Apple May Drop Base $599 MacBook Neo as Chip, DRAM Costs Climb

Source: MacRumors

Apple is considering dropping the cheapest MacBook Neo configuration as one possible response to the rising cost of building the popular laptop, according to Taiwan‑based tech columnist and former Bloomberg reporter Tim Culpan.

The Neo currently starts at $599 for a 256 GB model, with a 512 GB version at $699. In his latest Culpium newsletter, Culpan says cutting the entry‑level 256 GB model is among the options Apple is weighing as component costs climb. Such a move would push the Neo’s effective starting price up by $100 without raising the price of any individual configuration.

Recent Similar Pricing Adjustments

Apple has made comparable moves with two other Mac models:

• Apple stopped offering the Mac Studio with 512 GB of RAM in March (MacRumors).
• It dropped the Mac mini’s lowest 256 GB storage option last week, raising the starting price from $599 to $799 in the United States (MacRumors).

Both changes were driven by higher‑than‑expected demand and a worldwide shortage of memory chips, which have been pushed up by AI data‑center build‑outs.

Production Capacity and Chip Supply

Culpan notes that the pricing strain around the Neo is tied to Apple’s push to ramp up manufacturing. Shipping estimates on Apple’s website currently sit at two to three weeks across the lineup following stronger‑than‑expected demand, and the company has instructed suppliers to increase production capacity to 10 million units, roughly double the original forecast of 5–6 million.

To meet this revised goal, Apple needs a new supply of A18 Pro chips from TSMC. The Neo uses the same chip as the iPhone 16 Pro, but existing inventory was reportedly depleted by early demand. TSMC also has limited spare 3 nm capacity, with AI‑related orders consuming much of its output.

Apple’s costs are further complicated by the fact that the initial Neo batch used lower‑bin A18 Pro chips with one GPU core disabled. A fresh production run would produce more fully functional chips, increasing the per‑unit cost even before any expedited manufacturing premiums are applied.

Possible Alternatives

If Apple ultimately decides against dropping the $599 MacBook Neo configuration, Culpan says the company is alternatively considering introducing new color options for the current‑generation Neo to cushion a potential price hike (MacRumors).