MacBook Neo Shipped 22% More Units Than the M5 MacBook Air in Its First Quarter

Apple shipped roughly 1.1 million MacBook Neo units in the quarter that ended in March, more than any other Mac laptop in its lineup, according to IDC data shared with TechCrunch.

That figure puts the Neo about 22 percent ahead of the M5 MacBook Air, which shipped more than 900,000 units in its debut quarter. The M5 MacBook Pro shipped 550,000 units over the same period. All three machines went on sale on March 11.

The result is notable because the MacBook Neo was available for only about three weeks during the quarter. Navkendar Singh, an associate vice president at IDC, said shipments began to spike in early April, which suggests the March tally understates underlying demand.

What the MacBook Neo offers

Apple introduced the MacBook Neo in early March with a starting price of $599, roughly 45 percent below the entry level MacBook Air. The laptop uses an aluminum chassis and a 13 inch Liquid Retina display.

To reach the lower price, Apple equipped the Neo with an A18 Pro chip rather than an M series processor, along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage in the base model. A 512GB configuration is available for an additional $100.

Where the units went

Of the units shipped globally during the quarter, 44 percent went to the United States, according to IDC. India accounted for roughly 18,000 shipments despite the short availability window, with retailers reportedly struggling to secure adequate inventory.

Demand still climbing

Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook said in late April that demand for the Neo was "off the charts" and that it contributed to a record for first time Mac buyers in the first quarter, though he did not share figures.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has since raised his 2026 shipment forecast for the laptop from 5 million units to 10 million. IDC forecasts a "very big spike" in MacBook Neo shipments in the current quarter as Apple works through supply constraints and expands availability.

The launch is already drawing responses from rivals. Dell this week unveiled a new XPS 13 starting at $699 aimed at the same segment, citing the MacBook Neo's arrival as evidence of demand for premium quality laptops at accessible prices.