The next MacBook Neo could land in 2027 – and it might fix one of our biggest complaints

Apple’s entry-level MacBook Neo laptop is a sleeper hit, charming both consumers and reviewers alike with its sleek, colourful design, and surprisingly capable performance – hence the five stars it received in our review. 

It’s certainly in the running for one of the best laptops, and now, rumours point to an even better, more powerful MacBook Neo model launching next year.

• Read more: Your new Mac might take five months to arrive. Here’s why

According to Tim Culpan – a credible source with knowledge of Apple’s supply chain and ecosystem (via MacRumors), the next MacBook Neo model is expected to use a version of Apple’s upcoming A19 Pro chip – the same processor powering the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

If true, this is pretty exciting news for several reasons. It should offer more power than the existing MacBook Neo’s Apple A18 Pro processor, for a start. But we’re particularly excited about what it could mean for fixing one of our biggest gripes with the Neo – its relatively paltry 8GB of RAM.

The inclusion of the newer A19 Pro chip could unlock 12GB of RAM, which should make for noticeable performance improvements, on paper, at least.

Graphics performance, however, might only have a modest bump. While the A19 Pro is expected to feature a 6-core GPU in iPhones, the MacBook Neo version is tipped to use a binned variant with five cores – the same configuration as the current model.

Still, the rumours are good news, and there’s nothing particularly wild or unlikely about them. If they do prove to be true, the next MacBook Neo could land with a splash, to an even better reception than the original. Hopefully, its palatable price will remain the same as well…

• Read more: Apple AirPods Max 2 update unlocks new features. But there’s a catch

Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.