retailing at $699.

Independent testing conducted by PhoneBuff revealed that the MacBook Neo loaded Cyberpunk 2077 in just under 41 seconds, while the Dell XPS 13 took 55 seconds. In the game's benchmark, the XPS 13 was unable to run at ultra settings, averaging 16 frames per second when played fullscreen. The MacBook Neo, in contrast, achieved an average of nearly 20 frames per second in the same test.

While these results show the MacBook Neo outperforming its competitor, an average of 20 FPS is generally not considered playable. Previous testing by PC Gamer's Ian showed that the MacBook Neo could achieve 30 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, but this required significant compromises, including using the Low graphics profile, a 720p resolution, and MetalFX upscaling in performance mode. This configuration resulted in a softened image quality.

The MacBook Neo utilizes an A18 Pro chip, which is a repurposed mobile processor, while the Dell XPS 13 is equipped with an Intel Core 5 320 processor. In other benchmarks, the Dell XPS 13 showed faster startup times, reaching the desktop in 24 seconds compared to the MacBook Neo's 40 seconds. PhoneBuff also noted that the MacBook Neo opened a large 500-page Microsoft Word document faster than the XPS 13, completing the task in just over 7 seconds versus the XPS 13's 12 seconds.

Both devices were configured with 8GB of RAM for the testing. While the MacBook Neo offers a strong showing in specific benchmarks, particularly in loading times and CPU-intensive tasks like opening large documents and gaming, its display has a 60Hz refresh rate. The Dell XPS 13 features a 120Hz refresh rate on its 13-inch OLED touch display, which supports the P3 color gamut, offering smoother scrolling and a wider color range. However, its Intel chip struggles to keep up with demanding games.

For less graphically intensive titles, such as indie games and visual novels, either notebook might be suitable if gaming expectations are managed. However, for demanding AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, neither the MacBook Neo nor the Dell XPS 13 provides an ideal or even consistently playable experience.