Apple is reportedly discussing discontinuing the cheapest MacBook Neo model priced at $599 — amid rising component costs and memory shortages. This was reported by Taiwanese columnist and former Bloomberg reporter Tim Culpan. This is not a final decision yet, but rather one of the scenarios being discussed, though it would directly affect the entry price for the lineup. What will happen to the MacBook Neo in its base configuration?
Apple may discontinue the base MacBook Neo priced at $599 amid rising chip and RAM prices
How the MacBook Neo Price Will Change
Currently, the MacBook Neo price in the US starts at $599 for the 256 GB version, while the 512 GB configuration costs $699. But this is only for now — major changes are coming.
Cheap MacBooks will soon stop being cheap
According to the insider, Apple is considering discontinuing the 256 GB MacBook Neo as one possible response to rising component costs and, consequently, production costs. Formally, prices for specific configurations won’t increase, but the actual entry point into the lineup will rise by $100 because buyers will have to go with the 512 GB version right away. It’s not a bad option — plenty of storage and Touch ID included — but it won’t fit everyone’s budget.
This isn’t the first such move by Apple in recent months. In March, the company discontinued the Mac Studio with 512 GB of RAM, and last week it dropped the base Mac mini with 256 GB. As a result, the starting price of the Mac mini in the US rose from $599 to $799. Here’s what connects all three models:
- Demand turned out to be higher than Apple expected
- There’s a global shortage of memory chips
- Data center construction for AI is consuming a significant portion of memory supply
For buyers, this means one simple thing: the cheapest Mac versions are gradually disappearing, and the minimum price to enter the ecosystem is rising — without any formal price increases.
Why There Aren’t Enough Processors for the MacBook Neo
The insider links the MacBook Neo price increase to a sharp ramp-up in production. Delivery times on Apple’s website currently stand at two to three weeks across the entire lineup, and Apple has instructed suppliers to increase production to 10 million units — roughly double the original plan of 5-6 million.
TSMC has almost no spare capacity left on the 3nm process
This requires new batches of A18 Pro chips from TSMC. Since the MacBook Neo uses the chip from the iPhone 16 Pro, the existing supply has already been exhausted by early demand. TSMC has little spare capacity on the 3-nanometer process — most of its output is taken up by AI orders.
Why the MacBook Neo Will Get More Expensive
There’s also a technical nuance. The first batch of Neo units was assembled using “rejected” A18 Pro chips — they had one graphics core disabled. This allowed Apple to use dies that weren’t suitable for the iPhone 16 Pro and keep the price low. This is arguably one of the key secrets behind the cheap MacBook.
There’s still a chance the 256 GB version will remain. But the price will go up
The new batch will be different: it will feature MacBooks with more powerful processors where all cores are functional. This automatically raises the production cost of each laptop — even before any surcharges for accelerated manufacturing.
If Apple does end up keeping the 256 GB Neo configuration, it has a backup plan. According to rumors, Apple may release the MacBook Neo in new colors to soften a potential price increase. The logic is simple: a new color provides a marketing angle and psychological justification for the higher price.
MacBook Neo: Buy Now or Wait?
If you were planning to buy a MacBook Neo in the coming months, here’s what you need to know. Let’s quickly run through all the scenarios:
- If you were planning to get the 256 GB MacBook Neo specifically — there’s a risk it will soon be gone. You’ll have to pay extra for the 512 GB version.
- If you were already looking at the 512 GB model — nothing will change for you.
- If you’re choosing between a Mac mini or Mac Studio — note that the base configurations of these models have been discontinued. They’re still available in stores and warehouses for now, but they’ll run out soon.
Nevertheless, these are still insider reports, not an official Apple announcement. But the backdrop is real: memory and chip shortages are putting pressure on prices across all Mac computers, and Apple computers definitely won’t be getting cheaper in the coming months. If the cheapest 256 GB MacBook Neo suits you best, it makes sense not to delay your purchase.
