APPLE'S $599 MACBOOK NEO AT RISK FROM RAM SHORTAGE

The budget MacBook Neo could lose its price advantage as semiconductor costs climb. If discontinued, the $599 model would be replaced by a $699 configuration with 512GB of storage as the entry point. This follows a pattern of similar moves across Apple's lineup. The Mac mini's base model jumped from $599 to $799 this week after Apple eliminated its most affordable option. In March, Apple removed the 512GB RAM configuration from the Mac Studio, likely for the same reason. RAM shortages have pressured manufacturers to consolidate product tiers and reduce lower-priced options. The MacBook Neo's appeal hinged partly on delivering solid performance at an aggressive price point. Losing the $599 entry model would significantly impact its positioning in the budget laptop market. Apple has not officially confirmed changes to the MacBook Neo lineup. The company typically adjusts configurations based on component availability and supply chain dynamics.