Budget-Friendly MacBook Neo 2 Set to Feature Touchscreen and Launch in 2027
Sales of the Apple's New MacBook Neo Shocks with $599 Price and iPhone Chip Power, which will be an alternative to inexpensive Windows and ChromeOS laptops, will start on March 11. However, the first information about the next generation of this device has already appeared online.
What's known
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that the second generation of MacBook Neo is already under development and is preparing for release in 2027. The main innovation will be the integration of a touchscreen using on-cell touch technology, which allows sensors to be integrated directly into the screen without using a special coating, making the display thinner.
If the forecast is confirmed, this will be the most significant change in the Mac lineup in many years — the company has traditionally avoided touchscreens in laptops, believing that macOS works better with a keyboard and trackpad. However, there is a possibility that the premium MacBook Ultra, slated for release in 2026, will be the first to receive a touchscreen.
The MacBook Neo 2 is also expected to receive other upgrades, including a more powerful A19 Pro chip from the iPhone 17 Pro, 12 GB of RAM, and a host of other enhanced features that are currently being discussed at Apple.
For those not in the know
This is the first time Apple's laptop uses the A18 Pro mobile processor, previously used in the iPhone 16 Pro. The chip includes two high-performance and six energy-efficient cores, a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core neural engine. According to Apple, this configuration delivers up to 50% higher performance for everyday tasks compared to mainstream laptops with Intel Core Ultra 5, as well as a twofold increase in speed for local AI operations.
The MacBook Neo features a 13” Liquid Retina display (IPS) with a resolution of 2408×1506 pixels and a peak brightness of 500 nits. Unlike older models, the screen lacks the distinctive camera notch and operates at a 60 Hz refresh rate. The device is available in four colors — Silver, Blush, Citrus, and Indigo — and weighs only 0.9 kg, making it one of the lightest Apple laptops.
The base version is equipped with 8 GB of unified memory and a 256 GB storage, while the 512 GB model additionally receives Touch ID. The computer supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6 and has USB-C 2.0, USB-C 3.0, and audio jack ports.
To reduce costs, Apple made a number of compromises: the laptop does not support True Tone, lacks keyboard backlighting, and USB-C ports operate at different speeds depending on the configuration. theless, the claimed battery life reaches 16 hours, which remains a strong suit of the device.
Source: MacRumors
