If you bought a MacBook Neo hoping Apple would add a touchscreen in the next generation, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has some firmly worded news for you. In his Power On newsletter published today, Gurman said he would be “shocked” if a touchscreen comes to the MacBook Neo within the next three years — closing the door on one of the most discussed rumours surrounding the $599 laptop.
How the Rumour Died
The touchscreen MacBook Neo rumour has had a rollercoaster few months. In September 2025, respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the second-generation MacBook Neo “could” include touch support, noting that over half of all Chromebooks already have the feature. Last week, Kuo walked that back to “may not happen.” Today, Gurman went further and ruled it out entirely for the foreseeable future — citing a specific reason: cost.
Apple had to resort to a lot of rethinking for the MacBook Neo’s components to price it as low as possible. Touchscreen panels cost more to manufacture, and that expense would inevitably be passed on to the consumer. Since the MacBook Neo was deliberately positioned as a budget-friendly entry point into the Apple ecosystem — priced below even the iPhone 17 — adding premium display technology would undercut the very reason the product exists.
See Also: Gemini Can Now Schedule Group Meetings in Gmail
Which Mac Is Actually Getting a Touchscreen First
Apple has yet to decide whether it will upgrade any Macs to a touchscreen beyond the MacBook Pro, which Gurman said could gain a touchscreen toward the end of 2026. Even the MacBook Air, which he considers a better candidate for a touchscreen, would not receive the upgrade for another two years.
So the pecking order is clear. A high-end MacBook Pro M6 Pro or M6 Max gets a touchscreen first — likely late 2026 or early 2027. MacBook Air with OLED and a touchscreen is at least two years away. MacBook Neo with a touchscreen is at least three years away, possibly more.
What Is Coming in MacBook Neo 2
The good news is the MacBook Neo 2 is still coming, likely in 2027. A second-generation MacBook Neo will likely be released next year, according to Kuo. The key upgrade should be the A19 Pro chip with an increased 12GB of RAM, up from the A18 Pro chip with 8GB of RAM in the current model.
That is a meaningful upgrade. The A19 Pro chip would bring a full CPU and GPU step up, the additional 4GB of RAM would make Apple Intelligence run more smoothly, and the price would likely stay at $599 or close to it.
Should You Still Buy the MacBook Neo Today?
Absolutely. The lack of a touchscreen was never listed as a feature — and the current Neo is genuinely excellent for what it is. Gurman himself called the device “far better than a similarly priced iPad” and praised its build quality and performance within its price class. No touchscreen, no problem for the majority of buyers.
If you specifically want a touchscreen Mac, wait for the MacBook Pro M6 in late 2026. For everyone else, the MacBook Neo at $599 remains the best-value Mac Apple has ever built.
Leave a Reply