Apple’s rumoured budget MacBook Neo might not stay as “budget” as first hoped.
According to Wccftech Gaming, Apple is reportedly considering removing the cheapest US$599 model of the MacBook Neo and making the higher 512GB storage version the new entry point instead. If that happens, buyers would effectively be looking at a US$100 jump before they even start thinking about Malaysia pricing, SST, retailer margins, or currency conversion. Aduh.
The MacBook Neo is said to use binned A18 Pro chips, meaning Apple would repurpose chips where one GPU core is disabled. That sounds like a smart way to keep costs down, especially for a lower-priced MacBook aimed at students, casual users, and people who just want macOS without paying Pro-level money.
But the situation may be getting more complicated behind the scenes.
The report claims Apple has been surprised by demand for the upcoming machine. Instead of producing around 5 to 6 million units in 2026, Apple is now said to be targeting up to 10 million units. That is a huge jump, and to support it, Apple has reportedly asked TSMC to restart A18 Pro chip production.
Here’s the catch: restarting chip production is not cheap. On top of that, the newer batch apparently would not be binned in the same way, which could raise Apple’s cost further.
Then there is the memory problem. The report points to rising LPDDR5 memory prices, driven by AI-related demand across the chip industry. A typical LPDDR5 module is currently said to cost around US$10 per GB, with expectations that it could move beyond US$19 per GB next year. For a company trying to sell a low-cost MacBook, that kind of cost pressure memang sakit.
So instead of openly raising the price of the MacBook Neo, Apple may take a more subtle route: remove the US$599 base model and guide buyers toward the more expensive 512GB version. Wccftech notes this would follow recent moves where Apple removed certain lower-end configurations of the Mac Studio and Mac mini.
To soften the blow, Apple may also introduce new colour options for the higher-storage MacBook Neo models. Classic Apple move lah — less pain if the laptop looks nice on your desk.
For Malaysian buyers, this matters because Apple pricing here already tends to feel heavier once converted into RM. A US$599 MacBook sounds exciting on paper because it could finally give students, creators, and everyday users a more approachable entry into macOS. But if the cheapest version disappears, the MacBook Neo may land closer to “affordable Apple” than truly budget.
Still, a 512GB baseline would not be all bad. In 2026, 256GB on a laptop is honestly tight, especially if you edit videos, install creative apps, manage game clips, or keep a messy downloads folder like the rest of us. For students and creators in Malaysia, 512GB is the more practical starting point.
The bigger issue is messaging. If Apple markets the MacBook Neo as a low-cost machine but quietly removes the lowest tier, fans will definitely notice. Colour options are nice, but they do not change the final checkout price.
For now, treat this as a report rather than confirmed Apple pricing. But if you were waiting for a super-cheap MacBook Neo, maybe start preparing your wallet for the 512GB model instead.
Source: Wccftech Gaming