Apple’s new MacBook Neo is off to a strong start, with early sales figures showing the affordable laptop outperforming even the latest M5 MacBook Air during its launch period.
According to a new IDC report, Apple shipped around 1.1 million MacBook Neo units in the quarter ending March 2026. The figure is especially impressive because the laptop was available for only a few weeks after its mid-March launch. During the same period, Apple shipped more than 900,000 M5 MacBook Air units and 550,000 M5 MacBook Pro units.
Don’t miss the best of The Mac Observer
Set us as a preferred source and our Apple reporting ranks higher in your Google Search results and Discover feed — one tap, no account changes.
MacBook Neo Leads New Mac Launches
The launch-quarter shipment numbers show how quickly Apple’s new budget-focused MacBook has gained traction among buyers.
Launch-quarter shipments included:
- MacBook Neo: 1.1 million units
- MacBook Air (M5): 900,000+ units
- MacBook Pro (M5): 550,000 units
While older MacBook Air models likely helped the Air remain Apple’s overall bestselling laptop during the quarter, the Neo has emerged as the company’s most successful new Mac launch.
Affordable Pricing Drives Demand
Apple introduced the MacBook Neo with a starting price of $599, making it significantly cheaper than the MacBook Air.
The lower price has helped Apple attract first-time Mac buyers and customers who previously considered Windows laptops in the same price range. IDC noted that demand exceeded expectations in several markets, including India, where retailers faced inventory shortages soon after launch.
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently described customer response to the MacBook Neo as “off the charts” and confirmed that supply constraints affected availability after launch.
IDC expects shipments to increase sharply during the current quarter as Apple expands availability and catches up with demand. If that happens, the MacBook Neo could soon become Apple’s bestselling MacBook model and strengthen the company’s position in lower-priced laptop segments where it has traditionally had limited market share.
Discussion