Apple March 2026: MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e & All New Products

Apple delivered a flurry of product announcements this week, spanning Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, unveiling seven new devices. The lineup included more affordable options in both the iPhone and MacBook ranges, alongside updates to existing products like the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, and displays.

MacBook Neo: Apple’s Entry-Level Laptop Arrives

Apple has finally entered the sub-$600 laptop market with the MacBook Neo, priced at $599. This marks the first time Apple has utilized an iPhone chip in a consumer Mac, powered by the A18 Pro – the same chip found in the 2024 iPhone 16 Pro models. Apple claims the MacBook Neo is up to 50% faster than the bestselling PC with the latest Intel Core Ultra 5 processor for everyday tasks and up to 3x faster for on-device AI workloads.

The MacBook Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2408×1506, 500 nits of brightness, and an anti-reflective coating. Notably, the display eschews a notch, opting for uniform bezels similar to those found on the iPad. The laptop is available in four colors: blush, indigo, silver, and a new citrus shade. While compromises were made to reach the $599 price point, Apple positions the MacBook Neo as an attractive option for students and users seeking a basic, yet capable, Mac experience.

iPhone 17e: Value and Performance Combined

Alongside the MacBook Neo, Apple introduced the iPhone 17e, aiming to deliver a compelling combination of features, and affordability. The device is powered by the A19 chip, also found in the standard iPhone 17, and boasts a 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU. Apple states the A19 delivers exceptional performance and is up to 2x faster than the iPhone 11 for many tasks. The iPhone 17e also incorporates Apple’s latest-generation C1X cellular modem, offering up to 2x faster cellular speeds compared to the iPhone 16e.

The iPhone 17e starts at $599 and comes with 256GB of storage – double the entry-level storage offered in the previous generation. It also introduces MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging support, enabling wireless charging up to 15W. The camera system remains consistent with the iPhone 16e, featuring a 48-megapixel main sensor. The phone is available in black, white, and a new soft pink color.

MacBook Pro: M5 Pro and M5 Max Power

Apple’s professional laptop line also received a significant update with the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. These are powered by the new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, built on a novel “Fusion Architecture” that bonds two third-generation 3nm dies together. This approach allows Apple to integrate the CPU, GPU, Media Engine, Neural Engine, unified memory controller, and Thunderbolt 5 capabilities into a single chip.

The new MacBook Pro models also benefit from increased memory capacity and improved storage performance. They also feature Apple’s N1 networking chip, supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

Studio Display XDR: A New High-End Display

Apple expanded its display offerings with the introduction of the Studio Display XDR, replacing the Pro Display XDR. The 27-inch 5K display features mini-LED backlighting and a 120Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync. A standard Studio Display was also updated. The Studio Display XDR starts at $3,299, while the standard Studio Display is priced at $1,599.

iPad Air: M4 Chip and Enhanced Connectivity

The iPad Air also received a refresh, now powered by the M4 chip. This new chip, combined with 12GB of RAM, delivers increased performance. The updated iPad Air also incorporates Apple’s N1 wireless networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 support and the C1X modem in cellular models, offering faster cellular speeds. The design remains largely unchanged from the previous generation. The new iPad Air is available in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, starting at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model.

MacBook Air: M5 and Increased Storage

Finally, the MacBook Air was updated with the M5 chip and a doubling of base storage to 512GB. Apple claims the M5 chip features the “world’s fastest CPU cores” and offers up to 4x faster performance for AI tasks compared to the previous generation. The starting price for the 13-inch MacBook Air has increased to $1,099, while the 15-inch model starts at $1,299.