The new MacBook Neo is so popular, it’s actually causing Apple problems

One of the best laptops we’ve reviewed this year – Apple’s budget MacBook Neo – is proving so popular, that it’s starting to cause problems behind the scenes.

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According to analyst Tim Culpan (via MacRumors), Apple is facing a “massive dilemma” with the MacBook Neo, driven by unexpectedly strong demand for the laptop.

The issue comes down to how the Neo is built. The current model uses a version of Apple’s A18 Pro chip, which is the same one used in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Almost. It’s a binned chip, which means that one of the GPU cores is disabled, giving it five cores versus the full six cores on the iPhone 17 models.

It’s a common practice in the tech world, and makes them a smart, cost-saving choice for a lower-priced MacBook. But now, that strategy is causing issues – Culpan says that Apple’s supply of these binned A18 Pro chips could run out before it’s able to meet demand. 

The company had reportedly planned to produce around five to six million MacBook Neo units before moving on to a next-generation model, but sales appear to be outpacing that supply.

That leaves Apple with a tricky decision. It could secure more A18 Pro chip production, but that wouldn’t come cheap. The chips are made using TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process, and those production lines are already running at full capacity. Apple may have to pay a premium to secure more chips – and would also need to disable a GPU core on them to match existing MacBook Neo models.

There are other options, but none are perfect. Apple could also shift chip production away from other devices, though that would still increase costs. Culpan also speculates that Apple could tweak the MacBook Neo lineup – for example, dropping the cheapest $599 model and focusing on higher-margin configurations – but that would undermine one of the laptop’s biggest selling points.

Another possibility is bringing forward the next-gen version with the newer A19 Pro chip, though that too would likely be more expensive until Apple builds up enough supply of similarly binned chips. And we’re not sure customers who just purchased a MacBook Neo would be too pleased with a better version being released less than a year after their purchase.

In the meantime, the MacBook Neo continues to fly off the shelves. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said it delivered the company’s “best launch week ever for first-time Mac customers,” underlining just how strong demand has been.

You can see that in real-world availability, too. Delivery estimates for the MacBook Neo are currently sitting at around two to three weeks in the US and other markets – a clear sign that Apple is struggling to keep up.

It’s a nice problem to have, all things considered – but one Apple will need to solve quickly if it wants to keep its most affordable MacBook in stock.

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