Intel Core 3 test indicates it might provide Windows laptops a competitive edge against MacBook Neo.

      Recent PassMark scores indicate that Wildcat Lake is narrowing the performance gap with Apple's A18 Pro.

      Apple's MacBook Neo has disrupted the budget laptop market with its $599 price and impressive A18 Pro chip. However, new benchmark data suggests that Intel may have a strong contender on the way. The forthcoming Core 3 304 processor from Intel has appeared on PassMark, indicating that entry-level Windows laptops may soon become significantly more competitive.

      The Intel Core 3 304 is approaching the performance level of Apple’s A18 Pro.

      As per the latest PassMark results (via x86deadandback), the Intel Core 3 304 has recorded an average CPU Mark score of 11,543 points, which is just 2.2% lower than the Apple A18 Pro in the MacBook Neo, currently averaging 11,804 points. In terms of single-threaded performance, the Intel chip lags behind by approximately 7.7%, although one benchmark submission actually matched the peak score of the A18 Pro.

      Interestingly, Intel is achieving this with a 5-core, 5-thread architecture, while the A18 Pro has a 6-core, 6-thread design. The Core 3 304 is expected to belong to Intel’s low-power Wildcat Lake series, focused on budget laptops, making this comparison particularly significant for price-sensitive consumers.

      While synthetic benchmarks offer limited insight, factors such as battery life, thermal management, graphics performance, software optimization, and the overall user experience will significantly influence the performance of shipping products. However, from a pure CPU standpoint, Intel appears to be much closer to Apple’s latest budget silicon than many anticipated.

      Perhaps the budget Windows laptop market isn’t finished after all.

      Interestingly, the MacBook Neo’s main selling point wasn't solely macOS or battery endurance, but rather the perception that consumers could obtain flagship-level performance at an entry-level price. If Intel can provide comparable everyday CPU performance with Wildcat Lake, it could eliminate one of Apple’s dominant advantages in this area.

      Nonetheless, benchmarks alone do not drive laptop sales. Manufacturer pricing, screen quality, memory configurations, and battery longevity will ultimately dictate whether these upcoming Windows devices can effectively compete with the MacBook Neo. Still, if these initial figures hold true, Intel may have opened the door for budget Windows laptops like never before.

      Varun is an established technology journalist and editor with over eight years of experience in consumer technology media.

      Hackers have leaked facial recognition data associated with millions of visitors to Madison Square Garden.

      For years, Madison Square Garden has utilized facial recognition technology to track individuals entering its venues. Now, this surveillance system is at the heart of what could develop into a significant privacy breach this year.

      The cybercrime group ShinyHunters has released a substantial amount of data allegedly stolen from Madison Square Garden Entertainment after the company did not meet a ransom deadline. Reports state that the leak comprises facial recognition records, customer information, internal security evaluations, and other confidential data relating to millions of attendees. While large-scale data breaches have become all too common, this incident feels particularly concerning. Most breaches typically involve passwords, email addresses, or financial data, but this leak includes something much more personal: details about how individuals were monitored and identified in physical settings.

      The modern Media Player in Windows 11 is, surprisingly, less efficient than the version from 17 years ago.

      Microsoft has introduced a new Insider Preview update for the modern Windows 11 Media Player. However, the application faces backlash after initial tests showed it consumes more memory and loads local video files more slowly than the classic Windows Media Player, which is 17 years old.

      The update introduces some useful improvements, including better captioning, clearer codec error messages, and enhanced file recognition. Nevertheless, the main grievances pertain to increased RAM usage and the reliance on paid codec support for various common video formats. This update is not yet available to all users. Media Player version 11.2605.14.0 has only been released for Experimental Insider builds as part of Microsoft’s June 12 Insider Preview updates.

      If you're a Mac user, you may want to check out this free, beautifully designed disk space tool.

      Radix is a free, open-source alternative to paid disk analyzers for Mac.

      Running low on storage is a frequent issue for Mac users, and Apple's built-in storage tools often fall short in indicating what's truly consuming space. While general categories are provided, pinpointing the specific folders, downloads, app files, or old projects responsible for the lack of space can still require effort.

      Radix is a free, open-source application designed to simplify this process. It analyzes the disk space usage of a folder, drive, or volume and presents the data in an interactive sunburst chart. Instead of sifting through folders manually, users receive a visual representation of how storage is distributed across their drive.