MacRumors

The first reviews of the iPhone 17e were published today by selected publications and YouTube channels, ahead of the device launching on Wednesday.

iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gained Apple's A19 chip, MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories, and Apple's second-generation C1X cellular modem. In the U.S., the iPhone 17e starts at the same $599 as the iPhone 16e did, but it has a doubled 256GB of base storage.

The Verge's Allison Johnson recommended that customers purchase the standard iPhone 17 for an extra $200 over the iPhone 17e, if they can afford to. The standard iPhone 17 has been very popular, and it offers some features the iPhone 17e lacks, including a 120Hz ProMotion display, a Dynamic Island, and an extra Ultra Wide rear camera.

If you do opt for the iPhone 17e, though, MagSafe and the 256GB of base storage are the two key upgrades over the iPhone 16e.

CNN Underscored's Mike Andronico called MagSafe a "huge" addition:

While the iPhone 17e looks and feels just like last year's model, there's one huge change under the hood: MagSafe support. Apple's latest entry level phone works with the wide ecosystem of magnetic accessories out there, including MagSafe wallets, MagSafe battery packs and MagSafe charging stands. It's been so nice being able to plop my iPhone 17e on my Belkin Boost Charge stand while I'm at my desk and snap on my Baseus PicoGo battery pack when I'm on the go, two major conveniences I often have to give up when testing a cheaper phone. MagSafe allows for twice the wireless charging speed at 15W versus 7.5W, and while Google just joined the party with its similar PixelSnap tech, you won't find that feature on the new $500 Google Pixel 10a.

Google's budget Pixel 10a smartphone lacks an equivalent MagSafe feature.

iPhone 17e benchmarks already surfaced last week, revealing that the device's A19 chip is up to 15% faster than the iPhone 16e's A18 chip and unsurprisingly on par with the standard iPhone 17. In other words, performance is totally fine.

iPhone 17e features Apple's latest C1X modem for cellular connectivity. Apple says the C1X is up to twice as fast as the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e.

On AT&T's network in New Jersey, PCMag's Eric Zeman said the iPhone 17e achieved a peak download speed of 419 Mbps, but he did not test any other devices for comparison. In a study published in September, Ookla said the iPhone 16e achieved a median download speed of 169 Mbps on AT&T, so it seems like twice-as-fast 5G is roughly accurate.

CNET, Engadget, and WIRED also shared iPhone 17e reviews, among others.

Video Reviews

The first reviews of the iPad Air with the M4 chip have been shared by selected publications and YouTube channels, ahead of the device launching this Wednesday.

The new iPad Air features the M4 chip, 12GB of memory, the N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity, and Apple's C1X modem on cellular models. Everything else remains unchanged compared to last year's M3 model.

• M3 vs. M4 iPad Air Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared

Many of the reviews noted the small, iterative nature of the M4 ‌iPad Air‌ over last year's M3 model, with many features like the design, 60Hz Liquid Retina display, and Touch ID button lingering unchanged since 2020. Tom's Guide said:

I wouldn't go so far to say that the Air's design has calcified, but if you go back several generations, you'll see little has changed from year to year. The M4 Air has the same design as the Air Apple released back in 2020. To be sure, it's a great look — thin, light, and a nice slim bezel all the way around.

The main upgrade is the move to the M4 chip, which reviewers agreed is noticeably faster than last year's M3 model, even if it doesn't dramatically change what can be achieved with the device.

Now powered by an M4 chip, the iPad Air is modestly faster than last year's iPad Air M3. On our benchmark tests, it scored appreciably faster, both in single- and multicore, as well as in frame rate tests. The most notable difference you'll see is if you go back a couple of generations; the M4 iPad scored nearly two times higher than the M1 Air on our Geekbench test.

Mashable highlighted the new chip's better optimization for AI tasks:

I tried to test its AI capabilities using apps like Final Cut Pro's auto-captions, Voice Memo's transcription features, and CollaNote's AI image generation. Even with WiFi and cellular data turned off, these processes happened almost instantly, and without any big mistakes.

In CollaNote, the popular note-taking app, you can use the Magic Pen to circle a doodle and turn it into an actual graphic. Record a note or interview with Voice Memos, and you'll get an accurate transcription at the push of a button. In Pixelmator, you can upscale images and remove backgrounds from photos practically instantly.

