Apple’s 8 Coolest Launches: MacBook Neo, M5 Chips & iPhone 17e Revealed

Apple unveiled a wave of new devices this week, ranging from the surprisingly affordable MacBook Neo to the powerhouse M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, alongside the iPhone 17e and updated iPad Air. The launches signal a continued push to broaden Apple’s product family and integrate more advanced chip technology across its lineup. Pre-orders began Wednesday, March 4th, with devices shipping on March 11th.

A New Entry Point: The MacBook Neo

Perhaps the most striking announcement is the MacBook Neo, a new 13-inch laptop positioned as an entry-level Mac at a starting price of $599. Here’s a significant departure for Apple, which typically commands a premium price point. The MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip – a move away from the M-series silicon found in other MacBooks – and Apple claims it delivers up to 50% faster performance for everyday tasks compared to similarly priced PCs with Intel Core Ultra 5 processors. Crucially, it also boasts up to three times faster performance on on-device AI workloads. CRN notes this positions the Neo to compete directly with lower-cost Windows PCs, and Chromebooks.

The Neo offers up to 16 hours of battery life, a 13-inch Liquid Retina display supporting 1 billion colors, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and dual side speakers with Spatial Audio. It’s available in four colors: Silver, Indigo, Blush, and a new Citrus finish. The choice of the A18 Pro chip, while enabling the lower price point, represents a trade-off in raw processing power compared to the M-series chips, but appears to be optimized for efficiency and common tasks.

Powering Up the Pros: M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros

For professional users, Apple introduced updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models powered by the new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. These chips, built using Apple’s Fusion Architecture, promise significant performance gains, particularly in AI-related tasks. Apple states the new MacBook Pros deliver up to 4x faster AI performance compared to the previous generation and up to 8x faster AI performance compared to M1 models. This is achieved through a new CPU core design and a next-generation GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each core.

The new models also boast faster SSD performance – up to 2x faster – and increased starting storage, with the M5 Pro models beginning at 1TB and the M5 Max models at 2TB. Connectivity is also improved with the inclusion of Apple’s N1 wireless chip, supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Battery life remains competitive, offering up to 24 hours on a single charge. The MacBook Pro comes in black and silver.

M5 MacBook Air and iPad Air Refresh

Apple also updated the MacBook Air with the new M5 chip, offering a faster CPU and GPU. The base storage has been doubled to 512GB, and the laptop now supports up to 4TB of storage. The M5 MacBook Air delivers up to 4x faster performance for AI tasks compared to the previous generation. Available in 13-inch and 15-inch models, the MacBook Air comes in Sky Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and Silver.

The iPad Air also received a significant upgrade with the inclusion of the M4 chip and an increase in unified memory to 12GB. Apple’s N1 and C1X chips handle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular connectivity, and the iPad Air now supports Wi-Fi 7. The new iPad Air is available in 11-inch and 13-inch models.

iPhone 17e: A More Accessible iPhone

The iPhone 17e is positioned as a more affordable option within the iPhone 17 lineup, starting at $599 for the 256GB storage configuration – doubling the entry-level storage compared to previous models at the same price. It features the A19 chip and Apple’s C1X modem, which offers up to 2x faster cellular speeds than the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e. The iPhone 17e also incorporates a 48MP Fusion camera with advanced portrait capabilities and 4K Dolby Vision video recording. It also now includes MagSafe charging. The phone is available in black, white, and a new soft pink color.

The M5 Family: A Deep Dive into Apple Silicon

The M5 Pro and M5 Max chips represent a significant step forward in Apple’s silicon development. Leveraging the Fusion Architecture, these chips combine multiple dies into a single system on a chip, boosting performance. The M5 Pro features an up-to-18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores, while the M5 Max pushes the boundaries further for demanding workloads. Both chips offer substantial gains in AI performance, with up to 4x faster LLM prompt processing and 8x faster AI image generation compared to previous generations. NBC News highlights the focus on AI capabilities as a key differentiator for these new chips.

New Accessories: Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil for iPad Air

Apple also introduced new accessories for the iPad Air, including a redesigned Magic Keyboard and updated Apple Pencil options. The Magic Keyboard features a built-in trackpad and a 14-key function row for enhanced productivity. The Apple Pencil lineup now includes the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the Apple Pencil Pro, offering users a range of options for creative tasks and note-taking. The Apple Pencil Pro introduces new features like squeeze and barrel roll for more precise control.

What’s Next for Apple’s New Devices?

All of the newly announced devices are available for pre-order now and will begin shipping on March 11th, also becoming available in Apple retail stores on that date. The immediate next step will be real-world testing and reviews from independent sources, which will provide a more comprehensive assessment of the performance and capabilities of these new products. Further scrutiny will likely focus on the efficiency of the A18 Pro chip in the MacBook Neo, the sustained performance of the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips under heavy workloads, and the practical benefits of the AI enhancements across the product line. MacRumors provides a comprehensive overview of the pre-order process and availability.