Apple’s ‘affordable’ MacBook Neo successor could bring touchscreen support, suggests analyst
Apple may already be preparing upgrades for the successor to the Apple MacBook Neo, the company’s newest entry-level laptop. According to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the next version could bring a newer chip, more RAM and possibly touchscreen support, though the device is likely still at least a year away.
The current MacBook Neo runs on Apple’s Apple A18 Pro chip, the same processor used in the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max. Kuo expects the next model, informally referred to as the Apple MacBook Neo 2, to move to the newer Apple A19 Pro introduced with the Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max.
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Kuo also says Apple could increase the base memory to 12GB, up from 8GB on the current model. For an entry-level laptop expected to last several years, that bump would make everyday multitasking less of a squeeze.
The analyst also suggests Apple may add touchscreen support by integrating the touch layer directly into the IPS panel. Apple has historically resisted touchscreen Macs even as Windows laptops from companies like Dell, HP and Lenovo have made them standard across price segments.
Touch support may first appear higher up the lineup, though. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has already reported that Apple is preparing an Apple MacBook Ultra with an OLED display and touchscreen support, expected later this year. That device could serve as a test bed for touchscreen macOS before the feature moves into cheaper Macs like the Neo.
Apple launched the MacBook Neo earlier this month as its most affordable Mac laptop. It sits below the Apple MacBook Air and features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, the A18 Pro chip, up to 16 hours of battery life and a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. In India, it starts at Rs 69,900 for the 8GB + 256GB version and Rs 79,900 for the 8GB + 512GB model.
The ‘Neo’ branding itself may turn into something bigger. Gurman has suggested in the same newsletter that Apple could extend the naming beyond laptops, potentially renaming the Apple Watch SE lineup as the Apple Watch Neo. If that happens, Neo would become Apple’s label for entry-tier devices across categories — a clearer alternative to the mix of ‘SE’ and standard models the company currently uses. ‘Neo’ products can attract new buyers at lower price points while keeping the Apple MacBook Air, Apple Watch Series 10 and other premium devices clearly separated above them.
The current MacBook Neo already covers everyday tasks such as browsing, writing and media consumption for buyers. If the rumoured upgrades arrive in the form of more RAM and touchscreen support, the next Apple MacBook Neo 2 will likely cost more and sit closer to the Apple MacBook Air. That means the current Neo could remain the better value for buyers who simply want a reliable Mac for daily use, while those planning to keep their laptop for several years may prefer to wait and see if the extra memory is worth paying more for.
