DepEd secures 172,000 MacBooks, Apple's 'biggest education deal' for laptops

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The Department of Education (DepEd) has secured over 172,000 units of Apple's MacBook Neo laptops for Filipino teachers and staff, a landmark procurement which the global tech giant reportedly acknowledged as its "biggest education deal ever" for its MacBook line.

In a statement on Tuesday, DepEd called the deal a milestone achievement that would further the country's digital education roadmap. The competitive bidding for its computerization project has been completed, the DepEd said, with 172,654 Apple MacBook Neo laptops secured for public schools.

"For the longest time, our teachers have carried the heavy personal burden of buying their own laptops or maintaining outdated equipment just to keep up with lesson plans. Under the vision of President Marcos, we are changing the narrative," DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement.

"We welcome Apple's participation in this procurement to bring MacBook Neo to our teachers. It isn't just about handing out world-class hardware with five-year warranties; it's about giving our educators the best tools, backed by robust training so they can focus on what matters most: teaching our children," he added.

Apple Chief Executive Officer John Ternus also spoke about the deal during Apple's Financial Results Conference Call for 4th Quarter 2026.

Ternus said he was excited for the opportunities that Apple had ahead of it, including services to fields such as health and education. He cited the deal with the DepEd.

"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," Tetanus said, as quoted from a DepEd statement.

Under the DepEd's Computerization Program, the agency has so far awarded contracts for 231,725 laptops for teachers nationwide, of which 169,008 are MacBook Neo units and 62,717 are Windows-based units.

This new batch of 172,654 MacBook Neo laptops will be deployed from November 2026 to March 2027, which will also have unboxing sessions. Each MacBook Neo unit was procured at P43,000, which is P6,900 below the current suggested retail price in the Philippines.

DepEd said this included a five-year warranty, which is a first for the agency's laptop procurement, as it typically offers a one-year warranty.

This also includes built-in productivity tools, delivery and logistics, and professional development for recipients.

The agency will also collaborate with Apple to launch GuroXL, a teaching framework designed to integrate the technology into classroom learning.

The Palace lauded this agreement with Apple during a press conference on Tuesday.

"Sa kabuuan, layunin ang programang ito na palakasin ang digital skills ng mga guro, mapagaan ang kanilang trabaho at maisulong ang mas makabago at teknolohiyang nakabatay sa edukasyon sa mga pampublikong paaralan," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

(As a whole, this program aims to strengthen teachers' digital skills, lighten their load, and to advance new technology for education in public schools.)