I also feel like I'm barely scratching the surface of what you can do with the iPad Air's Neural Engine, particularly when it comes to utilizing Apple Shortcuts and open-source models.

Gizmodo noted that while the new ‌iPad Air‌ benefits from the M4 chip, it still falls short of the version of the M4 used in other devices like the MacBook Air:

The iPad Air isn't powered by the same M4 chip in the M4 MacBook Air. The tablet chip is a binned version, meaning it contains fewer cores than the maxed-out 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. Apple configured the M4 iPad Air version with an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU. In practice, you won't see quite the same performance as you would on the M4 MacBook Air. It's also slower for more graphically demanding tasks, like 3D modeling.

What may be helping the M4 iPad Air get a leg up is the upgrade to 12GB of unified memory. That's 4GB more than the M3 iPad Air. This will necessarily increase speeds for when you have multiple apps open at once. It will also boost overall performance.

Reviewers also looked at the new connectivity chips in the device, noting solid performance with no perceptible drawbacks to moving to Apple's custom hardware. Engadget writes:

The other main change is Apple's in-house networking chips are on board here. The N1 covers Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread, while the C1X handles cellular connectivity if you buy a 5G-capable model. Again, this doesn't change the experience of using the iPad Air in any major way, but having the newest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth protocols on board is good for future usage, regardless of who built the chip. In my testing, the C1X on Verizon's 5G network was extremely fast around the suburbs of Boston and didn't seem any slower (or any faster) than other devices I have running on the same carrier. That's fine, as other Apple devices I've tried with the C1X (like the iPad Pro) are solid and reliable, which is the most important thing.

Video Reviews

Last month, Anker debuted its new Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station with a launch discount on Amazon. This deal has gotten even better today, with the accessory marked down to $115.99, down from $149.99, and no need for a coupon.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station features Qi2.2 support, which lets a compatible MagSafe ‌iPhone‌ charge at up to 25W. It's the same speed as Apple's ‌MagSafe‌ charger, and it is 10W faster than the standard Qi2 ‌MagSafe‌ chargers. You can also simultaneously charge an Apple Watch and AirPods with the device.

There are plenty of other Anker discounts happening on Amazon this week, including the Prime 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock back at its all-time low price of $339.99, down from $399.99. Anker's popular 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Charging Cube is also down to a new all-time low price of $83.68 with an on-page coupon, down from $129.99.

Wall Chargers

• Nano USB-C Wall Charger - $29.99, down from $39.99
• 6-in-1 USB-C Power Strip - $79.99, down from $109.99
• 140W 4-Port GaN USB-C Charger - $64.99, down from $99.99
• 14-in-1 Prime Thunderbolt 5 Dock - $339.99, down from $399.99

Wireless Chargers

• Qi2 MagSafe-Compatible Wireless Charger 2-Pack - $25.97, down from $39.99
• 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible UFO Charger - $69.99, down from $89.99
• 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Charging Station - $85.49, down from $109.99
• 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Foldable Charging Station - $85.99, down from $109.99
• 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Charging Cube - $83.68 with on-page coupon, down from $129.99
• 3-in-1 Prime Wireless Charging Station (NEW) - $115.99, down from $149.99
• Prime MagSafe-Compatible 3-in-1 Charging Station - $159.99, down from $229.99

Portable Chargers

• MagGo Power Bank 10,000 mAh - $63.99, down from $79.99
• Prime Power Bank 20,100 mAh - $149.99, down from $179.99
• SOLIX C300 Power Station with Lantern - $169.99, down from $249.00
• Prime Power Bank 26,250 mAh - $171.48, down from $229.99
• SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $428.99, down from $799.00
• SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $799.99, down from $1,499.00

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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CBS Sunday Morning correspondent David Pogue interviewed Apple's CEO Tim Cook ahead of the company's 50th anniversary on April 1, 2026.

In the interview, Cook revealed the two things that are "essential" to Apple: people and culture.

"Yes, we have a lot of intellectual property and so forth, and that is important, but it's people that create that intellectual property," said Cook. "It's the culture that creates the innovation with the intellectual property."

"I think it's very difficult to replicate culture," added Cook. "It takes a long time, because you have to hire the right people. And then those people have to hire the right people, and you have to build a complete organization."

That culture then has to be sustained as life changes and technology evolves, he said.

Cook concluded that Apple is a "party of one."

