Analyst Says Apple May Discontinue 256GB MacBook Neo Variant
Apple is reportedly reconsidering MacBook Neo variants due to soaring DRAM costs and unexpectedly strong global demand.
Apple may discontinue the entry-level 256GB variant of its MacBook Neo laptop as rising DRAM memory prices and increasing production costs place pressure on the company’s supply chain, according to a report by analyst Tim Culpan. The move, if implemented, would leave the higher-end 512GB model as the only available configuration in the lineup. The 256GB version is currently priced at $599 in the United States and Rs. 69,900 in India, while the 512GB model costs $699 in the US and Rs. 79,900 in India.
The report suggests that Apple is reassessing its MacBook Neo strategy following stronger-than-expected demand for the device. The company has reportedly increased its production target to 10 million units, nearly doubling earlier projections of between 5 million and 6 million units. Apple had previously acknowledged supply constraints for the MacBook Neo during its April 30 earnings call, with Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook stating that demand had exceeded expectations in several markets.
According to the analyst, delivery timelines for the laptop have stretched to nearly four weeks as manufacturing partners such as Foxconn and Quanta work to meet global demand from facilities in Vietnam and China. Apple is also reportedly preparing for a second production cycle of the MacBook Neo, which will require a fresh supply of A18 Pro chips from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. The first production run is said to have used down-binned versions of the processor originally intended for the iPhone 16 Pro lineup.
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The report claims that many of the newly ordered A18 Pro chips will be fully functional versions rather than partially disabled units. However, Apple may reportedly deactivate one GPU core through software in order to maintain consistent specifications across MacBook Neo models. This approach would allow the company to preserve product uniformity while making use of a wider range of available chips amid component shortages and increased demand.
Rising DRAM prices are believed to be a major reason behind the possible discontinuation of the cheaper model. Industry-wide increases in memory costs have reportedly pushed up the bill of materials for the laptop, reducing Apple’s ability to maintain aggressive pricing on entry-level configurations. The report noted that the company has recently adopted a similar strategy in other product categories, including the Mac mini, where lower-storage variants were discontinued in favour of higher-priced models.
Apple has not officially confirmed any changes to the MacBook Neo lineup. However, analysts say the company’s recent decisions indicate a broader effort to manage supply constraints, rising semiconductor costs and sustained consumer demand. If the 256GB variant is phased out, the move could signal Apple’s continued focus on premium configurations while streamlining production efficiency across its Mac product range.
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