Over the past several weeks, you’ve probably heard the term “binned” when referring to the chips inside the iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo. But what does it mean? In simple terms, “binning” is the process of taking one whole group of something and separating it out by characteristics to be sold or used differently.

Its origins trace back to agriculture, where a single crop yield would be separated into bins. The best pieces would be ideal for individual sale, and go in a bin destined for the market. Pieces that were not as visually appealing would go in a bin that would sell in bulk at a discount, for proce