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Apple’s next wave: touch-screen MacBooks, a smart-home hub, and 14 more products

15 September 2026 at 17:00

Apple Logo

Apple has barely finished unveiling the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro lineup, AirPods 5, and new Apple Watches, but the company already has a much larger pipeline queued up for late 2026 and the first half of 2027, according to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman.

The coming products are part of what new CEO John Ternus has internally described as Apple’s most ambitious product road map yet. Many of the devices are designed to spread Siri AI more widely across the lineup and close some of the gap with rivals in artificial intelligence. As always, dates can slip and products can be delayed or canceled.

Later this yearGurman reports that Apple is preparing several updates before year-end:

• HomePod mini with Siri AI — Same familiar design as the 2020 model, but with a new chip to power the overhauled assistant.

• Apple TV with Siri AI — Another look-alike refresh, this time with a faster chip for navigation and the new Siri experience.

• Smart-home hub — A square display that can sit on a speaker base or mount on a wall. It will run a new operating system, support video calls, and use facial recognition to personalize what it shows. Apple had considered showing it at last week’s event and is now aiming as early as October, though the timeline remains fluid after repeated delays.

• Touch-screen MacBooks — The biggest MacBook Pro change since 2021, adding OLED panels and touch screens for the first time, with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.

• Entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro — Current design, updated with the M6 chip.

• iMac — New colors and an M6 processor.

• iPad mini — One of the line’s biggest upgrades, adding an OLED display.

The HomePod mini and Apple TV are already being tested with iOS 27. The new Macs are running macOS 27.1 internally, and the iPad mini is on iPadOS 27.1. Both of those software updates are expected late next month.

First half of 2027

The spring and early summer slate is heavier on refresh cycles than radical redesigns:

• MacBook Air — Same 13-inch and 15-inch designs, moving to the M6 chip.

• MacBook Neo — Follow-up model with an A19 Pro chip and more memory.

• Entry-level iPad — Faster chip so the cheaper tablet can run Apple Intelligence and Siri AI.

• iPad Pro — Chip upgrade plus vapor-chamber cooling similar to the iPhone 18 Pro.

• iPad Air — First OLED screens in that line, plus a new chip.

• iPhone 18 — Largely an A20 chip upgrade, with the notable change that the standard model is shifting from fall to spring.

• iPhone 18e — Another chip-focused update; Apple will need to make clear how it differs from the regular iPhone 18.

• iPhone Air 2 — More substantial: a 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, better battery life, and a second rear camera for ultrawide shots.

• Apple Pencils — New Pencil Pro and USB-C models timed with the iPads; the iPhone Duo will support the stylus as well.

Looking further ahead

The second half of 2027 is expected to get more ambitious still, Gurman writes, with M7 updates to MacBooks, smart glasses, camera-equipped AirPods, a home security system, a redesigned Apple Watch, Twentieth Anniversary iPhones, and a second-generation foldable iPhone Duo.
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MacDailyNews Take: Taken together, the road map suggests Apple is trying to do two things at once: push Siri AI onto more affordable and living-room devices, and finally refresh categories that have languished for years. Whether October brings a full event or quieter waves of launches, the next 12 months look unusually crowded with product launces!


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The post Apple’s next wave: touch-screen MacBooks, a smart-home hub, and 14 more products appeared first on MacDailyNews.

5 MacBook Neo Alternatives for Buyers Who Need More Than 8GB of RAM

15 September 2026 at 17:00
Compare five MacBook Neo alternatives with 16GB or 32GB of RAM, stronger connectivity, and display options to find the right laptop for your workload.

Half-fold Apple’s iPhone Duo once and you’ll start asking for an iPad Duo

11 September 2026 at 16:25
Half-fold Apple's iPhone Duo once and you’ll start asking for an iPad Duo
Apple’s iPhone Duo half-folded

Apple finally shipped a foldable phone, and the most interesting thing about it is not the hinge. It is what happens when you stop treating the iPhone Duo like a book and start treating it like a laptop.

Bend the device partway, rest the bottom half on a table, and iOS 27 splits the 7.6-inch inner display into two jobs. The top half becomes a landscape screen for the app, document, or video you are actually using. The bottom half turns into a touch keyboard and control deck. That is the mode that makes the $1,999 iPhone Duo feel less like a foldable smrtphone and more like a pocket computer.

Apple has spent years insisting that foldables should not feel like two phones glued together. The Duo is its answer: a passport-shaped handset with a 5.4-inch outer display that opens into a 7.6-inch inner panel, both sharing the same 1:1.4 aspect ratio so content does not warp when you unfold it. The software is the real product. iOS 27 watches the hinge, not just the open/closed state. Content slides away from the crease. Speakers retune as the halves move. And the keyboard follows the posture of your hands.

The laptop pose is the feature people will actually use

Apple and reviewers keep circling the same demo. Set the Duo down half-open, like a tiny clamshell. Video, Mail, Notes, or Safari stay on the upper pane. Playback controls and a full or split on-screen keyboard occupy the lower pane. Slightly more fold and the keyboard splits left and right, so thumbs can type while you hold the device like a book. No settings menu. The crease becomes the dividing line.

That is why the Duo suddenly looks like an argument for a larger sibling. A 7.6-inch inner screen is close to an iPad mini, which is enough for email, messages, and a movie on a tray table. It is not enough for a spreadsheet, a long draft, or two serious windows without feeling cramped. Once you have tasted laptop posture on a phone, a 12- or 13-inch foldable iPad that does the same thing stops sounding like a rumor and starts sounding like the obvious next product.

Apple already designed the Duo to feel “as natural and intuitive as iPad.” Split View finally arrives on iPhone. You can park two apps side by side, or two windows of the same app. Saved app pairs come back later. Controls migrate to the vertical edge so the content column stays tall. StandBy works without a charger: tent the phone on a nightstand and it becomes a clock, photo frame, or widget slab. Those are iPad ideas squeezed into a pocket. They work. They also expose the size ceiling.