"I think Apple is such a unique place, it's not possible to replicate it," he said. "I know a lot of different companies, and I think Apple is just in a party of one."

Pogue is the author of the new book Apple: The First 50 Years, set to be released this Tuesday.

From the book's official description:

In time for Apple's 50th anniversary, CBS Sunday Morning correspondent David Pogue tells the iconic company's entire life story: how it was born, nearly died, was born again under Steve Jobs, and became, under CEO Tim Cook, the most valuable company in the world. The book features full-color photos, new facts that correct the record and illuminate its subversive culture, and fresh interviews with the legendary figures who shaped Apple into what it is today.

An excerpt from the book, focused on Steve Jobs and Apple's "Think Different" campaign, is available on the CBS News website.

Apple is planning to launch an all-new "MacBook Ultra" model this year, featuring an OLED display, touchscreen, and a higher price point, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

Gurman revealed the information in his latest "Power On" newsletter. While Apple has been widely expected to launch new M6-series MacBook Pro models with OLED displays, touchscreen functionality, and a new, thinner design in the fourth quarter of 2026 for some time, Gurman today turned that rumor on its head with the suggestion that this is an all-new kind of MacBook rather than a ‌MacBook Pro‌.

Instead of succeeding the newly announced M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, the "MacBook Ultra" will be a new, top-tier Apple laptop. Gurman added that the device is likely to sit above the current M5 MacBook Pros, rather than replace them, suggesting that they will remain on sale.

This would enable a markedly higher price point for the new machines. Gurman noted that when Apple brought OLED displays to the iPhone X in 2017 and the iPad Pro in 2024, it simultaneously raised price by around 20%. As a result, Gurman believes a similar price increase on account of the MacBook's first ever OLED display may be likely and help move the ‌MacBook Pro‌ further upmarket.

Gurman says that this fits into a broader trend at Apple, where the company is seeking to offer more models at more price points, such as the new MacBook Neo at an unprecedented $599 price point to rival low-cost Windows and Chromebook devices. The same is occurring at the high-end, with more premium options available than ever before.

That is set to continue this year with the first foldable ‌iPhone‌, featuring a ~$2,000 price tag, large inner display, and under-display sensors, and new AirPods priced above the current AirPods Pro at the top of the lineup with computer-vision cameras to feed Visual Intelligence data to Siri. Gurman even suggested that these products may be called the "iPhone Ultra" and "AirPods Ultra."

While the name "MacBook Ultra" is uncertain, Gurman is clearly no longer referring to the device as a ‌MacBook Pro‌, instead referring to it as "the touch-screen and OLED high-end MacBook." He cautioned that Apple "could keep the traditional ‌MacBook Pro‌ name," but a MacBook Ultra moniker would "more clearly signal their position at the top of the lineup." Gurman expects the device to launch around the end of the year.

Apple is hoping to 3D-print aluminum device enclosures in the future, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman revealed that Apple is pushing to move to 3D-printed aluminum enclosures for for future devices. The MacBook Neo relies on a new aluminum manufacturing process that saves as much metal as possible to drive down costs and speed up production.

3D-printing aluminum enclosures would similarly enable Apple to save material and increase efficiency. The process is likely to come to the Apple Watch first, and potentially the iPhone at a later date.

The process is a follow-up to Apple's 3D-printed titanium technique, which debuted with the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Apple's manufacturing design and operations departments are collaborating on the project.

Gurman added suggested that Apple may expand its new "Neo" branding to the Apple Watch SE in the future, making it the "Apple Watch Neo."

Apple's second-generation MacBook Neo will launch in 2027 and could feature a touchscreen, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple this week announced the ‌MacBook Neo‌, an all-new entry-level Apple laptop that starts at $599, with education pricing at $499. The ‌‌MacBook Neo‌‌ is designed to compete with lower-cost Windows laptops and Chromebooks, while expanding the Mac lineup with a substantially more affordable option.

Unlike every other Apple silicon Mac, the ‌‌MacBook Neo‌‌ is powered by the A18 Pro chip originally developed for the iPhone 16 Pro. The machine features a colorful rounded design, a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with uniform iPad-style bezels rather than a notch, a color-matched Magic Keyboard, a mechanical trackpad, two USB-C ports, 8GB of memory, a headphone jack, a 1080p camera, dual mics, dual speakers with Spatial Audio, and a 16-hour battery life.

