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Will the Neo get a annual refresh?

bniu said:
I think the refresh strategy for the Neo will be to eat up left over Pro A-series chips from the previous year's pro iPhone production runs. Since these chips are left over, they can go into one of a few devices, Apple TV, iPad mini, both of which are niche and low volume products, and probably don't justify annual spec bumps, so with the Neo, it was a good opportunity to vacuum up all the remaining A18 Pro chips.
I suppose the A19 Pro chips may need to be held back for use in the Studio Display XDR, the next iPad mini, and the next Apple TV, all of which may need to support a multi-year release cycle, and if the iPhone Air continues with no updates, that one too. In that case, then the Neo could possibly wait for the A20 Pro.

I suppose Apple needed another product that they could confidently use to vacuum up all the leftover binned chips, so the Neo was a very cost effective solution for them.
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Teardowns confirm that A18 Pro chips in Neo are not "leftover" but rather freshly fabbed in November 2025. Same thing with iPad mini A17 Pro.

I really don't understand this recurring myth that chips are leftover. Apple has the best supply chain management in the world. How could there be 5-10 million "leftover" chips?
 
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JPack said:
Teardowns confirm that A18 Pro chips in Neo are not "leftover" but rather freshly fabbed in November 2025. Same thing with iPad mini A17 Pro.

I really don't understand this recurring myth that chips are leftover. Apple has the best supply chain management in the world. How could there be 5-10 million "leftover" chips?
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Such rhetoric is touted by MBP people (and those uninformed) as a backhanded jab against an alleged inferior product.
 
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1BadManVan said:
I think its just something they commonly read on different tech review channels lol.
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And most of the tech review channels are written by people who mainly use a MBP. I got nothing against a MBP. I used to buy them when I bought other Macs. The thing is, there is a big world out there besides the MBP but, if one reads MR regularly, one would think that buying anything less than the MBP is because one either can't afford the MBP or one settled for a subpar Mac compared to the MBP. I don't believe the Neo is subpar anymore than I believe the MBA is subpar. I believe Apple made different products for different levels of need or want. A lot of people (like me) can easily afford a specced MBP but, a lot of us don't really need all that the MBP offers with its cost.

I suppose it is painful for a lot of MR MBP people to read so much can easily be done on the Neo, especially given its cost.

I say use whatever works for you (plural use) and don't worry about all the kids on the playground forum posturing their used to be elite MBP club.
 
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krspkbl said:
hopefully. the next one needs more RAM. 8GB is an absolute joke.
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There are still plenty of people using M1 Mac minis and M1 MacBook Airs with 8 GB and we don't hear them complaining. It's obvious that 8 GB of RAM works for the average casual user. And that is who the Neo is for..

Even some of the naysayers are realizing that the Neo works well for its intended use.
 
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Absolutely, reusing iPhone chips every year especially binned ones for their entry level Macs makes total economic sense for Apple. A19 pro is next and it will be somewhere in the first half of 2027, it would make no sense to do otherwise.
HOWEVER, people should just stop their wishfull thinking. Apple is not adding any features that could cannibalize the Air. 12GB RAM, faster chip and double the storage speed with A19 pro is already going into Air territory enough. So no, Apple won't add thunderbolt, magsafe, more storage options or a backlit keyboard, it's just not happening. But for 599 it will still be great value.
 
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bapegg said:
There are still plenty of people using M1 Mac minis and M1 MacBook Airs with 8 GB and we don't hear them complaining. It's obvious that 8 GB of RAM works for the average casual user. And that is who the Neo is for..

Even some of the naysayers are realizing that the Neo works well for its intended use.
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My M1 13" MBP is the 8/256 model has never slowed down, stuttered or seen the beachball. Hence why I have never replaced it as it remains fast enough, most of all a known quantity.

Have used multiple base model 13" MBP & Air in engineering roles globally with no issues. Most crying about the Neo either don't understand the products position in the Mac lineup or their fragile egos are hurt that a $599 entry level Mac is so capable versus what they spent...

Not looking to get a Neo, equally I can see the benefit this Mac presents to a wide spectrum of users both casually & professionally. Alternatively, follow the experts here on MR who tell you 16GB RAM is the minimum to surf the web, who likely have no clue about computing.

Q-6
 
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bapegg said:
There are still plenty of people using M1 Mac minis and M1 MacBook Airs with 8 GB and we don't hear them complaining. It's obvious that 8 GB of RAM works for the average casual user. And that is who the Neo is for..

Even some of the naysayers are realizing that the Neo works well for its intended use.
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My M1 iMac has 8gb, it's absolutely fine.

People who will need 16+ Gb know who they are, and they're not going to be buying Neos.

Many students will be buying Neos who will end up as MBP users in the future, and Apple want them as early as possible.
 
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Apple_Robert said:
Unless my memory is wrong, the MBA hasn't been getting updated at the same time the MBP has. I believe at times, Apple has skipped a year with the MBA.
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Usually around 4-6 months after the Pro. They haven't skipped any generations but it was over 12 months between the M2 to M3 to get the M3 MacBook Pro out earlier than the M3 MacBook Air and set the cadence.
 
It would make sense for Apple to update the chip annually and add features only during a major redesign.

The new chip yearly will continue renewed interest and add value that other competitors can't match in the space.

The Neo with a new a19pro and 12gb ram most likely next year. Same everything else. Maybe different colors or more colors.

If Apple adopts a yearly chip upgrade in the Neo it will also keep putting pressure in the budget category giving them an advantage as the hardware design ages.
 
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Initial positioning and marketing of the Neo had me thinking Apple might make it an annual release around back-to-school time (post-WWDC). Yet so far it has so much interest as a general purpose laptop that an annual Spring release may be better. Regardless, I wouldn't expect Apple to have so many products stacked for release in the same week on a regular basis. They can afford to space things out for the Neo.
 
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alongdingdong said:
I kinda have my reservations that Apple will update the Neo Yearly given they will try to mass produce them and have them used by schools/universities etc.

What do you think, a yearly Neo refresh or once every 2/3 years.
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We don’t know but it’s fun to speculate. I think it will have yearly update because it need to keep up with other chrome books. And 2 it’s a mainstream device. Like 16e or 17e that will sell I. High volume. Vs Mac mini or Apple TV. I really think they do need to keep up with chromebooks and laptop that iterate yearly.
 
I can see Apple going with the A19 Pro and RAM to 12 GB.

We won't know until Apple releases any information next year.
 
They very well could, but my guess is that we will see the first refresh of the Neo faster than subsequent releases because of the 8GB RAM. Maybe 2027 for the Neo 2 with the A19 Pro then a release schedule that looks similar to the entry level iPad.
 
Not surprised at the rumors. 8GB RAM is really limiting for a lot of people at this point. I opened Xcode and it is VERY rough with even the lightest of projects open.
 
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