Why a foldable iPad now feels inevitable

A foldable iPad has been in the rumor mill for years: first as a ~20-inch board that folds to something closer to a 13-inch slate, later as a delayed 2028 or 2029 project after cost and weight problems. The Duo changes the brief. Apple no longer has to invent hinge software from scratch. It already has angle-aware layouts, a crease-aware keyboard, tent mode, table-top sensors in each half, and developer APIs for reserved fold regions. Scaling that system to a tablet is relatively easy.

Imagine the same half-fold grammar on a larger canvas. Top half: a proper landscape document, timeline, or browser. Bottom half: a real-size software keyboard, or a trackpad zone, or a palette of tools. Apple Pencil on the Duo already hints at the tablet version of that idea. On a phone, Pencil is a nice extra. On a foldable iPad, it is the point: sketch on the upper pane, keep reference material or a keyboard on the lower one, then flatten the device into a single drawing board.

The Duo also proves Apple will move iOS elements when the hardware demands it. Dock and navigation sit on the side. The status bar collapses into a corner puck. Dynamic Island runs vertically. Third-party apps that are not ready get a safe area; apps built for iOS 27.1 can use the full inner panel. That same discipline would make a foldable iPad less of a novelty and more of a second computer.

The iPhone Duo makes an iPad Duo feel necessary rather than greedy. The phone version is a proof of concept. It shows that Apple can make a hinge feel like an input device: slightly open for thumb typing, tented for widgets, laptop-angled for media and mail. The missing piece is area. Give that same software a screen that can hold a full page of text above a usable keyboard, and the “pocket laptop” pitch stops being a clever demo and becomes a category.

Apple did not announce an iPad Duo this week. It did something more useful. It shipped the interaction model first, on the device people actually carry every day. After a few weeks of using the Duo half-folded on a café table, a lot of people will not want a bigger phone. They will want the same trick, at iPad scale.

MacDailyNews Take: An iPad Duo that folds into a laptop pose would steal the exact jobs for which a lot of people already use a MacBook Neo or even MacBook Air: email, docs, browsing, video, light travel work. The iPhone Duo already shows the posture: screen on top, keyboard/controls below. Scale that to iPad size and the “why did I bring a laptop?” question gets louder.

An iPad Duo would not wipe out MacBooks, for the same reasons the iPad Pro never did:

• Software ceiling. iPadOS is still app-and-touch first. Serious windowing, files, terminals, IDEs, and pro apps still live more comfortably on macOS.

• Input. A software keyboard on glass is fine in a pinch. All-day typing still favors a real keyboard and trackpad. People who need that will keep buying Airs and Pros.

• Apple’s own mix. Apple has long accepted overlap: iPad Pro vs. MacBook Air, iPhone vs. iPad mini. A foldable tablet would shift the mix, not collapse it. Some MacBook Neo and Air buyers become Duo buyers; some Duo buyers still want a Mac at the desk or on the go.

Net effect of an iPad Duo: partial cannibalization of entry-level MacBook sales, plus some new demand from people who would never haul a laptop, but would fold a tablet. The Macs most at risk would be mostly MacBook Neo with some MacBook Air.


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MacBook Neo 2 Is Reportedly Launching In 2027 With An A19 Pro Chip

7 September 2026 at 09:19

The MacBook Neo has been a huge success since it first arrived earlier this year. Now, early reports suggest that the company is already preparing to launch its successor. According to recent supply chain leaks, the new MacBook Neo 2 is reportedly coming out in 2027. It will feature several big hardware upgrades, including a […]

The post MacBook Neo 2 Is Reportedly Launching In 2027 With An A19 Pro Chip appeared first on The Mac Observer.

What’s next for Apple’s MacBook Neo: Faster chip, more memory, new colors

4 September 2026 at 16:33
With its beautiful and durable aluminum design, stunning Liquid Retina display, Apple silicon-powered performance, all-day battery life, and more, the all-new MacBook Neo delivers the magic of the Mac experience at a breakthrough price.
Apple’s MacBook Neo

Apple is, of course, already working on the next MacBook Neo, a follow-up to the budget laptop that became one of its surprise hits this year. According to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman, the company is testing an updated model with an A19 Pro processor, more memory, and additional color options as part of a broader Mac refresh stretching through 2026 and 2027.

The current MacBook Neo launched in March with a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, an aluminum chassis, and Apple’s A18 Pro chip. It ships with 8GB of unified memory and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. Apple introduced it at $599, or $499 with education pricing, in blush, indigo, silver, and citrus. The starting price later rose to $699 during an industrywide memory squeeze.

That 8GB memory ceiling is the machine’s most cited limit. Everyday browsing and documents are fine. Heavy tab stacks, several apps at once, and on-device Apple Intelligence features run tighter. Gurman has reported that the next Neo is being built around the A19 Pro and a larger memory configuration. Prior reporting around that same pipeline has pointed to 12GB as the likely step up, which would give the laptop more headroom for multitasking and local AI workloads.

Color remains part of the plan. Gurman has said Apple intends to keep refreshing the Neo’s finishes. That fits how the product was sold: as a cheaper Mac that still looks like a statement.

The next Neo is not expected to jump to M-series chips, MagSafe, or a touch display. Those upgrades sit on other MacBook lines in the same multi-year overhaul Gurman has outlined, including redesigned Pro models with touch and OLED. The Neo’s job stays the same: a lower-priced aluminum notebook that uses A-series Apple Silicon to undercut Windows laptops and Chromebooks.

A spring 2027 window has been the working assumption in coverage of Gurman’s reporting, alongside other consumer hardware. Pricing is the open question. Component costs already forced Apple to lift the first Neo’s sticker. A faster chip and more RAM could make another increase likely, even if the company keeps the model clearly below the MacBook Air.

