Anyone still dissatisfied with the amount of RAM in the MacBook Neo should be pleased to learn that the second-generation version of Apple’s hit entry-level notebook will almost certainly boast 50% more RAM.
And that’s not a guess. Apple is already making the processor/RAM combos to go into the notebook, even though the release is not expected for almost another year.
To understand why, you need to know where Apple gets the chips for this popular computer. And once you know that, you’ll realize why we can confidently say the 2027 MacBook Neo will include 12GB of RAM.
MacBook Neo RAM: Eight is enough
Let’s be clear that the reason Apple will put 50% more RAM in the 2027 MacBook Neo is absolutely not proof that the haters were right and the 8GB in the original model is inadequate. Reviewers agree it’s plenty. As the Cult of Mac review says, “The MacBook Neo utterly shatters the argument that if you want to do real work, you need to get a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.”
The change is actually because Apple realized 8GB of RAM wasn’t enough for the iPhone 17 Pro models. And if that seems like a weird stretch, read on. It’ll make perfect sense in a moment.
12GB of RAM in MacBook Neo 2 looks locked in — here’s why
When developing the MacBook Neo, Apple needed to think outside the box to reach the $599 price that’s such a big draw. And it came up with a brilliant source for the processors that saved the company loads of money.
When manufacturing the A18 Pro chip for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, some of the chips don’t pass inspection because one of the six GPU units fails. These couldn’t go into the handsets. But they are otherwise usable … and perfect for an entry-level notebook.
So that’s where Apple gets the A18 Pro for the MacBook Neo: They are recycled processors left over from making last year’s flagship iOS handsets. It’s actually called “binning” and it makes the chips cheap or practically free.
It’s also why the current Neo comes with 8GB of RAM. The A18 Pro was designed for that much and no more, and every unit made has that much.
Now carry that through to the second-generation MacBook Neo. Experts predict it’ll use newer A19 Pro chips left over from the production of the current iPhone 17 Pro models — recycling is still a requirement to keep the cost at $599. And every A19 Pro comes with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM. No more and no less.
The handset got a RAM boost to run Apple’s artificial intelligence features well, so the iPhone 17 Pro made the jump to 12GB. And the MacBook Neo 2 will reap the benefit.
So just be patient
Interested in a MacBook Neo but feel 8GB of RAM isn’t enough for you? Maybe you want to do some high-res video editing. Or love the Chrome browser despite it being an utter RAM hog. All you have to do is wait for the second-generation model.
Just keep in mind, you do not need more than 8GB of RAM for online shopping, email and other general productivity tasks. If you’re looking for a light-duty notebook, the current MacBook Neo is brilliant.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