In a report shared last year, Apple analyst ‌Ming-Chi Kuo‌ correctly said that the ‌MacBook Neo‌ would enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2025, but would not feature a touchscreen. In the same report, he revealed some insights into the second-generation version of the device.

Crucially, Kuo said that the second-generation ‌MacBook Neo‌ may feature a touchscreen. Apple's first touchscreen Mac is expected to launch later this year in the form of a new, high-end MacBook Pro with an OLED display and a new design.

The device is specifically said to incorporate a touch panel that uses on-cell touch technology. On-cell touch technology integrates the touch sensors directly into the display panel's top layer (the "cell") rather than requiring a separate, dedicated touch layer, to reduce thickness.

Following the launch of this device and the adoption of touch support in macOS 27, it would make sense for other MacBooks with the feature to follow. Many other laptops from HP, Lenovo, Acer, and ASUS that now rival the ‌MacBook Neo‌ already feature touchscreens.

As of September 2025, specifications for the second-generation ‌MacBook Neo‌ were still under discussion, according to Kuo. A faster chip such as the A19 Pro with 12GB of memory is highly likely.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today suggested that Apple may expand "Neo" branding to other low-cost devices such as the Apple Watch SE, making it the "Apple Watch Neo."

Amazon this weekend has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. We first started tracking the return of these deals last month, but this sale has now expanded with many more options on both 42mm and 46mm GPS models.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find four of the 42mm GPS models on sale at this all-time low price, and four of the 46mm GPS models on sale as well.

If you're shopping for cellular models, you can find record low prices on multiple models this week on Amazon. The 42mm cellular Apple Watch Series 11 has hit $399.00, down from $499.00, and the 46mm cellular model has hit $429.00, down from $529.00.

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

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Apple's upcoming "HomePad" will offer a magnetic snap-to-wall feature and more, according to the leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami."

In a new post on X, Kosutami said that one of the HomePad prototypes features a MagSafe-like snap-to-wall capability, along with doorbell integration. It is said to be heavily reliant on Apple Intelligence. They apparently saw this prototype in person.

Apple has reportedly been working on the device for several years, with the aim for it to serve as a centralized location for controlling smart home products, listening to music and podcasts, making video calls, and getting glanceable information like the weather and calendar events. The device is expected to have a 7-inch square display and a front-facing camera.

Kosutami told MacRumors that while the name "HomePad" is being used internally, it is not clear if that is the product name that will actually be used upon launch.

Earlier this week, the leaker said that the HomePad is now set to arrive in the fall of 2026. The fall runs from September to December, and usually coincides with Apple's busiest release period of the year.

The device was originally rumored to launch in early 2025, but due to delays with ‌Apple Intelligence‌, its apparent release date moved to early 2026, and now to the fall. The rumored release timing means the HomePad could arrive alongside products like the iPhone 18 Pro in September or redesigned MacBook Pro models in October.

Apple is planning more Mac refreshes for the rest of the year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman writes.

In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that, following the introduction of the M5 MacBook Air, M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro, and ‌MacBook Pro‌, Apple is preparing for further Mac refreshes to complete the 2026 lineup.

These include an upgraded Mac Studio, which Gurman expects to arrive in the middle of 2026, followed by new iMac and Mac mini models. While the new ‌Mac Studio‌ and ‌Mac mini‌ "will look identical to the current iterations," the 2026 ‌iMac‌ will feature a "refreshed color palette."

A new, high-end MacBook, potentially called the "MacBook Ultra," is expected to arrive around the end of the year. It will feature the Mac's first touchscreen and an OLED display.

Although Gurman did not mention chips, the new ‌Mac Studio‌ is likely to feature the M5 Max chip and either an M4 or M5 Ultra chip, the ‌Mac mini‌ will probably offer M5 and M5 Pro variants, and the ‌iMac‌ is almost certain to get the M5 chip.

Apple is planning to launch at least three new "Ultra"-class devices this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Writing in this weekend's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that while the low-end of Apple's product lineups are now well-served by the Apple Watch SE, iPad 11, and MacBook Neo, there is "a more significant shift underway" toward higher-end, "Ultra" devices. Apple is planning to launch at least three such devices this year:

• iPhone Ultra: With a ~$2,000 price tag, large inner display, and under-display sensors, the first foldable iPhone will "cast a shadow over the rest of the lineup."
• AirPods Ultra: Priced above the current AirPods Pro at the top of the lineup, the new AirPods will feature computer-vision cameras to feed Visual Intelligence data to Siri.
• MacBook Ultra: With a touch-enabled OLED display that will raise the overall price by up to 20%, the new machine will likely sit above the current M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, rather than replace them.

