Apple's MacBook Neo 2 could get a touchscreen
What's the story
Apple's second-generation MacBook Neo, slated for a 2027 launch, could come with a touchscreen, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The tech giant recently unveiled the first-generation MacBook Neo, an affordable laptop aimed at taking on budget Windows laptops and Chromebooks. It comes with a starting price of $599 and education pricing of $499.
Design details
About the 1st-generation MacBook Neo
The first-generation MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip, which was originally designed for the iPhone 16 Pro. The laptop boasts a colorful rounded design, a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with uniform bezels like an iPad, and a color-matched Magic Keyboard. It also has two USB-C ports, 8GB of memory, a headphone jack, dual speakers with Spatial Audio support, dual mics and up to 16 hours of battery life.
Future prospects
Second-gen model to feature on-cell touch technology
Kuo had previously predicted that the first-generation MacBook Neo would go into mass production in Q4 2025, but wouldn't have a touchscreen. Now, he has hinted at some possible features of the second-generation model. The device is said to come with a touch panel based on on-cell touch technology, which integrates the touch sensors directly into the display panel's top layer for reduced thickness.
Software integration
macOS 27 to support touch input
The potential inclusion of a touchscreen on the second-generation MacBook Neo would also require touch support in macOS 27. This comes after Apple's first touchscreen Mac, "MacBook Ultra" with an OLED display and new design, is expected to launch later this year. Kuo also hinted that a faster chip such as the A19 Pro with 12GB of memory is highly likely for the second-generation MacBook Neo.