Apple's $599 MacBook Neo arrives with a premium aluminum build, bright display, solid A18 Pro performance, and battery life that punches well above its price. Reviewers largely agree it resets expectations for what a budget laptop can be, despite the evident trade-offs that remind you how Apple kept costs down. Don't miss our editorial on the Neo for insight into the industry implications beyond the device itself.
The iPad Air M4 may still be the best tablet for most people. For the same price as before, you get bumped to the M4 chip, 12GB of RAM, and Wi-Fi 7, making Apple's mid-range tablet faster and more capable. Reviewers say the Air offers much of the power and capability of the iPad Pro at a more accessible price.
Early reviews of the iPhone 17e describe it as a solid refinement of Apple's $599 phone. Powered by the A19 chip with 256GB of storage, and the long-awaited addition of MagSafe. While some reviewers say it's still a bit pricey, most agree the 17e delivers a no-frills entry point into the Apple ecosystem.
Apple's $599 MacBook Neo isn't for you. But it might be the most important laptop announcement in years - and the budget Windows market should be paying close attention.
What Apple's M5 core rebrand says about its silicon strategy
Connecting the dots: In its latest overhaul of the MacBook Pro lineup, Apple has done more than roll out faster hardware. The launch of the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips introduced a subtle but significant reframing of Apple's CPU design – and the language used to describe it. What was once a familiar hierarchy of "performance" and "efficiency" cores has been reframed. The M5 generation introduces a new top tier of "super" cores.
Highly anticipated: Apple has finally unveiled its entry into the budget laptop segment, starting at $599 and delving deep into cheap Windows PC territory. For a roughly 45% price reduction compared to the latest MacBook Air, customers sacrifice a moderate amount of horsepower and are limited to just 8GB of RAM. On the other hand, the MacBook Neo features an aluminum chassis, Apple's typically excellent displays, long battery life, and weighs just 2.7 pounds.
Fusion multi-die packaging and per-core neural accelerators target AI and graphics performance
Highly anticipated: Apple this week unveiled new MacBook Pro laptops powered by its latest M5 Pro and M5 Max processors, chips the company says deliver "the world's fastest CPU cores." The new SoCs also introduce next-generation GPUs with a neural accelerator embedded in each core, designed to boost on-device AI workloads.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are now available for $119. The updated model adds Adaptive Audio and improved voice clarity while retaining seamless iOS integration and wireless charging. At this price, they're a compelling option for anyone who wants Apple's ecosystem features without stepping up to the Pro lineup.
The takeaway: Apple has unveiled its next budget smartphone, the iPhone 17e, featuring several upgrades over its predecessor. The most notable additions include MagSafe support, a more powerful processor, an improved cellular modem, enhanced screen protection, and double the base storage capacity. Despite these improvements, the iPhone 17e is expected to retain the same starting price as the model it replaces.