Apple is already considering the discontinuation of the MacBook Neo's $599 base variant, which would be equivalent to a stealth price hike of $100. Now, however, as TSMC appears all set to pursue an inflationary pricing regime for its advanced nodes, Apple might have to resort to a bigger price jump to prevent its razor-thin margins on the MacBook Neo from tumbling into the negative territory.
Apple's razor-thin margins on the MacBook Neo are now headed for another squeeze, courtesy of TSMC's inflationary pricing for its 3nm node process
For the benefit of those who might not be aware, Apple was able to price the base version of the MacBook Neo at a very attractive $599 price point by using the binned A18 Pro chips, which first featured within the iPhone 16 Pro lineup.
However, as we noted recently, Apple has been shocked by the oncoming demand for its new budget MacBook, and is now planning to increase the device's production for 2026 from the previously envisaged 5 - 6 million units to 10 million units.
To do so, however, Apple has been forced to ask TSMC to restart production of the A18 Pro chips on its 3nm node, which comes at a hefty cost. Moreover, the fact that these new chips won't be binned only adds to the overall cost pressures.
This brings us to the core of today's topic. According to the tipster Jukan, TSMC is gearing up to increase the price of its 3nm node by as much as 15 percent in the second half of 2026. What's more, TSMC might implement another 10 percent price hike next year as well.
While this situation is quite troubling for the pricing-related prospects of Apple's MacBook Neo, TSMC is reaping a veritable windfall right now, with the fab giant's CEO recently urging his employees to buy TSMC shares to secure their financial future.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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