Gurman said that Apple "may not use the Ultra branding for all of them," despite the name's increasing prevalence across Apple's product lines. Gurman noted that Apple did not adopt the Ultra name for the new Studio Display XDR. Apple already offers M-series Ultra chips, the Apple Watch Ultra, and CarPlay Ultra.

Further in the future, Gurman expects other product lines to expand into this "superpremium tier," including the ‌iPad‌ and Mac. Such devices could include a high-end ‌iPad‌ with a foldable OLED display and a more powerful iMac with a larger display.

Apple's upcoming 2026 iMac will be available in a refreshed selection of colors, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the next ‌iMac‌ will feature a new selection of colors. This could be the first true refresh of the device's color options in five years.

The ‌iMac‌ redesign introduced in 2021 uses a distinctive two-tone color design, where the color appears differently on the front and back of the machine. The rear aluminum enclosure and stand use a bold, saturated version of the chosen color, making the machine visually striking when seen from behind. By contrast, the front chin below the display features a much lighter, pastel version of the same color, intended to reduce distraction while using the screen. The display bezel itself remains white on all models.

The M1 ‌iMac‌ was available in seven colors: Blue, Green, Pink, Yellow, Orange, Purple, and Silver. These were unchanged with the M3 version of the device in 2023.

In 2024, Apple refreshed the look of the colors slightly. While the same overall selection of colors remained the same, the tones shifted slightly, with a more saturated blue, a brighter green, a more vivid pink, a warmer yellow, a richer orange, and a darker purple.

Gurman believes that the new ‌iMac‌ will arrive after refreshed Mac Studio models, which are expected around the middle of 2026.

Apple on Friday added three new executive profiles to its leadership page for Jennifer Newstead, Molly Anderson, and Steve Lemay.

• Jennifer Newstead, Senior Vice President and General Counsel: Newstead is Apple's top lawyer, overseeing all legal matters. She assumed the position on March 1, succeeding Katherine Adams, who had held the position since 2017. Prior to joining Apple, Newstead served as Meta's chief legal officer for six years.
• Molly Anderson, Vice President of Industrial Design: Anderson and her team are responsible for the design of all Apple products, accessories, and their packaging. Anderson joined Apple in 2014, and she has led the Industrial Design team since 2024, although it is unclear when she officially became a VP. Anderson succeeds Jony Ive and Evans Hankey, among others.
• Steve Lemay, Vice President of Human Interface Design: Lemay joined Apple in 1999, and he now leads the team responsible for software design across Apple's platforms. Lemay succeeded Alan Dye, who left Apple at the end of last year to lead design for Meta's Reality Labs division.

Apple also updated Eddy Cue's title to Senior Vice President of Services and Health on the page, and he received a new headshot alongside this change. Cue gained oversight of Apple's health and fitness teams at some point after Jeff Williams retired last year. Cue is an Apple veteran, having joined the company in 1989.

Apple is promoting the MacBook Neo with a series of intentionally strange TikTok videos that are successfully capturing Gen Z's attention.

Since Thursday, Apple has been posting the videos in sets of three, with each video corresponding to one of the MacBook Neo's Blush, Citrus, and Indigo color options. The laptop also comes in Silver, so there may be a final set of videos tomorrow.

Some of the videos show a lemon receiving a FaceTime call from a lime, the Mac's Finder app icon blushing, and iconic footage from the original Macintosh's introduction in 1984. Other videos are more abstract, with one showing citrus fruit in fizzy water and another showing a pink-hued sunrise, set to the Mac's startup chime.

@apple

hello?

♬ original sound - apple

@apple
@malatalia
♬ original sound - apple

Many comments on the videos have expressed confusion, and some people have asked if Apple's TikTok account has been hacked. Others have caught on to and applauded Apple's absurdist marketing, and the fact that it is allowing comments on these videos to begin with, which is something the company previously shied away from.

Apple also showed off a mini 3D figure modeled after the Finder app icon during a so-called "Matcha Break with MacBook Neo" live stream on TikTok on Wednesday, according to the well-known Apple fan account "Basic Apple Guy."

