In an earnings call in late April, Apple CEO Tim Cook said customer response to the MacBook Neo was “off the charts,” and the laptop’s popularity reportedly led the company to expand production.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this week said he believes Apple’s MacBook Neo shipments have doubled from an initial target of 5 million units to 10 million units by 2026 sometime after the laptop’s launch in March.
Apple had high hopes for the MacBook Neo before announcing it, but the company was “still stretching” the level of enthusiasm the laptop would generate, according to Cook. He said demand for the MacBook Neo exceeded Apple’s expectations and helped drive a record number of first-time Mac buyers last quarter.
New figures from market research firm IDC support Apple’s claim that the MacBook Neo is selling well, and the Windows PC industry has taken notice. For example, Dell recently introduced a redesigned XPS 13 laptop starting at $699 and said it has features “you won’t find in a MacBook Neo,” such as a touchscreen and a backlit keyboard.
“Apple’s MacBook Neo is a capable machine, and its arrival confirms that there is a real desire for high quality at affordable prices,” agreed Dell.
With a starting price of $599 in the US, or $499 for college students, the MacBook Neo is Apple’s most affordable MacBook. Powered by iPhone’s A18 Pro chip, the laptop is available in colorful finishes like Citrus and Blush.
The second-generation MacBook Neo is expected to launch next year with the A19 Pro chip and 12GB of RAM.
Good News
OpenAI Fast-Tracking AI Phone Launched in 2027, Kuo Says
OpenAI is said to be rapidly developing an “AI agent phone,” and the company now aims to mass produce this device as early as the first half of next year, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Late last month, Kuo revealed OpenAI’s work on smartphones, contradicting earlier reports that the company had no plans to enter the mobile market. Kuo said MediaTek and…
Report: Intel Tests Production of Other iPhone, iPad, and Mac Chips
TSMC has been the exclusive supplier of Apple systems-on-a-chip since 2016, but that 10-year streak may be coming to an end. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today that Intel has “started” small-scale testing of iPhone, iPad, and Mac chip manufacturing, with production expected to ramp up in 2027 and 2028.
iPhone 18 Pro Camera Upgrade Will Cost Apple 50% More
The new aperture lens for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will cost Apple 50% more than the camera unit used in the current models, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Dynamic aperture has been one of the most persistent iPhone camera rumors of the past few years. Kuo first hinted at this feature in late 2024, and it has since been confirmed by multiple reports and…