Apple has unveiled a range of new products this month, including an affordable MacBook and a new iPhone model.
The tech giant kicked off its announcements on March 2 with the introduction of the iPhone 17e and the M4 iPad Air. The following day, Apple showcased the M5 MacBook Air, updated MacBook Pro models, and the new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, along with the Studio Display and Studio Display XDR. On March 4, Apple announced the affordable MacBook Neo, designed for budget-conscious consumers.
A week and a half later, Apple made a surprise announcement with the launch of the AirPods Max 2, the highly anticipated successor to its flagship headphones released in 2020.
To help you catch up on the new releases, we’ve rounded up all the key announcements in one place.
iPhone 17e
The latest budget-friendly addition to Apple’s lineup, the iPhone 17e, is priced at $599 and will be available from March 11. The device is powered by the A19 chip, which is also utilized in the base iPhone 17, and offers a base storage option of 256 GB—double that of the iPhone 16e’s entry-level model.
Notably, the iPhone 17e introduces MagSafe and Qi2 technology, enabling wireless charging of up to 15W. In terms of photography, it retains the 48-megapixel camera featured in the iPhone 16e.
Additionally, the device is equipped with C1X, Apple’s latest-generation cellular modem, claiming speeds twice as fast as the previous model and reducing energy consumption by 30% compared to the C1 modem in the iPhone 16 Pro. This innovation translates to improved battery endurance.
Available in black, white, and a new soft pink hue, the iPhone 17e is positioned to attract a wide range of consumers.
iPad Air M4
Apple’s new iPad Air is now powered by the M4 chip, offering 30% more speed than its M3 predecessor and 2.3 times the performance of the M1 version. Retaining the same retail price of $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch variant, educational customers can benefit from a $50 discount.
Enhanced by an updated neural engine and additional memory, the iPad Air is now better equipped for AI applications. With an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, it serves as a capable platform for gaming and photo editing, featuring 12GB of unified memory—an increase of 50% over the previous model—and a memory bandwidth of 120GB/s. According to Apple, these enhancements enable it to run AI models faster than ever before.
The iPad Air is available in four colors: blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, with storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB.
MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max
In conjunction with the launch of new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, Apple revealed updated MacBook Pro models, tailored to enhance performance on demanding AI tasks. These refreshed models reportedly process AI functionalities up to four times quicker than their M4 counterparts.
The M5 Pro and M5 Max chips boast improved capabilities, exhibiting up to four times faster processing for large language model prompts and up to eight times quicker AI image generation than the prior generation.
With read/write speeds doubling compared to the last generation, the MacBook Pro features a base storage capacity of 1TB for the M5 Pro model and 2TB for the M5 Max. Battery life extends to approximately 24 hours, and users can expect a 50% charge in just 30 minutes when using a 96W or higher USB-C adapter. The machines support Thunderbolt 5 and feature a sophisticated six-speaker sound system.
The 14-inch model with the M5 Pro chip begins at $2,199, while the 16-inch variant starts at $2,699. The M5 Max models begin at $3,599 for the 14-inch and $3,899 for the 16-inch, with both offering black or silver color options.
M5 MacBook Air
The newly launched MacBook Air is also engineered for optimal AI task performance. Offering 18 hours of battery life, it surpasses the 2020 Intel-based MacBook models by six hours. It includes a 12 MP Center Stage camera, a premium three-microphone array, and audio support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. Connectivity options include two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a MagSafe charging port, and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
Starting at $1,099 for the 13-inch variant and $1,299 for the 15-inch model, the MacBook Air is now offered with 512GB of storage as standard, doubling the entry capacity of previous models.
MacBook Neo
Apple introduced a budget-friendly laptop, the MacBook Neo, targeting students and users with lighter computing needs. Priced at $599, it competes against Google’s Chromebook models.
This 13-inch laptop is available in four colors: silver, blush, citrus, and indigo. The base version features 256GB of storage, while a $699 model offers 512GB and includes Touch ID functionality.
The MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip, which is found in the iPhone 16 Pro, distinguishing it from the more advanced M5 chip featured in the latest MacBook Air. It includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera and dual microphones, along with speakers that support Spatial Audio. The battery lasts up to 16 hours on a single charge via its two USB-C ports.
With a five-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, the MacBook Neo is capable of handling gaming and on-device AI tasks similarly to recent iPhone models. Furthermore, it has been noted as the most repairable MacBook in about 14 years, according to a teardown analysis by iFixit.
AirPods Max 2
Apple has launched the AirPods Max 2, priced at $549, featuring advancements like active noise cancellation, Apple’s audio-focused H2 chip, live translation support, and superior sound quality. These headphones are available in multiple colors, including midnight, starlight, orange, purple, and blue.
The AirPods Max 2 are reported to have noise cancellation capabilities that are 1.5 times more effective than the previous generation. The Adaptive Audio function dynamically adjusts noise cancellation and transparency levels based on environmental conditions, enhancing user experience.
Additionally, the new headphones offer an improved Transparency mode, enabled by a refined digital signal-processing algorithm tailored for the H2 chip alongside an enhanced microphone array. This feature facilitates heightened awareness of surroundings and nearby conversations.
Notably, the headphones support Camera Remote, allowing users to control the camera shutter of their iPhone or iPad from a distance, and include a Loud Sound Reduction capability that mitigates exposure to abrupt loud noises while maintaining sound fidelity.
Studio Display and Studio Display XDR
Apple has launched the $1,599 Studio Display and the $3,299 Studio Display XDR, both equipped with enhanced cameras and improved connectivity options. The displays feature a 12 MP Center Stage camera for superior image quality and support for Desk View, which allows users to show both their face and an overhead view of their workspace simultaneously.
Both models include Thunderbolt 5 ports, enabling users to connect multiple accessories and daisy-chain up to four displays, aided by a Thunderbolt 5 Pro cable that comes with the package.
The Studio Display boasts a 5K Retina screen featuring over 14 million pixels, 600 nits of brightness, and compatibility with the P3 wide-gamut color standard, vastly extending the visible color spectrum beyond traditional sRGB standards.
In contrast, the Studio Display XDR offers a 5K Retina XDR display with a resolution of 5120 x 2880. Enhanced by mini-LED backlighting and over 2,000 local dimming zones, this model achieves brightness levels of up to 1,000 nits for SDR and 2,000 nits for HDR, boasting a remarkable 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and supporting the Adobe RGB color standard.
M5 Pro and M5 Max chips
The new M5 chips are built around Apple’s advanced Fusion Architecture, designed to enhance CPU performance, feature a scalable GPU, and provide robust capabilities like Media Engine, unified memory control, and Thunderbolt 5 technology.
Both the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are equipped with an 18-core CPU, an upgrade from the previous M4 generation’s 14-core Pro and 16-core Max configurations. The new CPU structure features six “super cores,” Apple’s most powerful cores, along with 12 additional performance cores, improving overall performance by up to 30% for pro-level tasks.
The M5 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory, up from 48GB in its predecessor, with a memory bandwidth of 307GB/s. The M5 Max continues to allow up to 128GB of RAM but enhances its bandwidth to 614GB/s.
New Accessories
In addition to its new products, Apple has rolled out fresh color options for its iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and Crossbody Strap. The silicone case for the iPhone 17 now boasts three new colors: Bright Guava, Vanilla, and Electric Lavender. Both Bright Guava and Vanilla are also available for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models.
The Apple Watch Sport Band is now available in Bright Guava, Clementine, and Soft Pink, while the Sport Loop introduces Bright Guava, Blue Mist, and Cantaloupe to its array.
The popular Crossbody Strap can now be purchased in Bright Guava and Soft Pink colors.