Apple unveiled a range of new products this month, including the budget-friendly iPhone 17e, the advanced M5 MacBook Pro models, and the much-anticipated AirPods Max 2.
Cupertino: Apple launched several new devices this month, starting with the iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air on March 2. The next day, the company unveiled new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, along with a Studio Display and Studio Display XDR. On March 4, Apple announced the MacBook Neo, a low-cost laptop aimed at students. Finally, on March 18, the AirPods Max 2 headphones were released.
The iPhone 17e costs $599 and features the A19 chip from the base iPhone 17. It comes with 256 GB of storage, MagSafe and Qi2 charging up to 15 W, and the same 48-megapixel camera as the iPhone 16e. The phone has faster cellular speeds with the new C1X modem and better battery life due to lower energy use. It is available in black, white, and a new pink color.
The new iPad Air uses the M4 chip, making it 30% faster than the M3 version. It retails for $599 (11-inch) or $799 (13-inch), with a $50 discount for education buyers. The tablet has an 8-core CPU, 9-core GPU, and 12 GB of memory for better AI use. Storage options are 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. It comes in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray.
The MacBook Pro models now feature M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. These chips are designed for intensive AI work and are much faster than previous versions. The M5 Pro and M5 Max handle AI tasks and prompt processing up to 4–8 times faster. The laptops can read and write data twice as fast, support Thunderbolt 5, and offer up to 24 hours of battery life. Prices for M5 Pro models start at $2,199 (14-inch) and $2,699 (16-inch). M5 Max models start at $3,599 (14-inch) and $3,899 (16-inch) in black or silver.
The new MacBook Air is better at AI tasks and offers 18 hours of battery life. It includes a 12 MP Center Stage camera, three-mic array, and speakers with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. Starting at $1,099 (13-inch) or $1,299 (15-inch), it comes in sky blue, midnight, starlight, and silver. It now includes 512GB of storage.
The MacBook Neo is a low-cost model starting at $599, designed for students and light use. It runs on the A18 Pro chip and comes in silver, blush, citrus, and indigo. The base model has 256GB storage for $599, while $699 adds 512GB and Touch ID. It has a 1080p camera, dual microphones, Spatial Audio speakers, and up to 16 hours of battery life. The device is also the most repairable MacBook in 14 years.
The AirPods Max 2 cost $549 and feature improved active noise cancellation up to 1.5 times stronger. They include an H2 chip, Adaptive Audio for smart sound control, and a more natural Transparency mode. The headphones support Camera Remote, Loud Sound Reduction, and are available in five colors: midnight, starlight, orange, purple, and blue.
The Studio Display ($1,599) and Studio Display XDR ($3,299) now include a new 12 MP Center Stage camera, Desk View feature, and Thunderbolt 5 ports. The Studio Display has a 5K Retina screen with P3 color support. The Studio Display XDR offers a mini-LED 5K Retina XDR screen with 2,000 nits peak brightness and Adobe RGB color.
The M5 Pro and M5 Max chips follow Apple’s new Fusion Architecture. Both have 18-core CPUs with six high-performance and 12 new efficiency cores. M5 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory, and M5 Max supports up to 128GB. These chips are built for faster AI processing, video rendering, and other professional tasks.