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Apple Announces New MacBook Air and iPad Air
Apple has announced a new MacBook Air and iPad Air as its spring lineup (both releasing March 12). These products deliver a major performance boost while maintaining the same price range as their predecessors. Amid concerns about price increases driven by tariffs, Apple's decision to hold the line on pricing is welcome news for users.
- New MacBook Air with M4 Chip — Price Cut of Approximately $100
- iPad Air with M3 Chip at the Same Price — Entry Model Lives On
- Mac Studio: Choose M4 Max or M3 Ultra — Same Price
- Summary
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New MacBook Air with M4 Chip — Price Cut of Approximately $100
The new MacBook Air comes equipped with the M4 processor, achieving performance on par with the MacBook Pro. The 13-inch model starts at approximately $1,099, a reduction of around $100 from the previous model. This marks the first time since 2020 that a new MacBook Air model has launched at this price point.
The M4 MacBook Air also features the same 12-megapixel Center Stage camera as the MacBook Pro and iMac. The 15-inch MacBook Air similarly adopts the M4 chip with a price reduction, but is priced approximately $200 higher than the 13-inch model due to its larger screen size.
A New Color Option for the New MacBook
The new MacBook is also available in a slightly blue-tinted silver, replacing the standard silver. It is not a bold color choice, but it gives the device a fresh impression.
iPad Air with M3 Chip at the Same Price — Entry Model Lives On
The iPad Air has been upgraded from last year's M2 chip to the M3 chip. The Magic Keyboard has also been upgraded with the addition of a row of function buttons. The new iPad Air does not match the performance of the iPad Pro, but it is available at a price point of around $599.
More interesting is the fact that Apple continues to produce an entry-level iPad. This entry model features an upgraded processor and is available for around $349. The model comes with 128GB of storage and the A16 chip, but does not include the A17 chip, meaning Apple Intelligence will not run on it.
Apple Continues to Offer a Low-Cost Device Without AI
It is a somewhat unexpected development for a company working to put AI into every product, but for users who need a basic device — simple entertainment, use by children, use in schools — this is good news.
Mac Studio: Choose M4 Max or M3 Ultra — Same Price
Apple also announced the Mac Studio desktop for power users. The product is available with an enhanced M4 Max or M3 Ultra processor, and Apple calls it "the most powerful Mac."
The latest chips and larger unified memory mean that creative applications of course run well, but it is also said that large language models running on-device are now practically viable. It also features Thunderbolt 5 ports with transfer speeds of up to 120 Gb/s, enabling connections to faster external storage and expansion chassis.
The M3 Ultra Chip Model
According to Apple, the M3 Ultra chip model is up to 2.6 times faster than the M1 Ultra-equipped Mac Studio, and up to 6.4 times faster than the 16-core Intel Xeon W-based Mac Pro.
Pricing starts at around $1,999 — the same as before.
Apple's new MacBook Air and iPad Air deliver powerful M4 and M3 chips while holding the line on price. With new tariffs on products manufactured in China raising concerns that the cost of necessary technology will increase, Apple's decision to hold prices or cut them is a welcome surprise for users.
Apple's willingness to continue offering an entry-level iPad without AI also demonstrates a commitment to meeting the needs of diverse users. The new devices launch on March 12. Prices of previous models are also expected to fall further, expanding the range of options to suit different needs.
Reference
Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=842m-W_0FPg https://www.apple.com/
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