MacDailyNews Take: Until Apple confirms the specs, the next MacBook Neo sounds like a targeted refresh: A19 Pro, more memory, new colors, and the same basic idea that made the first one sell: macOS in a machine more people can afford.


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The $25 Must-Have Accessory for Every MacBook Air & MacBook Neo Owner

27 August 2026 at 16:56

If you’re a MacBook Air or MacBook Neo owner, there’s one accessory that I consider an absolute must-have; a USB-C hub. Why? Because it considerably expands the port options available to you, it’s not cumbersome, and the good news is that they’re also pretty cheap at around $25. What’s not to like? A good USB-C ... Read More

The post The $25 Must-Have Accessory for Every MacBook Air & MacBook Neo Owner appeared first on OS X Daily.

Review: Chuwi's $449 Unibook laptop is a funhouse-mirror MacBook Neo

24 August 2026 at 12:00

In another time, the MacBook Neo could have caused a substantial realignment of the lowish-end laptop business. Sure, it has shortcomings compared to the MacBook Air, but it could have at least encouraged PC makers to start shipping consistently decent keyboards, screens, and build quality in the Neo's $599 price window.

The PC makers did start responding, thanks in part to Intel's actually new non-Ultra Core Series 3 processors (codenamed Wildcat Lake). Intel has resisted its usual compunction to serve the budget market with aging, re-labeled silicon and has created a lower-end, lower-performance processor with the same building blocks (and the same manufacturing processes) as this year's high-end, high-performance models.

The likes of Dell, Acer, Asus, and Lenovo began hopping on the Wildcat Lake train fairly quickly, announcing would-be Neo competitors. But it felt like most of them were having trouble matching the Neo's barebones specs, let alone undercutting them. Dell's XPS 13 started at $599, but only for students. It would be $699 for everyone else. Acer's Swift Air 14 was announced at $699, too. Sure, sometimes these offered features the Neo didn't have. But the point of the Neo is that it eschews frills and frippery in favor of nailing the basics.

Read full article

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© Andrew Cunningham

RetinaDesk agora mostra o máximo de monitores suportados por cada Mac

14 August 2026 at 19:02

Há dois meses, falamos aqui sobre o RetinaDesk, um site muito bacana que ajuda você a escolher o melhor monitor externo para o seu Mac, levando em conta todas as especificidades dos computadores da Apple.

Pois bem, recentemente, a ferramenta ficou ainda mais completa com a adição de uma página que ajuda você a descobrir, de maneira extremamente intuitiva, a quantidade máxima de displays externos suportados pela sua máquina.

O banco de dados da ferramenta cobre todos os Macs com Apple Silicon lançados até hoje, bem como suas respectivas variantes — detalhe que joga o total de computadores listados pelo RetinaDesk para nada menos que 53.

Encontrar essa página é fácil: basta acessar o site do RetinaDesk, clicar na aba “Tools” na parte de cima da tela e, depois, selecionar a opção “Mac External Display Support by Chip” — ou simplesmente acessar esse link. Feito isso, é só selecionar o modelo do seu Mac na seção “Which Mac is it?” e, em seguida, sua respectiva variante — indicada pelo chip e o ano de lançamento (e, às vezes, o número de portas do computador) — em “Step 2”.

RetinaDesk Mac External Display Support by Chip
Captura de tela/RetinaDesk

Uma vez que você indicar o modelo do seu Mac, o número máximo de monitores externos ao qual ele pode ser conectado deverá aparecer à direita da tela, junto de uma ilustração do seu “setup máximo” — ou seja, com o maior número de monitores possível.

A nova página, no entanto, não para por aí, já que ela também conta com outra seção a qual ajuda você a montar setups com diferentes combinações de monitores, os quais podem ter resoluções e taxas de atualização distintas — sempre levando em conta, é claro, as limitações do seu computador. Ela também é uma boa forma de descobrir se o seu Mac suporta uma resolução ou uma taxa de atualização (ou uma combinação dessas duas coisas) específica.

RetinaDesk Mac External Display Support by Chip
Captura de tela/RetinaDesk

A seção “What each built-in port can drive”, por sua vez, exibe com quais resoluções/taxas de atualização cada porta do seu computador é compatível, além de revelar a sua versão (se é Thunderbolt 4 ou 5, por exemplo). Logo abaixo, temos a seção “How you can arrange the displays” que, como seu nome indica, mostra todas as combinações possíveis de monitores para a sua máquina.

Por fim, a ferramenta também deixa você comparar um Mac qualquer com outro modelo da sua escolha, checar se sua máquina precisa estar no modo clamshell para suportar um setup específico e aprender sobre soluções alternativas e suas respectivas concessões.

RetinaDesk Mac External Display Support by Chip
Captura de tela/RetinaDesk

Assim como o resto das ferramentas do RetinaDesk, essa nova página é totalmente gratuita, com o único “porém” sendo o fato de que ela não está disponível em português — problema que, é claro, pode ser facilmente remediado com a ajuda das ferramentas de tradução dos navegadores atuais.

Muito útil, não? 🖥️

Como descobrir o modelo do seu Mac

9 August 2026 at 17:30

Com inúmeros modelos e variações de Macs já fabricados, a Apple consegue abranger diferentes públicos-alvo. Desta forma, seja você uma pessoa que usa computador apenas para navegar na web ou um profissional que precisa de máquinas parrudas para dar conta do recado, pode usufruir de notebooks ou desktops da empresa.

Para ter certeza de qual modelo de computador da Apple você tem no momento, é possível conferir exatamente essa informação pelo sistema.

Veja duas maneiras de conferir isso! 👨‍💻

Primeiro método

No canto superior esquerdo, clique no logo da Apple e depois em “Sobre Este Mac”.

Veja que a janela lista o modelo da máquina (MacBook Air), assim como detalhes como o chip (M1) e a quantidade de memória (8GB).

Segundo método

Abra os Ajustes do Sistema (System Settings) e clique em “Geral”. Depois, selecione “Sobre” para conferir essas mesmas informações da sua máquina.


