Apple Doubles MacBook Neo Production to 10M Units After Demand Surge

Apple has reportedly doubled its 2026 MacBook Neo shipment target from 5 million to 10 million units, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The budget laptop, which launched in March at $599 ($499 for students) and runs on the iPhone’s A18 Pro chip, has become Apple’s most affordable MacBook to date and drove a record number of first-time Mac buyers last quarter.

The response has rattled the Windows PC market. Dell launched a redesigned XPS 13 starting at $699, pointedly marketing features absent from the Neo such as a touchscreen and backlit keyboard, while acknowledging the Neo proved real demand exists for premium quality at lower price points. A second-generation model with an A19 Pro chip and 12GB of RAM is expected next year.