The MacBook Neo is easily one of the best laptops we’ve ever used, and its popularity has surprised even Apple – the company’s cheapest laptop is now effectively sold out for the rest of April, with new orders not arriving until early May.
According to 9to5Mac (via MacRumors), anyone ordering the Neo right now from Apple’s online US store is looking at delivery windows between 1 May and 8 May at the earliest. In-store stock is patchy too, with some locations already out and others not expecting fresh units until 11 May.
Third-party retailers aren’t much help either, with the likes of Best Buy and Target in the US also showing delays of at least a week. Having just checked on Apple’s UK store, the delivery wait is set for two to three weeks at the time of writing.
As reported earlier this month, Apple is in a slightly awkward position with the Neo. The whole setup hinges on its clever cost-cutting trick – using binned versions of the A18 Pro chip, where a GPU core is disabled to make use of silicon that would otherwise go to waste.
It’s a smart way to hit that headline $599 price. But it also means supply isn’t unlimited. Apple can only build as many Neo laptops as it has suitable chips available – and that imbalance is now starting to show.
Behind the scenes, Apple is reportedly already reacting. The company is said to be ramping up its shipment targets to around 10 million units for 2026, roughly double its original estimate of five to six million. That’s a huge jump – and a clear sign this isn’t just launch hype.
Timing has worked in its favour, too. With many Microsoft Surface laptops creeping up in price due to ongoing RAM shortages, the Neo’s aggressively low entry point suddenly looks even more appealing.
Combine that with Apple’s usual brand pull, and it’s not hard to see why it’s become such a hit – especially with first-time Mac buyers. In fact, Apple CEO Tim Cook has already said the Neo delivered the company’s “best launch week ever” for new Mac customers.
The bigger question, though, is what happens next. Apple could try to restart production of the A18 Pro chip or fast-track a refreshed model with a newer chip. None of those options are especially simple though. Or cheap. Your move, Apple.
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