The tiny Finder "mascot" appeared in an image that Apple posted on TikTok as well.

The figure has been dubbed "Little Finder Guy" or "Lil' Finder Guy" on social media.

With the MacBook Neo priced as low as $499 in the U.S., it is likely to appeal to young people, and Apple's marketing strategy clearly reflects that.

It's Apple pre-order week, and we're already tracking solid discounts across every new product that was announced this week. This includes free Best Buy gift cards when ordering the new MacBook Neo, Air, and Pro, plus the first cash discounts on M4 iPad Air on Amazon.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Pre-Order Discounts

• What's the deal? Save on pre-orders for iPhone 17e, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, MacBook Neo, and iPad Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon, Best Buy, and more
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Pre-orders are live on all of Apple's newest products, including the MacBook Neo, M5 MacBook Air, M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro, iPhone 17e, and M4 iPad Air. You'll find free gift cards when pre-ordering select products at Best Buy, while Amazon has straight cash discounts on numerous M4 iPad Air tablets.

AirPods

• What's the deal? Take $60 off AirPods 4 with ANC
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week is back with a notable discount on the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, available for $119.00, down from $179.00.

Apple Watch Series 11

• What's the deal? Take $100 off Apple Watch Series 11
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. We first started tracking the return of these deals about a week ago, but this sale has now expanded with many more options on both 42mm and 46mm GPS models.

AirTag

• What's the deal? Take $35 off AirTag gen 1
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Apple's first-generation AirTag 4-Pack has dropped to $64.00 this week on Amazon, down from the original price of $99.00. Free shipping options have a delivery estimate around March 11, while Prime members should be able to get it delivered a few days sooner.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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What a week for Apple news! Across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week, Apple unveiled a total of seven new products, including low-cost iPhone and MacBook options, new displays, and refreshes for the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iPad Air.

Check out our recap with links to all of our coverage from the three days, and read on below for details on each of the new products!

Top Stories

Apple Announces $599 'MacBook Neo' With A18 Pro Chip

Apple's budget MacBook is finally here, with Apple itself leaking the computer's "MacBook Neo" name a day ahead of the official announcement.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is the first consumer Mac to be powered by an iPhone chip: the A18 Pro that debuted in 2024's iPhone 16 Pro models. Apple says it is up to 50% faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5, up to 3× faster for on-device AI workloads, and up to 2× faster for tasks like photo editing.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ comes in four fun colors and features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2408-by-1506 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and an anti-reflective coating. The display does not have a notch, instead featuring uniform, iPad-style bezels.

The $599 price tag does result in some compromises compared to more expensive Mac laptops, but the MacBook Neo is likely to be a hit with students, those new to Mac, and others shopping on a budget who are just looking for basic capabilities.

Apple Announces iPhone 17e With A19 Chip, MagSafe, and More

Apple this week announced the iPhone 17e, featuring the A19 chip, MagSafe connectivity, faster charging, and more.

The ‌iPhone 17e‌ contains the A19 chip introduced in iPhone 17, featuring a 6-core CPU and a 4-core GPU that make it up to 2× faster than the iPhone 11 that many prospective buyers may be upgrading from. The new 16-core Neural Engine is optimized for large generative models, and the ‌iPhone 17e‌ contains Apple's latest-generation C1X modem from the iPhone Air, delivering up to 2× faster cellular performance than the ‌iPhone‌ 16e.

The iPhone 17e starts at $599 and comes in black, white, and a new soft pink color.

Apple Unveils MacBook Pro Featuring M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips With New Fusion Architecture

Turning back to the Mac side of things, this week saw Apple announce new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, both built on a new Fusion Architecture that bonds two third-generation 3nm dies into a single chip using advanced packaging.

The Fusion Architecture is a first for Apple silicon, since previous chips used a single-die design. The two bonded dies house the CPU, GPU, Media Engine, Neural Engine, unified memory controller, and Thunderbolt 5 capabilities together.

The new MacBook Pro models also get memory and storage improvements, Apple's N1 networking chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support, and more.

Apple Introduces All-New Studio Display XDR: 120Hz, Mini-LED, and More

Alongside the new Mac laptops, Apple introduced not just one but two new external displays: a minor revision of the Studio Display and a higher-end Studio Display XDR that replaces the Pro Display XDR.

Both new displays measure in at 27 inches and 5K resolution, but the Studio Display XDR features mini-LED backlighting with 120Hz refresh rate and Adaptive Sync, among other upgrades.