Fácil, certo?

Mac Studio

Chip: M4 Max ou M3 Ultra
Memória: 36GB, 48GB, 64GB, 96GB, 128GB, 256GB ou 512GB
Armazenamento: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB ou 16TB
R$ 25.999,00

Mac mini

Chip: M4 ou M4 Pro
Memória: 16GB, 24GB, 32GB, 48GB ou 64GB
Armazenamento: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB ou 8TB
Conectividade: Ethernet ou Gigabit Ethernet 10
R$ 12.299,00
R$ 16.999,00

iMac

Chip: M4
Cores: azul, roxo, rosa, laranja, amarelo, verde ou prateado
Vidro: convencional ou nano-texture
Memória: 16GB, 24GB ou 32GB
Armazenamento: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB ou 2TB
Conectividade: sem Ethernet ou Gigabit Ethernet
R$ 15.499,00

MacBook Pro de 16″

Cores: preto-espacial ou prateado
Tela: padrão ou nano-texture
Chips: M5 Pro ou M5 Max
Memória: 24GB, 36GB, 48GB, 64GB ou 128GB
Armazenamento: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB ou 8TB
R$ 30.599,00
R$ 33.999,00

MacBook Pro de 14″

Cores: preto-espacial ou prateado
Tela: padrão ou nano-texture
Chips: M5, M5 Pro ou M5 Max
Memória: 24GB, 36GB, 48GB, 64GB ou 128GB
Armazenamento: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB ou 8TB
Adaptador de energia: USB-C de 70W ou 96W
R$ 30.959,00

MacBook Air de 15″

Cores: azul-céu, prateado, estelar ou meia-noite
Chip: M5
Memória: 16GB, 24GB ou 32GB
Armazenamento: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB ou 4TB
Adaptador de energia: USB‑C de 30W, 35W com duas portas ou 70W
R$ 15.999,00

MacBook Air de 13″

Cores: azul-céu, prateado, estelar ou meia-noite
Chip: M5
Memória: 16GB, 24GB ou 32GB
Armazenamento: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB ou 4TB
Adaptador de energia: USB‑C de 30W, 35W com duas portas ou 70W
R$ 12.599,00
R$ 13.999,00

MacBook Neo

Cores: prateado, blush, amarelo-cítrico ou índigo
Armazenamento: 256GB ou 512GB (com Touch ID)
R$ 6.999,00

NOTA DE TRANSPARÊNCIA: O MacMagazine recebe uma pequena comissão sobre vendas concluídas por meio de links deste post, mas você, como consumidor, não paga nada mais pelos produtos/serviços usando os nossos links de afiliado.

Como saber qual versão do macOS seu Mac está rodando

8 August 2026 at 17:00

O macOS é o sistema operacional que equipa os computadores da Apple, os Macs.

Para receber os novos recursos e estar sempre protegido contra ataques ou brechas de segurança, é recomendável manter o seu dispositivo atualizado para a última versão disponível.

Veja como conferir qual versão do sistema seu Mac está usando! 👨‍💻

Abra os Ajustes do Sistema (System Settings). Em seguida, clique em “Geral” (na barra lateral esquerda) e vá em “Sobre”.

Versão do macOS

Você também pode ver essa informação clicando no logo da Apple (na barra de menus) e depois em “Sobre Este Mac”.

Simples, né?

Mac Studio

Chip: M4 Max ou M3 Ultra
Memória: 36GB, 48GB, 64GB, 96GB, 128GB, 256GB ou 512GB
Armazenamento: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB ou 16TB
R$ 25.999,00

Mac mini

Chip: M4 ou M4 Pro
Memória: 16GB, 24GB, 32GB, 48GB ou 64GB
Armazenamento: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB ou 8TB
Conectividade: Ethernet ou Gigabit Ethernet 10
R$ 12.299,00
R$ 16.999,00

iMac

Chip: M4
Cores: azul, roxo, rosa, laranja, amarelo, verde ou prateado
Vidro: convencional ou nano-texture
Memória: 16GB, 24GB ou 32GB
Armazenamento: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB ou 2TB
Conectividade: sem Ethernet ou Gigabit Ethernet
R$ 15.499,00

MacBook Pro de 16″

Cores: preto-espacial ou prateado
Tela: padrão ou nano-texture
Chips: M5 Pro ou M5 Max
Memória: 24GB, 36GB, 48GB, 64GB ou 128GB
Armazenamento: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB ou 8TB
R$ 30.599,00
R$ 33.999,00

MacBook Pro de 14″

Cores: preto-espacial ou prateado
Tela: padrão ou nano-texture
Chips: M5, M5 Pro ou M5 Max
Memória: 24GB, 36GB, 48GB, 64GB ou 128GB
Armazenamento: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB ou 8TB
Adaptador de energia: USB-C de 70W ou 96W
R$ 30.959,00

MacBook Air de 15″

Cores: azul-céu, prateado, estelar ou meia-noite
Chip: M5
Memória: 16GB, 24GB ou 32GB
Armazenamento: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB ou 4TB
Adaptador de energia: USB‑C de 30W, 35W com duas portas ou 70W
R$ 15.999,00

MacBook Air de 13″

Cores: azul-céu, prateado, estelar ou meia-noite
Chip: M5
Memória: 16GB, 24GB ou 32GB
Armazenamento: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB ou 4TB
Adaptador de energia: USB‑C de 30W, 35W com duas portas ou 70W
R$ 12.599,00
R$ 13.999,00

MacBook Neo

Cores: prateado, blush, amarelo-cítrico ou índigo
Armazenamento: 256GB ou 512GB (com Touch ID)
R$ 6.999,00

NOTA DE TRANSPARÊNCIA: O MacMagazine recebe uma pequena comissão sobre vendas concluídas por meio de links deste post, mas você, como consumidor, não paga nada mais pelos produtos/serviços usando os nossos links de afiliado.

