MacBook Neo outsold every other MacBook in Apple’s lineup in its launch quarter. IDC reports Apple shipped 1.1 million units of its cheapest Mac, higher than the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
What’s impressive is that the Neo achieved this feat despite being on sale for only three weeks during the quarter.
MacBook Neo is off to a blockbuster start
Apple refreshed the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in March 2025 with the M5 and M5 Pro/Max chips. It unveiled the MacBook Neo around the same time, with the $599 laptop going on sale on March 11.
Initial response to the MacBook Neo indicates overwhelming demand, with Apple struggling to keep up with it. That lines up with IDC’s findings (via TechCrunch). It reports Apple shipped 1.1 million MacBook Neos in the January-March quarter. That’s higher than the 900,000 units of the M5 MacBook Air and 550,000 units of the M5 MacBook Pro.
Apple essentially sold twice as many MacBook Neos as the M5 MacBook Pro in Q1 2026. Out of the 1.1 million Neo units, the US reportedly accounted for 44% of the total shipments. In India, retailers could not get enough stock to meet the demand.
Next quarter will be even better for the Neo
Demand for the MacBook Neo remains high, and it will likely again emerge as Apple’s best-selling MacBook this quarter. IDC’s Navkendar Singh says the Neo’s shipments will see a “very big spike” in the April-June quarter.
The Neo’s popularity will allow Apple to increase its market share in the $400-$699 laptop market from the current 2% to around 15%, says Singh.
The secret to MacBook Neo’s success is its price tag, build quality and performance. Despite only costing $599, the Neo features an aluminium chassis, a 13-inch display and 8GB RAM. The A18 Pro chip inside the laptop is also more than powerful enough for most users.
The Neo’s success has put Windows PC makers under pressure. Dell recently unveiled the $699 XPS 13 as a direct rival to the Neo.
Rajesh has been writing about consumer technology for over a decade, with a strong focus on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software updates, hardware changes, and discovering new Mac apps that make work faster and more enjoyable.
