Parallels Desktop now works on Apple's new $599 MacBook Neo, though performance depends heavily on intended use. The company confirmed that its virtualization software installs and runs stably on the ARM-based laptop, with full validation still ongoing.

The A18 Pro chip, which debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro, shares the same ARM architecture as Apple's M-series processors, so processor compatibility isn't an issue. However, the MacBook Neo's 8GB of RAM creates limitations for Windows 11 virtual machines, which require 4GB minimum to function.

Parallels warns that users seeking to run CPU- or GPU-intensive Windows applications should look elsewhere. The company suggests the $1,099 MacBook Air with M5 chip as a better option, offering 16GB RAM minimum with upgrade paths, or refurbished M4 MacBook Air models that also come standard with 16GB RAM.