Apple MacBook Neo Forces Microsoft To Boost Windows 11 Memory

8 August 2026 at 04:03

It seems the highly affordable Apple portable computer is sending shockwaves through the PC industry. The entry-level MacBook Neo is proving that a computer with just 8GB of RAM can handle incredibly heavy workloads without breaking a sweat. This strong performance has put immense pressure on Microsoft. Now, the software maker is working hard to […]

The post Apple MacBook Neo Forces Microsoft To Boost Windows 11 Memory appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Apple offers refurbished MacBook Neo laptops with $100 discount

6 August 2026 at 17:45
Apple's MacBook Neo in Citrus
Apple’s MacBook Neo in Citrus

Apple is selling its most affordable laptop, the MacBook Neo, at its pre-price-hike price through the company’s refurbished store. All four color options are currently available and discounted.

The base 256GB model is listed for $599 (usually $699 when new), while the upgraded version with 512GB of storage and Touch ID sells for $679 (usually $799). The refurbished laptops come with a one-year manufacturer warranty, and buyers have the option to purchase an extended AppleCare plan.

The MacBook Neo features a 13-inch display and is powered by Apple’s A18 Pro chip—the same processor used in the iPhone 16 Pro—along with 8GB of RAM. Apple’s entry-level Mac laptop offers strong performance for everyday tasks, with an excellent screen, keyboard, and speakers.

While power users may feel limited by the 8GB of memory and relatively slow storage, it’s a solid choice for students, casual users, and anyone who doesn’t need demanding desktop apps.

Its A18 Pro chip (the same processor found in the iPhone 16 Pro) delivers smooth everyday performance for browsing, streaming, writing papers, online classes, video calls, and light multitasking. The excellent screen, comfortable keyboard, and strong speakers make long study or work sessions more pleasant, while the 13-inch form factor keeps it portable and easy to carry between classes or around the house.

With 8GB of memory and relatively modest storage speeds, it isn’t ideal for power users running heavy video editing, complex coding environments, or multiple intensive apps at once. But for high school or college students, it strikes a smart balance of capability, build quality, and affordability, especially at the current refurbished prices.
‎
MacDailyNews Take: Check out all of the MacBook Neo – and all of Apple’s other refurbished hardware (it’s the best in the business) – via Apple’s Certified Refurbished store here.


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Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!

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Leilão da Receita em Porto Alegre tem MacBook Air e Mac mini por R$9.000

3 August 2026 at 20:40

A Receita Federal anunciou dois novos leilões os quais contam com uma série de dispositivos da Apple que entraram de forma ilegal no país. Distribuídos nas cidades de Porto Alegre (RS) e Salvador (BA), eles somam, ao todo, 16 lotes com pelo menos um produto da empresa.

O órgão, é sempre bom lembrar, não especifica os modelos ou as versões de determinados itens incluídos nos lotes, sendo que alguns deles podem estar usados, vir sem caixa ou até mesmo sem acessórios (isso costuma ser alertado). Ele também não faz entregas.

Dentro dos lotes com produtos da Apple, também pode haver outros itens sendo leiloados, vale notar.

Porto Alegre

Com 190 lotes (embora apenas 11 com dispositivos da Maçã), os itens desse leilão estão concentrados na Superintendência Regional da Receita Federal do Brasil da 10ª Região Fiscal. Segundo seu edital, as propostas poderão ser enviadas para análise a partir do dia 25 de agosto, às 12h, e serão recebidas até 28/8, às 18h.

As melhores serão selecionadas para participar do pregão online — o qual está previsto para o dia 31/8, a partir das 14h.

Eis os lotes com dispositivos da Apple inclusos nesse leilão:

LoteProduto(s) da AppleValor mínimo
42x AirTag (pacote com 4 unidades)
1x iMac (M4)
20x adaptador de parede USB-C (20W)
R$20.000
101x Magic Mouse (USB-C)
1x MacBook Air (M2, 256GB) de 13″
2x MacBook Air (M1, 256GB) de 13″
R$10.000
181x Mac mini (M2)R$10.000
32219x adaptador de paredeR$3.000
336x adaptador de paredeR$4.000
3620x adaptador de parede
1x Apple Pencil
6x EarPods
R$10.000
5474x adaptador de parede
3x adaptador de parede (5W)
10x adaptador de parede (20W)
12x adaptador de parede USB-C
4x iPhone 12 Pro Max
R$3.000
832x AirTag (pacote com 4 unidades)
1x Apple Pencil Pro
1x MacBook Neo (8GB/256GB)
R$10.000
851x cabo USB-C de 1 metro
1x adaptador de parede (20W)
R$5.200
872x Apple Pencil (USB-C)
1x Apple Pencil (2ª geração)
2x Magic Keyboard
1x Mac mini (M4, 256GB)
1x MacBook Air (modelo não especificado, 8GB/256GB) de 13″
R$9.000
941x adaptador de parede (20W)R$4.000

Salvador

Os itens desse leilão estão distribuídos em um total de 52 lotes, embora apenas 5 deles tenham algum dispositivo da Maçã.

De acordo com o seu edital, as propostas poderão ser enviadas para análise a partir do dia 17 de agosto, às 8h, e serão recebidas até 20/8, às 18h. As melhores serão selecionadas para participar do pregão online — o qual está previsto para o dia 21/8, a partir das 11h.

LoteProduto(s) da AppleValor mínimo
283x adaptador de parede (20W)
23x cabo Lightning para USB
21x cabo USB-C para Lightning
1x cabo MagSafe para USB-C
1x cabo USB-C de 2m
1x capa de couro com MagSafe para iPhone 12 Pro Max
R$24.000
29110x cabo Lightning para USB
1x cabo USB-C para Lightning
107x adaptador de parede (5W)
110x adaptador de parede (20W)
31x adaptador de parede (20W)
15x cabo USB-C para Lightning de 1m
R$22.000
312x AirTagR$12.000
341x adaptador de parede (20W)R$36.500
351x adaptador de parede (5W)
1x cabo Lightning para USB-C de 1m
R$8.500

Como participar

Todo o processo é feito de forma digital. Os interessados em adquirir os produtos do leilão precisam ter um CPF e um certificado digital válidos, via acesso ao Centro Virtual de Atendimento ao Contribuinte (e-CAC) — o qual será utilizado para acessar o site corretamente e poder participar de tudo.

