USB-C ports: How they work on the MacBook Neo
No Mac currently has as few ports as the MacBook Neo. Dongles will be needed for many applications – but it could have been worse.
MacBook Neo with Ports: Two USB-C, one jack.
(Image: Apple)
When the 12-inch MacBook launched in 2015, it cost 1449 euros – more than double the price of the MacBook Neo introduced last week. Apple's most compact notebook to date was not only significantly slower than today's Neo due to its built-in Intel Core M, but it also came with a controversial omission: it only had a single USB-C port for data and charging. Fortunately, Apple is not repeating this mistake with the new Neo – and is equipping it with two USB-C sockets, in addition to a jack for headphones (albeit only low-impedance ones). It's far from perfect, but at least it's somewhat (sur)vivable. However, there are a few things to consider in daily operation.
Two ports, two speeds
As mentioned, both ports are manufactured in the USB-C format, the current standard for peripheral products, which will likely remain for many years to come due to the specifications of the European Union. Both ports are located on the left side of the opened device. The rear USB-C socket supports USB 3 (i.e., neither USB 3.1 nor 3.2 nor Thunderbolt 4 or even 5) with up to 10 Gb/s. The port next to it, however, only supports USB 2.0, a completely outdated standard that transmits only 480 Mb/s (gross values in each case).
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Therefore, this port will likely be used primarily for charging – or for devices that do not have high data transfer requirements, such as mice, keyboards, or audio devices. The USB 3 port is also the only one of the two ports to which an external monitor (DisplayPort via USB-C) can be connected. The maximum possible here is a screen with 4K at 60 Hertz refresh rate.
macOS warns about the wrong port
To prevent users from confusing the ports, Apple has integrated a new feature in macOS that warns when faster devices are connected to the USB 2.0 port. This avoids, for example, extremely slow transfer speeds when connecting external SSDs. Anyone who needs additional ports will have to purchase a dock, hub, or dongle. There is a wide selection of different models available, which can add USB-A or HDMI, for example. What works here and what doesn't will have to be shown by initial tests. However, it would be overkill to buy, for example, a Thunderbolt 5 dock, because the speed cannot be utilized anyway.
The reason for the limited USB-C equipment is likely to be found in the A18 Pro iPhone chip used by Apple. However, it's more than on the iPhone here: USB 2.0 has long been the standard for cheaper models there – even on iPhone Air and iPhone 17.
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