The Fruity Cargo Cult Apple has a supply headache brewing, and it is entirely of its own making.
The MacBook Neo, which relies on “binned” A18 Pro chips with one GPU core disabled, is proving more popular than expected, and demand is chewing through that stash fast.
MacRumors says the laptop has been such a hit that it has created a “massive dilemma,” with the bargain bits at risk of drying up before the next model lands.
Culpium newsletter author Tim Culpan said Apple’s supply of the binned A18 Pro chips with a 5-core GPU will “run out” before the company can satisfy demand for the laptop.
Culpan said the original plan was for suppliers to build around five to six million MacBook Neo units, then stop making the A18 Pro version, but sales have other ideas.
If the A18 Pro pile disappears before a second-generation MacBook Neo with an A19 Pro chip is ready next year, Jobs’ Mob either rations units or starts paying proper money.
A18 Pro chips are made on TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process, known as N3E, and Culpan said TSMC’s N3E lines are flat out.
That means Apple b might have to stump up extra cash to restart A18 Pro production, and Culpan said it may need to “pay a premium” to do it.
Even then, Apple would still have to disable a GPU core to keep the chips at a 5-core GPU spec, which is a bit of a faff.
Culpan said Apple could reallocate chip production planned for other devices, but the bill would still be higher than what it paid for the initial batch.
Another option is fiddling with the lineup, with Culpan floating the idea that Apple could ditch the $599 256GB model and leave the $699 512GB version with Touch ID as the entry point.
MacRumors notes that would be awkward given how loudly Job’s Mob has been pushing the Neo’s affordability, so the bean-counters may have to swallow thinner margins instead.
Culpan suggested Apple could move up an A19 Pro-based MacBook Neo, but that gets pricey until enough binned A19 Pro chips with a 5-core GPU start falling into the right bin.
