Apple has run into unexpectedly strong demand for its $599 MacBook Neo. The laptop quickly became a hit among users looking for an affordable machine for document work or as a Chromebook alternative.
During the latest earnings call, CEO Tim Cook admitted that demand exceeded forecasts. He said the company had underestimated the hype around this model, leading to supply shortages.
In response, analyst Tim Culpan reports that Apple has placed a new order with TSMC for A18 Pro processors, the same chips used in the MacBook Neo. This should boost production capacity and help the company move toward its goal of 10 million units.
The situation could affect the cost structure. According to sources, initial batches used chips with a partially disabled graphics core — essentially reworked versions from the iPhone 16 Pro. New batches will need to be built from scratch, which means higher costs, including for memory.
Meanwhile, talk has turned to future updates. Rumors are circulating about a MacBook Neo with the next-generation A19 Pro chip from the iPhone lineup, as well as a possible RAM increase to 12 GB.
For now, Apple's priority is to stabilize supply and meet demand without any hardware changes to the current model.