by CNBC
Apple just wrapped up its first product event of the year. It focused on a new affordable iPhone, an update to the iPad Air and its latest, most powerful Mac chip, which will make its debut in the new Mac Studio computer. Here’s are some highlights from the event:
- A new budget iPhone
- New colors for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro.
- A new iPad Air.
- The Mac Studio computer with Apple’s new M1 Ultra chip.
- The new 27-inch Studio Display monitor.
And Apple teased a new Mac Pro, but said it’ll talk about that at another event.
You can also watch Apple’s presentation on YouTube right here:
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And Apple teased a new Mac Pro, but said it’ll talk about that at another event.
You can also watch Apple’s presentation on YouTube right here:
Apple announces new iPad Air with M1 chip, starting at $599
Apple announced a new version of its mid-range iPad, the iPad Air. It uses Apple’s M1 processor, which is the chip used in the pricier iPad Pro and MacBook Air models. It also has optional 5G support.
Its front-facing camera was upgraded to a 12-megapixel camera with a wide angle lens, which enables a feature called Center Stage that can follow subjects as they move around in the frame while videoconferencing.
It will cost $599, with optional storage space and cellular upgrades. It’s the same price as it retailed for before. It will hit store shelves on March 18.
The iPad Air was most recently updated in 2020.— Kif Leswing
Apple just announced a new budget iPhone SE, which is the successor to the 2020 model but with 5G and the latest iPhone processor, A15.
The device looks like the previous iPhone SE, with a 4.7-inch rectangular display, and a TouchID fingerprint sensor. It’s equipped with a 12-megapixel rear camera.
It will retail for $429 and will hit store shelves on March 18. That’s more expensive than the $399 model Apple launched in 2020 and is a surprise bump in price.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said the device was ideal for people who like smaller phones. — Kif Leswing
You can get a green iPhone 13 soon
Apple is adding two new colors for its iPhone. People can pre-order the iPhone 13 in “green” and the iPhone 13 Pro in “alpine green” starting Friday.
—Jessica Bursztynsky
Apple hints that a more powerful Mac Pro is yet to be released
After announcing the Mac Studio, Apple’s head of hardware John Ternus teased that it would release a more powerful new Mac Pro model in the future.
“One more product to go: Mac Pro. But that’s for another day,” Ternus said.
— Kif Leswing
Apple announced its new Studio Display on Tuesday.
It offers a 5K Retina 27-inch screen, speakers and has a built-in camera. Users can also choose between an all-aluminum enclosure with a tilting stand or a tilt and height-adjustable stand option. The screen can also be used to fast-charge Apple’s latest MacBook Pros when it’s plugged in.
It costs $1,599 and is available for pre-order today.
—Jessica Bursztynsky
Apple announces Mac Studio with M1 Ultra chip
Apple introduced the first new Mac model in years with the Mac Studio, a display-less desktop computer. It’s a cube-shaped aluminum box with USB-C ports and a SD card slot on the front.
It’s taller than the existing Mac Mini. The additional height is used for big fans to keep the computer’s temperature down.
Apple also announced a separate 27-inch display called Studio Display with 5K resolution, equipped with an Apple chip, speakers, and built-in camera.
The computer uses the high-performance M1 Ultra processor, which the company says has more power than its existing M1 chips.
The Mac Studio with an older M1 Max chip starts at $1999. The model with an M1 Ultra starts at $3999. The Studio Display starts at $1599.
Apple said that the M1 Ultra basically doubles the size of Apple’s previous M1 chips using a connection technology it calls UltraFusion. Apple said it has more transistors than any other PC chip and includes a 64-core graphics processor.
Apple said that the Mac Studio with M1 Ultrais 80% faster than the top-of-the-line Mac Pro, which retailed for over $50,000.
“We’ve transitioned nearly every product in the Mac lineup to Apple Silicon,” Cook said.
