Apple is already cooking up a MacBook Neo 2. The budget laptop’s successor is tipped to feature a faster chip and a healthy memory bump.
The upgrade would fix the biggest complaint about the current model.
MacBook Neo 2: A19 Pro chip and more RAM
The MacBook Neo brings the Mac experience to a lower price point without sacrificing the company’s signature build quality. Introduced in March 2026, it features a 13-inch display, an A18 Pro chip and 8GB of memory, delivering performance that easily handles everyday tasks like web browsing, productivity apps, streaming and light creative work.
And now Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports Apple is developing a MacBook Neo 2 upgraded with the A19 Pro chip. Apple is also said to bring a memory upgrade. The MacBook Neo 2 is expected to ship with 12GB of RAM.
That extra memory matters more than it sounds. Every other Mac in Apple’s lineup besides the Neo starts at 16GB, so this closes the gap a little.
The A19 isn’t an unproven silicon. It already powers the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone Air, beating the A18 Pro by a solid margin on both processing and graphics tasks.
The Bloomberg prediction reiterates what many experts have said before. It’s been assumed for months that the MacBook Neo 2 would use the A19 processor in the current iPhone model, and the chip is only available with 12GB of RAM.
Room for extra AI features
More RAM and a faster chip could unlock things the current MacBook Neo can’t handle. Apple’s new on-device AI model, introduced at WWDC 2026, needs extra headroom to run well.
Apple’s in-house AI model enables sharper dictation and customizable Siri voice. But the existing MacBook Neo misses out due to the older processor and 8GB ceiling.
Fresh colors on the way?
Color options are one of the MacBook Neo’s calling cards. It is currently available in four colors — silver, blush, citrus and indigo. But Gurman says Apple plans to refresh the lineup with new colors periodically, so don’t expect all four current shades to stick around forever.
Green is certainly a possibility. Perhaps orange?
When is the MacBook Neo 2 coming?
Apple hasn’t set an official release date, but reports point to sometime in 2027. Bloomberg‘s leak was unable to get more specific. That said, the original MacBook Neo arrived in March, and a replacement a year later is a safe assumption.
The original started from $599, but then Apple raised that to $699 last month. A sequel is likely to come in at that new price.
A bigger Mac overhaul could be on the way
The MacBook Neo 2 isn’t an isolated project. It’s one of the roughly 11 new Mac models in Apple’s pipeline, spanning this fall to 2028.
That list includes new iMacs, a new entry-level MacBook Pro, and a high-end MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen. Apple is also getting ready to prepare new MacBook Air, Mac mini, and Mac Studio models.
Some of that lineup hinges on memory chip supply, which has been pretty tight this year. Due to this, Apple already increased prices across its Mac lineup in June.
Until Apple makes it official, all this remains a rumor, but given how consistent Gurman’s Mac predictions have been, the MacBook Neo 2 looks like a safe bet for 2027.
Anurag Chawake is a tech-focused writer specializing in smartphones, apps and consumer technology. His interest in computers began during the Windows 98 era, eventually leading him to explore everything from operating systems to mobile devices and PC hardware. Anurag previously contributed to The Indian Express, covering Apple, Android, gaming and the broader technology landscape.
