New York- The CEO of AppleTim Cook, promised a “big week” of product announcements that has seen the unveiling of a new iPhone budget range, an entry-level Macbook, updated iPad Air models, renewed monitors and higher-end chipsets. All of this could be seen at the media events held on Wednesday in New York, London and Shanghai.
The tech titan just saw its quarterly profits hit a new record, thanks to strong sales of its iPhone 17 models, even though the company has yet to fulfill its 2024 promise to improve its Siri assistant with Artificial intelligence (AI).
Perhaps to take advantage of this sales momentum, Apple began the week by announcing the latest addition to its most affordable phone range, the iPhone 17e, and its announcement frenzy with the introduction of the Macbook Neo, an entry-level laptop that represents the company’s most aggressive attempt to enter the affordable laptop market.
Everything announced will be available for pre-order starting Wednesday. So if you need more information before you start shopping, here are the details:
iPhone 17e
This updated version of the iPhone, aimed at buyers on a budget, will include the same A19 chip as the base iPhone 17 and offer twice the standard storage space (256 GB) than the previous 16e model (128 GB).
The camera has been upgraded to a 48-megapixel system and its C1X modem promises faster cellular speeds.
As for the screen, the 17e’s is slightly smaller than the base 17 model, has a slightly lower refresh rate and may be a little dimmer to the human eye, but it still has the super retina display used in the rest of the range and Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2 system to protect it from scratches.
1 / 14 | A new ultra-thin model: this is what Apple’s new iPhone 17 looks like. Apple introduced its next generation of iPhones that includes a new ultra-thin model and a slight price increase for one of its high-end models. – Godofredo A. Vásquez
Apple also included MagSafe with Qi2 support for those looking for a more convenient wireless charging experience.
Starting at $599, the iPhone 17e is $200 cheaper than the base iPhone 17. Colors include black, white and light pink.
iPad Air M4
The refreshed mid-range iPad runs on the slightly older M4 chip – for reference, the high-end iPad Pro model uses the newer M5 chip. But it’s still powerful enough to manage your streaming, web browsing, email, and video editing habits. Mobile versions of the Air also include the updated C1X modem for faster connections.
No one would say that there is a shortage of RAM in the world with what Apple has announced this week. The company has increased the Air’s RAM from 8GB to 12GB without raising the price.
The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599, while the 13-inch version starts at $799, each with 128GB of storage.
Chip and MacBook Updates
Apple’s Pro range of high-end laptops has received new chip updates (M5 Pro and M5 Max), offering greater performance in heavy use and battery efficiency. But the new upgrades also come with a higher price.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chipset comes with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It is priced at $2,199, which is a $200 increase over the base M4 Pro in 2024. For an additional cost, you have the option to upgrade to a higher level of the M5 Pro or jump to the M5 Max chip. You can also increase the system RAM up to 48 GB.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro already comes standard with the highest-tier M5 Pro chipset, and starts with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Its price is $2,699, $200 more than the previous model. There is an option to upgrade it to the M5 Max chipset and increase the RAM.
In both models, the screen has not changed, nor has the front camera. But Apple has updated its networking capabilities to support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
The brand new entry-level MacBook Neo made its debut at Wednesday’s in-person event. This new 13-inch laptop comes equipped with Apple’s A18 Pro chip (also found in the iPhone 16 Pro), 256GB of storage, two USB-C ports but only 8GB of RAM. The upgraded 512GB model includes a TouchID sensor.
1 / 6 | This is the new iPhone 16. Yesterday, Apple announced its new line of iPhone 16, its first phones “designed from the ground up with Apple Intelligence” in mind, the company’s artificial intelligence (AI). – Juliana Yamada
The 256GB model is available for $599, while the upgraded model is available for $699. Students and other educators can reserve either model for a $100 discount.
A refreshed MacBook Air has also been announced. This more affordable machine has been updated with the company’s entry-level M5 chip. Base storage has also doubled, going from 256GB to 512GB. It still has 16GB of RAM, but now features the same connectivity improvements as the Pro models.
Due to the updates, the price of the 13-inch Air is $1,099, $100 more than the Air M4 model. The 15-inch Air starts at $1,299.
Studio Display and Studio Display XDR Monitors
Apple’s deep cut for the week is the announcement of its two 5K display monitors, the 27-inch Studio Display and the Studio Display XDR.
Both 27-inch monitors have 5,120 x 2,880 resolutions, integrated 12 MP Center Stage cameras, six-speaker audio systems, two Thunderbolt 5 ports, and two USB-C ports.
The new, more expensive XDR model goes a little further with mini-LED backlighting, better contrast and dimming zones, and an improved 120Hz refresh rate (the standard edition is limited to 60Hz), an upgrade that should please Apple gamers and HDR lovers.