Are the $599 MacBook Neo's Days Numbered?

Apple killed off the baseline Mac Mini, raising the entry price of its cheapest desktop from $599 to $799. Could it pull a similar move with its cheapest laptop?

In his Culpium newsletter, Tim Culpan reports that Apple is preparing a new production run of the MacBook Neo, upping the number of units to 10 million from its initial run estimated to be between 5 and 6 million. Having exhausted its supply of A18 Pro processors leftover from the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple will need to manufacture a fresh batch of A18 Pro chips for these new Neos.

The cost of producing new chips instead of simply dipping into an existing supply of "binned" parts will cut into the Neo's profit margins. Faced with slimmer margins, Apple could stop selling the $599 model, says Culpan, and position the $699 MacBook Neo as the entry point.

Neo recap

Let's...

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