The Studio Display is priced starting at $1,599, while the Studio Display XDR starts at $3,299.

Apple Unveils iPad Air With M4 Chip, Increased RAM, Wi-Fi 7, and More

Apple's tablet lineup also got an update this week thanks to a new iPad Air, with key upgrades including Apple's M4 chip for faster performance, an increased 12GB of RAM, Apple's N1 wireless networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and Apple's custom C1X modem in cellular models.

The new iPad Air has the same overall design as the previous-generation model, which was equipped with the M3 chip, 8GB of RAM, and Wi-Fi 6E support.

The new iPad Air is available in the same blue, purple, starlight, and space gray colors as the previous generation, and it still starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model.

Apple Announces MacBook Air With M5 Chip and 512GB Base Storage

Last but not least is the MacBook Air, which was refreshed this week with the M5 chip and a higher base SSD capacity.

The M5 chip in the ‌MacBook Air‌ features a 10-core CPU, with what Apple calls the world's fastest CPU cores. It offers configurations with up to 10 GPU cores with Neural Accelerators in each core, delivering up to 4× faster performance for AI tasks than the ‌MacBook Air‌ with the M4 chip.

Starting prices for the MacBook Air‌ have increased by $100 to $1,099 for the 13-inch model and $1,299 for the 15-inch model, but that also gets you double the amount of base storage at 512GB as the previous generation. The SSD also has 2× faster read and write performance compared to the previous generation.

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The first benchmarks for the iPhone 17e surfaced in the Geekbench 6 database today, offering a closer look at the A19 chip's performance.

For multi-core CPU performance, the highest score the iPhone 17e achieved so far is 9,241. As expected, this is nearly identical to the standard iPhone 17 model with the A19 chip, which has an average multi-core score of 9,249.

There is one tiny catch, as the iPhone 17e has a 4-core GPU, whereas the iPhone 17 has a 5-core GPU. With one fewer GPU core, the iPhone 17e obviously has slightly lower graphics performance, with the device achieving Metal scores of around 31,000 to 31,500 in early Geekbench results, compared to around 37,000 for the iPhone 17.

In our view, most customers are unlikely to notice a significant difference in graphics performance between the iPhone 17e and iPhone 17.

The previous-generation iPhone 16e with an A18 chip also has a 4-core GPU.

The table below provides a comparison of multi-core CPU scores for some iPhones.

iPhone Model	Multi-Core CPU Score
iPhone 17 Pro (A19 Pro)	9,805
iPhone 17 (A19)	9,249
iPhone 17e (A19)	9,241
iPhone 16 Pro (A18 Pro)	8,625
iPhone 16e (A18)	7,977
iPhone 15 Pro (A17 Pro)	7,199

iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gains Apple's A19 chip, MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories, Apple's second-generation C1X modem for faster 5G, and a doubled 256GB of base storage. In the U.S., the iPhone 17e starts at $599, just like the iPhone 16e did.

iPhone 17e pre-orders began March 4, and the device launches March 11.

While the MacBook Neo starts at just $599, or an even lower $499 for college students, Apple has insisted that it did not make any design compromises.

"It's undeniably a MacBook, we're certainly not making any compromises on the design and that's really important," said Apple's vice president of industrial design Molly Anderson, in an interview with architecture and design publication Dezeen.

Anderson added that "it was important" for the MacBook Neo "to be quintessentially a MacBook."

Chiefly, the MacBook Neo is made from aluminum, not plastic.

"It wasn't just a redesign, it was starting from the beginning, and we're not using cheaper materials, it's incredible aluminium," she said.

Available in fun colors like Blush and Citrus, the MacBook Neo is meant to be distinguished from the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, according to Anderson.

"It was important to make it feel part of the family, but with its own personality," she said.

Even though the MacBook Neo is designed with premium materials, Apple did have to make compromises in other areas. For example, the MacBook Neo has only 8GB of RAM, and a Touch ID button is limited to the $699 model. Plus, there is no MagSafe, one of the USB-C ports is limited to USB 2 speeds of just 480 MB/s, and the keys are not backlit.

Despite its limitations, the MacBook Neo will likely be a hit with students and customers who need a Mac mainly for everyday tasks, like web browsing and document editing. Pre-orders began on March 4, ahead of a March 11 launch.