Apple has broken an all-time sales record with the MacBook Neo in its first week. The surprise is absolutely zero

Tim Cook himself confirmed it a few days ago in X. And Apple has managed to beat its own record with the help of MacBook Neo In terms of sales, it is the best launch of a Mac for new users in its entire history. The theme is striking to say the least, although it is little surprising considering that it is a significantly cheaper product than the rest of the equipment offered by the brand.

Why does it matter? Apple has dominated the premium laptop market for decades, but it has always had a clear ceiling: its entry price. He MacBook Air with M5 part of the 1,199 euros, which leaves out a huge group of Windows PC users, Chromebook or directly without a computer. The launch of the MacBook Neo, at 699 euros (which remains at 599 for students), is Apple’s first serious attempt to conquer that market. And it seems to be working.

busy week. On March 11, Apple presented three new computers simultaneously: the MacBook Neo, the MacBook Air with M5 chip and the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max. It was a pretty dense week for the Mac line. A few days later, Tim Cook published in X that this launch had broken the historical record of new Mac buyers, that is, people who purchased an Apple computer for the first time.

Although Cook does not break down the figures or specify which model leads the data, the logic points in one direction.

The responsible one. The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro have a consolidated user base that periodically renews their equipment. The MacBook Neo, on the other hand, has no previous installed base: it is a completely new product, designed from the ground up to attract those who have never bought a Mac. With a price approximately half that of the Air, it is a profile that fits exactly with that of a buyer making the jump from Windows or a Chromebook.

And it should be noted that the Mac has been on the market for decades, but there is still a huge volume of PC users who have never had one, and the Neo seems destined to change that. Who would imagine that a Mac would sell more if it were at a more competitive price…

Demand exceeds supply. Another indicator of the Neo’s impact is that Apple is not being able to meet demand, according to they count from 9to5Mac. During March 20, all MacBook Neo models in Apple’s online store had a delivery date between April 6 and 13, according to the media, which means between two and three weeks of waiting for a product launched just a week ago.

Normally it is something that usually happens when a new iPhone arrives, but on Mac it is something much less common. Those with an Apple Store nearby may have better luck, although the assortment varies greatly depending on location and color.

The industry was already on alert. The impact of the Neo has not gone unnoticed outside of Apple. According to AppleInsiderWindows PC manufacturers have been surprised by both the price and the features of the new laptop. It is not a device for everyone, but it does seem to be for many: it has the A18 Pro chip (the same as iPhone 16 Pro) that, for office automation and navigation tasks it gives you plentyand it comes in a good assortment of colors, with a value proposition that was unprecedented on Mac and that seems to convince many users.

Cover image | Apple

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