The MacBook Neo, launched in March this year, is powered by the A18 Pro chip, which is already used in the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Meanwhile, Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro lineup features the upgraded A19 Pro chip. That said, strong demand for the MacBook Neo has already prompted Apple to start planning an upgraded version with newer chips.
According to a new report by Taiwan-based tech journalist Tim Culpan, Apple is in talks with its suppliers to build an upgraded version of the MacBook Neo equipped with the A19 Pro chip. While the current generation comes with 8GB of RAM, next year’s model may also feature 12GB of RAM to match the iPhone 17 Pro configuration.
Culpan says demand for the MacBook Neo has been so strong that it exceeded Apple’s expectations. Initially, the company planned to produce around 5 to 6 million Neo-branded Macs before halting production. However, the strong demand may lead Apple and its suppliers to ramp up production. Manufacturing is reportedly split between Quanta and Foxconn, with factories located in Vietnam and China.
Tim Culpan also notes that the MacBook Neo’s strong popularity has presented Apple with a dilemma, albeit a favorable one.
The A18 Pro chips used in the MacBook Neo feature a 5-core GPU, whereas the same chips in the iPhone 16 Pro models feature a 6-core GPU. This is because the MacBook Neo uses binned versions of the A18 Pro chips that didn’t meet the specifications required for iPhones but are still usable.
Using these binned A18 Pro chips allows Apple to maintain a strong profit margin, as they are effectively “free.” However, with the MacBook Neo selling like hot cakes, Apple’s inventory of these chips is running low. The company now faces a choice: order new chips from TSMC or cease production. The former would reduce profit margins, while the latter could disappoint customers and potentially push them toward Windows PCs.