Apple has rolled out a broad hardware refresh this week, introducing a budget MacBook Neo, the iPhone 17e, updated MacBook Pro and Air models powered by M5 chips, and new Studio Displays.

iPhone 17e: Budget Line Gets a Boost

The new iPhone 17e launches at $599 and ships March 11.

Key upgrades include:

  • A19 chip (same as base iPhone 17)
  • 256GB base storage
  • MagSafe and Qi2 support (15W wireless charging)
  • 48MP main camera
  • C1X modem with improved speed and energy efficiency

The device comes in black, white and soft pink.

M4 iPad Air Targets AI Workloads

The updated iPad Air now runs on the M4 chip, offering:

  • 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU
  • 12GB unified memory
  • Up to 120GB/s memory bandwidth

Pricing remains $599 (11-inch) and $799 (13-inch), with education discounts available.

MacBook Pro Gets M5 Pro and M5 Max

Apple introduced new MacBook Pro models powered by M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, designed for AI-heavy workloads.

Highlights:

  • Up to 4x faster AI processing vs M4 models
  • 1TB base storage (M5 Pro)
  • 2TB base storage (M5 Max)
  • Thunderbolt 5 support
  • Up to 24 hours battery life

Pricing starts at $2,199 for the 14-inch M5 Pro and $3,599 for M5 Max configurations.

M5 MacBook Air

The refreshed MacBook Air features:

  • 18-hour battery life
  • 12MP Center Stage camera
  • 512GB base storage
  • Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos

Pricing starts at $1,099 (13-inch) and $1,299 (15-inch).

MacBook Neo: Apple’s $599 Entry Play

The standout addition is the new MacBook Neo, starting at $599.

Aimed at students and light users, it runs on the A18 Pro chip (the same processor used in the iPhone 16 Pro line) rather than Apple’s M-series silicon.

Specs include:

  • 13-inch display
  • 256GB base storage
  • 16-hour battery life
  • 1080p FaceTime HD camera
  • Five-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine

Apple positions the Neo as a direct competitor to Chromebooks in education markets.

Studio Display Updates

Apple also unveiled new versions of:

  • Studio Display ($1,599)
  • Studio Display XDR ($3,299)

Both now feature:

  • 12MP Center Stage cameras
  • Thunderbolt 5 connectivity
  • Daisy-chaining support

The XDR model includes mini-LED backlighting and up to 2,000 nits peak HDR brightness.

M5 Architecture Pushes AI Performance

The new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips use Apple’s updated Fusion Architecture, featuring:

  • 18-core CPUs
  • Enhanced Neural Engine
  • Higher unified memory ceilings (up to 128GB on M5 Max)
  • Increased bandwidth up to 614GB/s

The week’s announcements reinforce Apple’s focus on AI performance, on-device processing and expanded entry-level hardware — with MacBook Neo potentially broadening its reach into price-sensitive markets while M5 models target high-performance creators and developers.