Alguns lotes estão disponíveis para lances tanto de pessoas físicas quanto de pessoas jurídicas.

MacBook Neo vence Dell XPS 13 em desempenho e bateria, mas perde em tela e design

3 August 2026 at 16:56

Em mais um dos seus comparativos, o canal do YouTube PhoneBuff colocou o MacBook Neo para disputar com o Dell XPS 13, ambos vendidos lá fora pelos mesmos US$700 (após o reajuste recente de Macs) com 8GB de memória — com diferença no armazenamento, 512GB contra os 256GB iniciais no caso da Apple.

Embora o XPS 13 tenha se mostrado um tanto competitivo em diversos cenários, o Neo se mostrou equivalente ou superior na maioria dos critérios estabelecidos no comparativo.

Quanto ao som dos dois, o computador da Apple, mesmo com metade da quantidade de alto-falantes, apresentou um resultado mais consistente em termos de qualidade — embora o XPS 13 tenha apresentado um volume maior.

Em se tratando da tela, tivemos a primeira grande derrota da Maçã: embora o MacBook Neo apresente maior visibilidade em ambientes com alta exposição à luz, o Dell XPS 13 venceu no conjunto geral ao contar com suporte ao toque, uma taxa de atualização de 120Hz e suporte ao padrão de gama de cores DCI-P3.

Sobre a bateria, embora perca em tempo de carregamento, o MacBook Neo compensa a desvantagem de capacidade física (36,5Wh frente aos 52Wh do XPS 13) com eficiência energética, até mesmo considerando a diferença entre a arquitetura x86 do Intel Core 5 320 e a arquitetura ARM64 presente no chip A18 Pro.

Falando em seus chips, aliás, o desempenho é outro ponto para a Apple: o computador da Dell vence em tempo de inicialização e nos testes de navegador por uma margem pequena (19 contra os 21 segundos do Neo), mas perde para o MacBook na descompactação de um arquivo de 6GB, sendo cerca de três vezes mais lenta na máquina com Windows, e também na abertura de um documento de 500 páginas no Word, com uma diferença de 5 segundos (12 no XPS e 7 no caso do Neo). A Maçã também levou a melhor com os programas da Adobe, concluindo mais rapidamente as alterações em projetos do Photoshop e do Premiere. Em jogos, foi o único momento em que o empate foi ruim o suficiente para ambos; títulos como Cyberpunk 2077 passaram com muita dificuldade da casa dos 30 quadros por segundo.

Câmera foi outro ponto positivo para o MacBook Neo, que apresentou imagens com mais nitidez e um microfone com uma filtragem de voz mais suave que sua contrapartida no universo Windows.

Já tratando de design, na avaliação do canal a vantagem é do Dell XPS 13 por sua leveza, bordas mais finas e a presença de retroiluminação no teclado (embora ele destaque positivamente o trackpad do MacBook) — ausência um tanto criticada por diversos entusiastas de tecnologia.

Em conclusão, ambas as máquinas possuem seus próprios pontos positivos — ou seja, não houve uma vitória clara para uma ou outra.

MacBook Neo

Cores: prateado, blush, amarelo-cítrico ou índigo
Armazenamento: 256GB ou 512GB (com Touch ID)
R$ 6.999,00

NOTA DE TRANSPARÊNCIA: O MacMagazine recebe uma pequena comissão sobre vendas concluídas por meio de links deste post, mas você, como consumidor, não paga nada mais pelos produtos/serviços usando os nossos links de afiliado.

Apple’s Q3 2026 Results

31 July 2026 at 19:31

Apple (transcript, Hacker News):

The Company posted quarterly revenue of $109.4 billion, up 16 percent year over year.

[…]

“Today, Apple is proud to report our strongest June quarter ever, with double-digit revenue growth across iPhone, Mac and Services, and in every geographic segment,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

Jason Snell:

iPhone revenue was up 22%, Mac revenue was up 10.4%, Services revenue was up 12%, and Wearables revenue was up 6%. iPad revenue was down 6%.

John Voorhees:

Together, iPhone and Services accounted for 77.7% of Apple’s $109.4B in net sales.

Jordan Golson:

Gross margin for the quarter was 50.1 percent, compared to 46.5 percent in the year-ago quarter.

Jason Snell:

You can’t argue with the strong iPhone and Mac sales figures, and Apple specifically called out the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Neo, which Cook said “has been especially popular” and suggested that the company is still struggling to make them fast enough.

It’s admirable (and sensible) that Cook isn’t pointing fingers at anyone but customers who want Apple products, but the key phrase in his statement is “the supply chain just has less flexibility in it than normal.” This is an acknowledgement that while in the past, Apple might have been able to boost chip production from its partners, today the chip industry is maxed out thanks to the wild building of chips for AI applications.

[…]

As an aside, Cook also alluded to reports that Apple has tried to get the U.S. government to authorize purchase of RAM from some forbidden Chinese chipmakers, which has aroused political ire.

See also: MacRumors.

Previously:

John Ternus And MacBook Neo Give Apple A Huge Q3 Mac Sales Boost

31 July 2026 at 02:57

The latest financial numbers are in, and the Apple MacBook Neo is single-handedly pushing Mac sales to record levels. During its recent Apple Q3 2026 earnings call, Apple reported that Mac revenue jumped by almost 29 percent over the last quarter. This massive growth happened without the launch of any brand-new hardware during those three […]

The post John Ternus And MacBook Neo Give Apple A Huge Q3 Mac Sales Boost appeared first on The Mac Observer.

