The upcoming MacBook Neo may receive a RAM enhancement. Indeed, in this economy, no less!
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
Apple has always been known to make you feel the financial strain, but there’s a rare bit of good news for your budget — or at least, for what you'll receive in return.
Taiwan-based tech columnist and former Bloomberg reporter Tim Culpan, in his Culpium newsletter, reports that Apple is planning to incorporate the A19 Pro chip into the next MacBook Neo. This is the same chip that powers the iPhone 17 Pro. Along with it comes a feature that Mac users have been longing for years: increased RAM. Specifically, an upgrade from 8GB to 12GB of unified memory.
Yes, you read that correctly. Apple is finally increasing the base RAM on its most affordable Mac laptop — and no, you won’t need to spend extra for a “Pro” designation to get it.
Why this is more significant than it seems
Let’s be clear: starting with 8GB was already a controversial decision in 2025, let alone now. Power users and professionals voiced their concerns loudly, but Apple — true to form — mostly brushed it off. However, the MacBook Neo has always been intended as the entry-level machine within the Mac ecosystem, targeting iPhone enthusiasts to transition them into laptop consumers. Providing it with memory that faltered under modern multitasking was akin to marketing a sports car with low-quality tires.
Switching to 12GB notably alters that narrative. While it’s not groundbreaking, it represents a true quality-of-life enhancement that will make the Neo a more pleasant daily companion — whether you’re managing multiple browser tabs, editing images, or utilizing on-device AI functions that will likely demand more resources.
What you’re not acquiring, however
Before you get too excited about the GPU, hold on. Culpan points out that Apple is likely to use a binned version of the A19 Pro — featuring a 5-core GPU instead of the 6-core variant in the iPhone 17 Pro. The current MacBook Neo is already equipped with a 5-core GPU, so this isn't so much a downgrade as it is a lack of change.
Chip binning is a common industry practice — it’s how Apple optimizes its supply chain yield — but it does mean that the Neo remains firmly in its performance niche. Don’t expect to do 4K rendering on it.
The existing MacBook Neo saw strong sales when it launched in early March this year, and its successor is reportedly set to be released sometime next year. If Apple keeps pricing competitive and fulfills the RAM promise, the next Neo could become one of the most sensible Mac purchases in a long time.
Shimul is a contributor at Digital Trends, bringing over five years of experience in the technology field.
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