MacBook Neo Is Facing Long Shipping Delays. Here's When To Expect Yours

UPDATE 3/10/26: Wait times for the MacBook Neo have increased even further, and positive reviews of the budget-friendly laptop may make the wait even longer.

As of March 10, the day before the laptop’s official release, almost all new purchases in the US have slipped to at least a week’s wait.

The fastest delivery is for the 512GB Silver model, with a delay of six to eight days. All three other 512GB models will take between two and three weeks to arrive.

If you want a 256GB version, the Blush and Citrus models will take between seven and nine days. The Indigo model takes between a week and two, while the Silver is the longest wait at two to three weeks.

Apple may have stock available at your local store on March 11, but you may be disappointed. If you have a couple extra bucks to spend, Apple is also releasing its M5 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with the supercharged M5 Max and Max Pro chips.

Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2026, M5 Max)

Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026, M5)

Original Story (3/6/26):
Apple opened MacBook Neo preorders immediately after the low-budget laptop was announced on Wednesday, and it appears to be popular. If you’ve taken the last few days to decide between a Neo and an M5 MacBook Air, you may have to wait longer than initially expected, depending on which Neo model you’re picking up.

The MacBook Neo will go on sale in the US on Wednesday, March 11. As spotted by Apple Insider, some models are now pushed back by up to three weeks.

First Look at Apple’s New MacBook Neo, a Colorful and Budget Laptop

The 256GB version in Blush says it’ll ship between March 16 and 23, as does the 512GB version in Indigo. If you want the 512GB versions in Blush or the new bold Citrus color, you’ll have to wait until between March 23 to 30.

Apple will also have models in-store on March 11, but there’s no guarantee you’ll find your preferred color and storage capacity configuration. These aren’t long delays, but it may be a disappointment if you were excited about picking up a new MacBook next week.

Early benchmark scores for the MacBook Neo have also appeared on Geekbench, as spotted by MacRumors, suggesting it may deliver better results than 2020’s M1 MacBook Air despite using the mobile A18 Pro chip found in the iPhone 16 Pro.

It scored 3,461 on a single-core test, compared with 3,445 scored by an iPhone 16 Pro and 2,346 on a MacBook Air with M1. The multi-score for the Neo is 8,668, beating the iPhone 16 Pro’s 8,624 and the M1 MacBook Air’s 8,342. However, the metal scores are worse on the Neo at 31,285, while the iPhone 16 Pro hit 32,575, and the M1 MacBook Air beat all three at 33,148.

Benchmarking isn’t always a reflection of the final experience, of course, so stay tuned for PCMag’s final review. The Neo has 8GB of RAM, and the basic version costs $599. For $699, you get 512GB of storage and a Touch ID fingerprint scanner.