Apple is supplying DepEd with 170,000 MacBook Neos
Apple is supplying 170,000 MacBook Neos to the Department of Education in what tech CEO John Ternus called its "biggest education deal" yet.
Ternus announced the partnership during Apple's Q4 2026 earnings call on Nov. 2.
"We recently secured our biggest education deal ever for Mac, with the Department of Education in the Philippines. They’re going to deploy 170,000 MacBook Neos to teachers and staff," he said.
"Opportunities like this bring more users into our ecosystem and help fuel growth across our business," he continued.
For his part, Education Secretary Sonny Angara praised the collaboration and said, "Investing in our teachers is investing in the future of our learners."
He added that this partnership is in line with the administration's priority on education by ensuring teachers are "equipped and future-ready."
This also falls under DepEd's Computerization Program, which aims to provide devices to K-12 public schools nationwide.
According to a PhilSTAR Tech report, recipients of the MacBook will also have access to Apple Education Community, which teaches educators about using the company's devices. Over 70 custom lesson plans have already been created by Filipino educators and published on the platform.
In 2021, DepEd was embroiled in controversy over the P2.4 billion procurement of overpriced and underpowered Intel Celeron laptops for over 39,000 public school teachers.
Released in March 2026, MacBook Neo is Apple's cheapest laptop yet, with prices starting at P49,990 for the 256GB version.
It's powered by an A18 Pro chip, the same processor as the iPhone 16 Pro, and is capable of everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming content, and editing photos. It also supports Apple Intelligence, which makes it capable of AI tasks.
The device also boasts up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge, a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, and a 1080p FaceTime HD camera.
The entry-level laptop comes in four colors: Silver, Blush, Citrus, and Indigo.