> Apple reports best week in company history for new first time Mac buyers

Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook said the hardware launch initiated earlier this month produced the best week ever in attracting first-time Mac buyers.

The surge in sales was likely prompted by the release of the new, low-cost MacBook Neo, which starts at $599.

"Mac just had its best launch week ever for first-time Mac customers," Cook said in a post on X. "We love seeing the enthusiasm!"

In addition to the Neo, Apple also released a new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and two new Studio Displays. All these were made available on March 11.

While the Neo is available at multiple Apple Store locations, a delivery order made today from the Apple site indicates an 18-to-25-day delivery time. In contrast, the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air indicate a delivery time of only four days.

The MacBook Neo received rave reviews after its release. Bloomberg said it was a "game changer" for the Cupertino-based company, while Wired called it "a new kind of Mac for a new generation." CNET said it offers the same premium design and durability but is much more affordable than Apple's traditional MacBooks. Forbes said they would be "shocked" if the Neo is not the best-selling MacBook model in 2026. They also expect it to take market share from Google (GOOG)(GOOGL) Chromebooks and Microsoft (MSFT) Windows 11 laptops. Forbes also noted that the Neo is 50% faster for everyday tasks than Intel (INTC) Core Ultra 5 PCs.

Apple is expected to ship 4.5M to 5M MacBook Neos this year, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Moreover, Apple's supply chain dominance allows it to maintain the low price on Neo, while other laptop models might start to show price increases due to higher memory costs.


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