Rumours that Apple’s next budget laptop could finally add a touchscreen appear to be fading fast.
The MacBook Neo 2, expected to succeed Apple’s ultra-affordable £599/$599 Neo model, is now unlikely to include touch support.
Earlier speculation had suggested Apple might experiment with a touchscreen on the entry-level MacBook. However, that idea seems to have shifted over time. Analysts initially floated the possibility that the second-generation Neo could feature touch input. Later reports walked that claim back to a “maybe”.
According to Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter, Apple hasn’t committed to bringing touchscreen support to Macs beyond a future high-end MacBook Pro. This model is expected sometime in late 2026 or early 2027. In other words, the lower-cost Neo model likely won’t see the feature anytime soon.
Cost appears to be the main reason. The Neo lineup is designed to be Apple’s most accessible laptop range, with pricing starting at $499 for those utilising the education discount. Adding a touchscreen panel would increase manufacturing costs. Therefore, Apple may be reluctant to do this on a device aimed squarely at budget-conscious buyers.
That doesn’t mean the next Neo will arrive without improvements. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the MacBook Neo 2 is still expected to launch next year. It should bring modest hardware upgrades. The biggest change could be the move to Apple’s A19 Pro chip. It would be paired with 12GB of RAM, up from the A18 Pro and 8GB found in the current model.
If those rumours hold, the MacBook Neo 2 may focus more on performance and longevity than new interaction features. And while a touchscreen MacBook might eventually happen, it looks like Apple’s most affordable laptop won’t be the one to get it first.
