Apple’s most affordable MacBook could become an even bigger part of its laptop business next year, with the company reportedly preparing to double shipments of the MacBook Neo.
Supply chain estimates point to 16 million MacBook Neo shipments in 2027, up from approximately 8 million expected this year.
The ambitious target suggests Apple’s entry-level laptop is attracting enough buyers to justify a major production increase less than a year after its introduction.
MacBook Neo Is Helping Drive Record Mac Sales
Introduced in March 2026, the MacBook Neo brought Apple’s laptop lineup to a lower price point with an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, and four colors: Silver, Blush, Citrus, and Indigo.
The laptop originally sold for $599, but Apple raised the starting price to $699 in June as part of broader pricing changes across its Mac and iPad lineup.
Students have also seen their discount shrink from $100 to $50, bringing the education price to $649.
Despite those increases, the Neo appears to be playing a major role in Apple’s Mac business.
During his first earnings call as CEO, John Ternus announced that Apple sold more Macs in fiscal 2026 than in any previous year.
Apple doesn’t disclose sales figures for individual Mac models, but supply chain estimates suggest the Neo contributed significantly to that record.
If the 2027 forecast holds, shipments of the budget laptop would double in just one year, making it an increasingly important product in Apple’s Mac lineup.
A Second-Generation MacBook Neo Could Arrive in 2027
Apple is also reportedly preparing a successor that could help sustain demand.
The next-generation MacBook Neo is expected to feature an A19 Pro chip and 12GB of RAM, alongside additional color options.
That memory upgrade would be particularly welcome. The current model’s 8GB of RAM is sufficient for everyday browsing, schoolwork, and basic productivity, but it leaves less room for demanding apps and heavier multitasking.
Moving to 12GB would give buyers more flexibility without necessarily stepping up to the more expensive MacBook Air.
A newer processor could also improve performance and extend the laptop’s useful lifespan.
Apple hasn’t confirmed the specifications or release date, although a launch around March 2027 would put the updated model roughly one year after the original.
The 16 million shipment forecast doesn’t distinguish between current and future MacBook Neo models, so it’s unclear how much of the expected growth depends on a hardware refresh.
Still, the projected increase suggests Apple’s experiment with a more affordable MacBook is becoming an important part of its broader laptop strategy.
