Everything you need to know about Apple’s ‘big week’ of product launches

NEW YORK– Apple CEO Tim Cook promised a “big week” of product announcements saw the introduction of a new budget iPhone version, an entry-level Macbook tier, updated iPad Air models, refreshed monitors and high-end chipsets. All this was on display at media events on Wednesday in New York, London and Shanghai.

The tech titan recently saw its quarterly profits hit a new record, driven by strong sales of its iPhone 17 models, even though the company still hasn’t delivered on its 2024 promise to improve its Siri assistance with AI.

Perhaps looking to capitalize on this sales momentum, Apple began the week by announcing the latest model in its line of more affordable phones, the iPhone 17e, and its announcement spree 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’s the gist:

This updated version of the iPhone targeting budget-conscious buyers will feature the same A19 chip that powers the base iPhone 17 and will offer double the standard storage space (256GB) compared to the previous 16e model (128GB).

The camera has been updated to a 48-megapixel system, and its C1X modem promises faster cellular speeds.

As for the display, the 17e sports a slightly smaller screen than the base 17 model, has a slightly lower refresh rate, and can be a little dimmer to the human eye, but you still get the super Retina display used in the rest of the lineup and Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2 system to protect against scratches.

Apple has 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.

The mid-range iPad refresh runs the slightly older M4 chip – for reference, the higher-end iPad Pro model uses the newer M5 chip. But it’s still powerful enough to handle your streaming, web browsing, email, and video editing habits. Cellular versions of the Air also include the updated C1X modem for faster connections.

You wouldn’t think there would be a shortage of RAM worldwide with what Apple announced this week. The company has increased the Air’s RAM from 8GB to 12GB without a price increase.

The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599 while the 13-inch version starts at $799, each with 128GB of storage.

Apple’s high-end Pro laptop line received recently announced chip upgrades (M5 Pro and M5 Max), which claim superior performance for heavy usage and battery efficiency. But the new upgrades also come with a higher price tag.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the M5 Pro chipset comes with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It’s priced at $2,199, an increase of $200 over the base 2024 M4 Pro. For an additional cost, you have the option to upgrade the M5 Pro or upgrade 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. It is priced at $2,699, an increase of $200 over the previous model. You have the option to upgrade to the M5 Max chipset and increase the RAM.

For both models, the screen has not changed, nor the front camera. But Apple has improved its networking capabilities to support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

The all-new entry-level MacBook Neo debuted at the in-person event on Wednesday. This new 13-inch laptop comes 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.

The 256GB model is available for $599, while the upgraded model is available for $699. Students and other teachers can pre-order either model at a $100 discount.

A refreshed MacBook Air was also announced. This more economical machine has been upgraded to the company’s base M5 chip. Base storage has also been doubled, from 256GB to 512GB. It still has 16GB of RAM, but now sports the same connectivity upgrades as the Pro models.

Due to the updates, the price of the 13-inch Air is $1,099, which is $100 more than the M4 Air model. The 15-inch Air starts at $1,299.

Apple’s big blow for the week is the announcement of its two 5K display monitors, the 27-inch Studio Display and the Studio Display XDR.

The two 27-inch monitors have a resolution of 5120 x 2880, 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 capped at 60Hz) – an update that should please Apple gamers and HDR enthusiasts.

The base Studio Display costs $1,599, while its XDR variant costs $3,299. Upgrade options are available for both monitors.