Everything Apple announced this week: MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e and Ipad Air take center stage
Apple rolled out a major slate of products this week that includes the iPhone 17e, a new M4-powered ipad Air, refreshed MacBook hardware and a surprise budget laptop. The announcements arrived across Monday through Wednesday, and pre-orders for the iPhone 17e are now open (ET). Apple presented the moves as a push to broaden its lineup with faster chips and lower entry prices.
What Apple unveiled: key launches first
The company unveiled the entry-level iPhone 17e and an 11-inch and 13-inch M4-powered ipad Air on Monday, followed by high-end M5 announcements and new MacBook hardware across Tuesday and Wednesday. Apple confirmed a new low-cost laptop called the MacBook Neo that starts at $599, the company’s most affordable laptop to date. On the Mac side Apple revealed M5 MacBook Air models plus M5 Pro and M5 Max chips and new Studio Display options, including a 27-inch Studio Display XDR.
For the phone, Apple kept the iPhone 17e’s starting price at $599 while doubling base storage to 256GB, adding MagSafe with Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W and the same A19 chip used in the iPhone 17. Apple says the iPhone 17e uses a C1X cellular modem that is up to two times faster than the prior C1, runs iOS 26, carries an IP68 water and dust rating and supports satellite features including Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages and Find My. Pre-orders for the iPhone 17e are now open (ET) and the device will hit shelves in more than 70 countries and regions on March 11 (ET).
The new ipad Air: M4 chip, RAM bump and pricing
The mid-range ipad Air received Apple’s M4 chip and a significant RAM increase from 8GB to 12GB, while Apple left retail pricing untouched. The 11-inch M4 ipad Air starts at $599 and the 13-inch model starts at $799, each with 128GB of storage; there is a $50 education discount. Apple highlights the M4’s gains, saying the chip delivers up to 2. 3 times faster performance compared with the M1 iPad Air and over 4x faster 3D pro rendering with ray tracing performance.
Apple also upgraded the ipad Air’s connectivity by adding N1 and C1X chips and enabling Wi‑Fi 7 support for the first time in this line. For users focused on media, browsing and light creative work, Apple positioned the new ipad Air as more than adequate; for heavier pro workflows the company left the top-end models on the newer M5 platform.
Immediate reactions and product claims
Apple emphasized durability and speed in its messaging. the iPhone 17e’s 6. 1-inch Super Retina display uses Ceramic Shield 2, offering “3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation and reduced glare. ” Apple also described the M4’s performance uplift for the ipad Air and the broader lineup changes as a move to extend advanced silicon across more price tiers.
Quick context
The announcements landed as Apple balanced incremental upgrades with one clear pricing play: the MacBook Neo at $599 marks a move into a lower-priced laptop category. The new ipad Air sits between prior Air models and the M5-topped iPad Pro family.
What’s next
Expect availability rollouts and broader shipping details to follow from Apple as pre-orders proceed and the company ships the iPhone 17e on March 11 (ET). Watch for regional launch windows and additional retail timing for the new ipad and MacBook Neo as Apple completes its staggered release plan.