Why MacBook Stops Charging at 80% and How to Fix It

30 July 2026 at 22:52

Many MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Neo owners have noticed something curious; their MacBook battery stops charging at 80% when plugged in. To add to the confusion, even if they leave their MacBook plugged in overnight, the battery seems to be stuck at 80% and will not charge any further. Because this is not ... Read More

The post Why MacBook Stops Charging at 80% and How to Fix It appeared first on OS X Daily.

MacBook Neo Defies the Global PC Slump

By: Jack
25 July 2026 at 15:43

MacBook Neo helped Apple move against the global PC market in the second quarter of 2026, delivering double-digit Mac shipment growth while most leading computer manufacturers sold fewer units than a year earlier.

Preliminary data from IDC estimates that Apple shipped 6.7 million Macs during the quarter, up 10.1% from 6.1 million in Q2 2025. Its worldwide market share rose from 8.5% to 9.9%, placing the company within a fraction of the 10% threshold.

The rest of the industry moved in the opposite direction. Global shipments fell 4.9% year over year to 68.2 million units, ending nine consecutive quarters of growth. A separate Omdia estimate placed the decline at 3.6% and Apple growth at 15.9%, but both research groups identified the same pattern: the Mac gained ground while established Windows PC vendors contracted or remained flat.

IDC directly connected the Apple increase with the arrival of its lowest-priced notebook. MacBook Neo began shipping in March, giving the model its first complete quarter of retail availability between April and June.

MacBook Neo Drives Mac Shipment Growth

MacBook Neo entered the market as an alternative for buyers previously priced out of the Mac lineup.

The 13-inch notebook launched at $599 with an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of unified memory, a Liquid Retina display and up to 16 hours of video playback. It also brought macOS, Apple Intelligence and integration with the iPhone ecosystem into a price range commonly occupied by mainstream Windows laptops and Chromebooks.

That positioning attracted students, families and first-time Mac customers who did not need the performance or display technology of a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. The four-color aluminum design also gave the entry model a more recognizable identity than the older Mac notebooks that frequently remained on sale through discounts.

IDC had already identified the computer as an unusual source of strength when it revised its notebook forecast earlier in 2026. Demand exceeded initial expectations in several markets, and reported inventory shortages appeared shortly after the March launch.

The effect became much more visible in Q2. MacBook Neo was available for the entire three-month period, allowing Apple to increase production, expand retail distribution and serve customers who could not obtain the computer during its first weeks.

The entry model also widened the Mac lineup without replacing the MacBook Air. Buyers seeking more memory, faster ports, longer wireless web use or additional external-display support could continue moving toward the M5-powered Air, while the less expensive machine handled education, office work, web browsing and communication.

That separation allowed Apple to reach lower price points without reducing the value of its premium notebooks.

A laptop screen displays multiple colorful open windows, including a chemistry diagram, a drawing of an artichoke with a chemical structure, a chat with an AI image generator, and a grapefruit photo, with various app icons along the bottom.
Image Credit: Apple Inc.

Lenovo, HP and Dell Lose Shipments

Apple remained the fourth-largest traditional PC vendor, but its performance contrasted sharply with the companies above it.

Lenovo retained first place with 16.6 million units and 24.4% market share. Its shipments declined 2.1% from the previous year.

HP experienced the steepest drop among the top five, falling 9% to 13 million units. Dell shipped 9.3 million computers, representing a 5% decline. Asus remained nearly flat at 5 million units, up only 0.2%.

Manufacturers outside the five largest brands collectively suffered a 10.5% contraction, indicating that weaker demand and component inflation placed even more pressure on smaller companies.

The figures measure shipments into distribution channels or directly to end users, not confirmed retail purchases by individual consumers. A manufacturer can therefore record shipment growth while some inventory remains unsold in stores or warehouses.

MacBook Neo demand appears to have been strong enough to support Apple production increases rather than simply filling channels. The company reportedly doubled its annual production target after the initial response, although later quarters will reveal how much of Q2 reflected lasting demand rather than launch-period enthusiasm.

Apple also benefits from operating at a scale that provides leverage with memory, storage and semiconductor suppliers. Smaller PC brands face greater difficulty securing components at competitive prices when shortages intensify.

Memory Costs Reverse the PC Recovery

The Q2 contraction arrived after manufacturers and commercial customers accelerated purchases during late 2025 and early 2026.

Buyers expected memory and storage prices to rise, encouraging some businesses to replace computers earlier than planned. Vendors also increased inventories while components remained available.

That activity supported nine quarters of market growth but borrowed demand from later periods. Once the early purchases were completed, the industry faced a more difficult combination of expensive components, cautious consumers and elevated retail prices.

The memory shortage is closely connected to the AI infrastructure boom. Chipmakers are dedicating more production capacity to high-bandwidth memory used by data center accelerators, limiting the supply of conventional DRAM needed for personal computers.

IDC expects little relief before the end of 2027 or early 2028. The research company forecasts an 11.3% decline in worldwide PC shipments across 2026, with the fourth quarter potentially falling 20% from the previous year.

Computer revenue may not decline at the same pace. Manufacturers have raised prices faster than shipments have fallen, allowing them to collect more money from fewer units.

That strategy creates another problem. Retailers and distributors can become trapped with expensive inventory if customers refuse the new prices, forcing promotions or production reductions later.

MacBook Neo initially softened that pressure by giving Apple a new product near the bottom of the notebook market. Its original $599 price made the Mac competitive with midrange Windows machines at the moment many rivals were becoming more expensive.

A close-up view of a computer RAM module, highlighting four black memory chips on a green circuit board with gold connector pins—an example of hardware impacted by the recent RAM price surge.
Image Credit: Freepik

The Price Increase Creates the Next Test

The strongest Q2 MacBook Neo shipments were recorded while most customers could still buy the computer at its introductory price.

