Apple Lands Biggest Mac Education Deal With 170,000 MacBook Neos

Apple has secured its biggest Mac education deal, with the Philippines' Department of Education planning to deploy 170,000 MacBook Neo computers, CEO John Ternus said during the company's November 2 earnings call.

The computers are intended for teachers and staff. Ternus did not disclose a deployment schedule, contract value, or hardware configuration.

The MacBook Neo launched in March as Apple's entry-level laptop, pairing the A18 Pro chip with a 13-inch Liquid Retina display and an aluminum enclosure. Its lower-cost position expands the Mac lineup below the MacBook Air.

Demand had already prompted a reported doubling of the Neo's production target to 10 million units in May. That was a broader production plan, separate from the newly disclosed education agreement.

The new deal arrives as the Mac business reports a strong September quarter. Revenue rose 24% year over year to $10.8 billion despite supply constraints, with CFO Kevan Parekh crediting MacBook Neo and MacBook Pro. Apple also set a September-quarter record for customers buying their first Mac.

The strength extended beyond the September quarter. "We have never sold more Macs in a fiscal year than we did this time," Ternus said. Apple did not provide a unit total.