Apple’s budget-friendly MacBook Neo may have only just arrived, but early chatter is already pointing to what comes next. According to well-known Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is reportedly targeting a 2027 launch window for the MacBook Neo 2. And while many people hoped the second-generation model might fix some of the original’s biggest compromises, one anticipated upgrade is now said to be off the table: a touchscreen.
Kuo’s latest update also suggests Apple’s Neo production started about three months later than previously expected, which would reduce projected shipments for 2026. Even so, the outlook still appears strong for an entry-level Apple laptop. Shipments are estimated to land around 2 million to 2.5 million units in the first half of 2026 alone, a healthy figure that could motivate Apple to keep the MacBook Neo line moving quickly.
So why no touchscreen on the MacBook Neo 2? The reasoning comes down to design and cost. The current MacBook Neo is built first and foremost for traditional laptop use—keyboard and trackpad. Adding a touchscreen to a chassis that wasn’t engineered for repeated tapping can introduce a common problem: screen wobble. Even light presses can make the display shake, which feels cheap and frustrating during everyday use.
To meet Apple’s typical standards, a touchscreen would likely require a redesigned hinge to keep the display stable. That kind of rework would raise production costs—exactly the type of expense Apple would want to avoid on a low-cost MacBook designed to hit an aggressive price point. In other words, skipping the touchscreen helps Apple keep the MacBook Neo 2 affordable and avoids compromising the user experience.
Even without touch input, the MacBook Neo 2 could still become a much better value if Apple focuses on the upgrades that matter most to mainstream buyers. One of the biggest areas for improvement is memory. The report points to an A19 Pro chip paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a combination that would make everyday tasks smoother and provide more headroom for multitasking, school work, and creative apps.
Other potential quality-of-life upgrades could include a Force Touch trackpad, backlit keyboard, and faster SSD storage—exactly the kinds of improvements that users notice every day and that would make the MacBook Neo 2 feel far more “complete” without pushing it out of budget territory.
For shoppers considering the current model, the MacBook Neo is now available starting at $599 for a 256GB configuration and $699 for a 512GB version. It’s positioned as a low-cost way into macOS, though buyers should expect some trade-offs at this price. If Apple follows through with the rumored MacBook Neo 2 improvements—especially more RAM and better core features—it could become a far more compelling budget Apple laptop when it eventually arrives.
