Don't wait to buy a MacBook Neo for school - here's why

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Close Home Tech Computing Laptops Don't wait to buy a MacBook Neo for school - here's why The MacBook Neo has been so popular that it's selling out on Apple's website.

Written by Kyle Kucharski, EditorEditor April 22, 2026 at 11:07 a.m. PT

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ZDNET's key takeaways

The MacBook Neo has been flying off shelves since it launched in March.
Apple has a limited number of A18 Pro chips used for the Neo.
It's currently backlogged on Apple's site, and that backlog could get worse through summer.

When I first tested the MacBook Neo in March, it was clear Apple had a compelling product on its hands. Fast forward a month, and consumers seem to agree.

The MacBook Neo is currently backlogged on Apple's official website, with orders for new devices not shipping until mid-May. The same may go for in-store pickup, which, depending on your location, could take just as long: some Apple Stores are citing product arrival dates of May 11 or later.

Also: After using MacBook Neo, it's clear Windows needs to rethink its PC strategy (and fast)

Apple blew through its initial launch supply, and now it is facing limited availability of its A18 Pro chips, which are not currently in production. The MacBook Neo is still available at Walmart and Best Buy, but consumers have been buying directly from Apple to take advantage of the $499 educator discount, which isn't available at third-party retailers.

Mac just had its best launch week ever for first-time Mac customers. We love seeing the enthusiasm!
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 20, 2026

Add this to the fact that demand for the device has been through the roof -- especially from first-time Mac users. Former Apple CEO Tim Cook cited the Neo's popularity in a recent tweet, saying it was the company's best launch week ever.

It's no surprise: The value of the Neo compared to similarly priced Windows PCs is a win, especially as RAM prices continue to soar.

Plan now for back to school

Here's the thing: If you've been looking at the Neo for the 2026 school year, you might want to spring for it now. With limited supply and very strong demand, there's no guarantee you'd find a faster turnaround time this fall.

While we don't know exact numbers, we do know the A18 Pro chips used in the MacBook Neo are not currently in production, so Apple is sitting on a limited supply. Columnist and former Bloomberg editor Tim Culpan reported in his "Culpium" newsletter that Apple is flying through its supply of Neos so fast that it could run out of the chips before orders are fulfilled.

Also: MacBook Neo review: My biggest concern with Apple's near-perfect budget laptop

This doesn't mean Apple will stop selling the Neo; it could restart production of the A18 Pro chip, but that would be costly and potentially eat into profit margins -- margins that are already competitive for such an affordable product.

Alternatively, Apple could release the next generation of Neos with the five-core A19 Pro chip, but there's no guarantee that the price would remain the same. While it's unlikely Apple will raise the price of the Neo now, it could potentially happen in future models.

My advice

Grab your Neo now. If you go for the education discount, plan for the shipment delay, which will be easier now than at the start of the school year. Alternatively, opt for the higher-end Neo configuration with the 512GB SSD, which is flying off the shelves at a (slightly) slower rate.