A MacBook Neo refresh may already be in testing and could address its biggest performance bottlenecks
The first MacBook Neo refresh may address two of the original model’s biggest performance limitations through a faster chip and additional memory.
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The next MacBook Neo could arrive with an A19 Pro chip, more memory, and fresh new colors
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
Apple is already working on a refreshed version of the MacBook Neo, only a few months after launching its cheapest laptop.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has been testing an updated MacBook Neo with an A19 Pro chip and more memory. The report backs earlier claims that a second-generation model could arrive in 2027, bringing better multitasking performance and improved long-term usability.
More memory could be the most important upgrade
The current MacBook Neo runs on a binned A18 Pro chip paired with 8GB of unified memory. It handles browsing, streaming, and everyday productivity reasonably well, but the limited memory can become noticeable once several apps and dozens of browser tabs are running together.
MacBook Neo Apple
Bloomberg does not reveal the exact memory capacity of the new model. Previous reporting pointed to 12GB, which would give the Neo more breathing room for multitasking and future macOS features. Not to mention that 12GB memory is also a requirement to run advanced Apple Intelligence features locally.
The A19 Pro, which is onboard the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models. should also bring improvements across CPU, graphics, and Neural Engine performance. Apple is reportedly planning to refresh the laptop periodically with new colors as well.
More memory could also push the price higher
The bigger question is how much Apple will charge. The MacBook Neo launched at $599 in March, but its starting price climbed to $699 in June after rising memory costs forced Apple to increase prices across the Mac lineup. Adding more unified memory could make it difficult to hold the current price, although the Neo would still sit comfortably below the MacBook Air.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
There is no word yet on whether Apple will address some of the other compromises found on the first model, including the non-backlit keyboard, mechanical trackpad, and inconsistent USB speeds. The refresh is expected to arrive at the 2027 spring launch event, along with the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18e.
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The MacBook Air and iMac are next in line for Apple’s OLED push
OLED MacBook Air could arrive in 2028, while the iMac remains further out
Previous reports have indicated that Apple plans to launch redesigned MacBook Pros between the end of this year and early next year featuring touchscreen OLED displays, but the brand’s OLED ambitions for its Macs won’t end there.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman now reports that Apple is also working on OLED versions of the MacBook Air and iMac, corroborating earlier supply-chain reports about both devices. The information comes from people familiar with Apple’s plans, although neither product appears close to release.
WhatsApp can now open and edit PDFs without making you download them first
Adobe Acrobat is adding built-in viewing and annotation tools for PDFs shared through WhatsApp on larger screens
Adobe is making PDF attachments much less annoying in WhatsApp. Its new Acrobat integration lets you open a PDF and mark it up without downloading the file or leaving the conversation.
The feature is available today through WhatsApp Web and the Windows app. The headline comes with an important caveat, though. This isn’t full PDF editing. You can review and annotate a document, but you can’t rewrite its original text or rearrange the layout.
Substack now lets you check if a post was written by AI
A new Pangram-powered scanner lets you check posts, notes, and replies for signs of AI writing.
Substack is giving readers a way to check whether the post they're reading was written by a human or by a chatbot. The company has partnered with AI-detection firm Pangram to introduce new tools that will let users scan posts, notes, and replies for AI-generated text. CEO Chris Best introduced the features in a post titled "Against Claudefishing," his term for content that leans on AI while presenting itself as human work.
How the scanning tool works