Apple raised the U.S. starting price to $699 in late June as memory and storage costs affected the Mac and iPad lineups. The education price remained at $599, preserving the original offer for eligible students and educators.

A $100 increase changes the comparison with discounted Windows notebooks and places the entry model closer to older MacBook Air configurations available through third-party retailers.

Apple must now determine whether the appeal came primarily from the low launch price or from the combination of macOS, battery life, design and iPhone integration.

The company remains better positioned than many rivals to absorb supply disruption, negotiate long-term component agreements and promote several notebooks at different prices. MacBook Neo also uses an iPhone-class A18 Pro processor rather than an M-series chip, providing another way to manage silicon costs and production capacity.

IDC expects the full PC market to deteriorate during the second half of 2026. Apple will enter that period with almost 10% worldwide share, but the September quarter will be the first to measure MacBook Neo demand almost entirely at the higher $699 retail price.

The post MacBook Neo Defies the Global PC Slump appeared first on AppleMagazine.

Apple preps next-gen MacBook Neo with A19 Pro chip, more memory, and new colors amid broader Mac overhaul

24 July 2026 at 22:00
Apple's MacBook Neo in Citrus
Apple’s MacBook Neo in Citrus

Apple is developing an updated MacBook Neo featuring more memory, an upgraded A19 Pro chip, and additional color options as part of a wide-ranging refresh of its entire Mac lineup, according to a Bloomberg News report by Mark Gurman.

The original MacBook Neo, Apple’s budget-friendly entry-level laptop launched in March 2026, quickly became a huge hit. It debuted at $599 (as low as $499 with education pricing) before rising to a $699 starting price amid industry-wide memory cost pressures. Powered by the A18 Pro chip (the first Mac to use an A-series processor typically found in iPhones and iPads), it offered 8GB of unified memory, a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, and vibrant finishes including Silver, Blush, Citrus, and Indigo. Strong demand led to initial sell-outs, and it has been praised for bringing accessible Mac performance and Apple Intelligence features to a lower price point.

The next-generation Neo will address some of the original’s constraints by increasing unified memory — reports indicate a jump to 12GB — and switching to the A19 Pro chip (already used in recent iPhone models). Extra color options will expand on the fun, marketing-friendly palette that helped the first Neo stand out. These upgrades could help offset the recent price increase by delivering better performance and longevity, particularly for AI-related tasks.

This Neo update forms part of a much larger Mac pipeline. Gurman’s reporting indicates Apple plans new versions of nearly every Mac it sells over the next couple of years, driven by surging demand for AI-capable machines. Key elements include:

• An entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the new M6 chip expected this fall (2026).

• Long-awaited iMac refreshes also targeted for fall 2026.

• High-end 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros featuring OLED displays and touchscreens, powered by M5 Pro and Max chips, eyed for late 2026 or early 2027.

• A MacBook Air refresh that could include its first major redesign in over four years.

• Updated Mac mini models testing M5 Pro and M6 chips, plus Mac Studio variants with M5 Max and Ultra (or later M7 chips), though memory supply constraints tied to the broader AI boom may affect timing.

Industry observers note that ongoing global memory shortages exacerbated by AI server demand have already driven price increases across Apple’s lineup and could influence both availability and pricing of the new models. Apple has also been exploring ways to sustain sales momentum, including a new leasing program.
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MacDailyNews Take: The MacBook Neo’s success showed Apple’s willingness to expand downward in the laptop market while defending premium margins higher up. An improved Neo with more memory and a newer chip would further strengthen that position, especially if it retains a competitive price relative to crappy Windows alternatives. Exact release timing for the updated Neo remains unspecified in the reports, but it fits into Apple’s broader push to modernize the Mac range for an AI-driven era.


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The post Apple preps next-gen MacBook Neo with A19 Pro chip, more memory, and new colors amid broader Mac overhaul appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Brasileira, diretora de arte da Apple revela protótipos do Lil’ Finder Guy

24 July 2026 at 18:13

A brasileira Sofia Coelho, que atualmente ocupa o cargo de diretora de arte na Apple, ofereceu um raro vislumbre dos bastidores do processo criativo da empresa em uma publicação no LinkedIn, na qual revelou rascunhos e um protótipo do personagem Lil’ Finder Guy.

Embora a publicação tenha sido removida (por qualquer motivo que seja), as imagens mostram como o personagem saiu do papel para as peças publicitárias da Maçã. O Lil’ Finder Guy, não custa lembrar, estreou como o rosto da campanha do MacBook Neo e, posteriormente, também apareceu em comerciais que divulgavam recursos do Mac.

Coelho disse que a publicação era um “anúncio de aniversário bem-humorado” e descreveu a liderança do projeto como um “projeto de design dos sonhos”. Também mencionou os colegas que trabalharam ao seu lado na campanha.

"On March 4th at 11:00 a.m., measuring exactly one apple tall, a mascot, charmingly coined by the internet as Lil' Finder Guy, was born!"

In a post by Apple art director Sofia Coelho on LinkedIn (post taken down), Sofia shared early sketches and models of Lil' Finder Guy. pic.twitter.com/4Oo8xazSxx

— Basic Apple Guy (@BasicAppleGuy) July 24, 2026

Uma imagem mostrava uma folha de esboços explorando as expressões, as proporções e a forma geral do personagem. Essas imagens estavam ao lado do que parecia ser um protótipo físico do próprio Lil’ Finder Guy — o qual tinha “exatamente a altura de uma maçã”, segundo Coelho.

Ela também observou que a campanha figurou na lista de finalistas do Cannes Lions, uma das premiações mais prestigiadas da publicidade.

Apple Submitted the MacBook Neo & Lil' Finder Guy campaign to the Cannes Lions festival. pic.twitter.com/npRQ3G0hWw

— Basic Apple Guy (@BasicAppleGuy) July 4, 2026

Além de rara, os detalhes de bastidores mostram que até mesmo as menores ideias da Apple recebem um tratamento criativo completo.

❌