Spring has arrived early for fans of Apple products.
Apple hosted its spring event Tuesday and announced an updated iPhone SE, a budget version of the tech giant’s popular smartphone. It starts at $429 and is available for preorder on March 11. The new phone will launch on March 18.
The new iPhone SE includes a 4.7-inch display and support for 5G. It will also use the same processing chip as the iPhone 13, launched last fall. The phone will launch in three colors: midnight, starlight and red.
“iPhone SE has been an incredibly popular choice with our existing users and for new iPhone customers, thanks to its iconic design, exceptional performance, and affordable price, said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of worldwide iPhone product marketing, in a statement.
As wireless companies continue the rollout of their 5G networks and begin shutting down access to 3G, Apple’s new phone could play a big role in 5G adoption, said Anisha Bhatia, senior technology analyst with research firm GlobalData.
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“iPhone users lack any affordable 5G phones compared with the varied choices available for Android users, so a mid-range 5G iPhone will be a welcome boost for both operators and users,” said Bhatia.
Apple also introduced a new iPad Air, starting at $599. It will be available in multiple colors, including space gray, starlight and blue. The new iPad will also launch on March 18.
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Apple said the tablet will feature an ultrawide camera and support for Center Stage, a feature allowing the camera to automatically re-center itself on its subjects. It will also support 5G and includes a USB-C port for transferring data.
A new Mac was announced, but likely not the one you expected. Apple unveiled the Mac Studio and Mac Studio Display, a super-powered desktop computer aimed at studio creators. The Mac Studio starts at $1,999, while the Mac Studio Display costs $1,599.
Want a recap of all the announcements made by Apple during its spring event? Scroll down for updates.
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Mac Studio starts at $1,999 with Display starting at $1,599
The new Mac Studio starts at $1,999 for a model with the M1 Max chip. If you want one with the M1 Ultra chip, expect to pay a lot more. It costs $3,999. The Mac Studio Display starts at $1,599.
Mac Studio computer unveiled
The Mac Studio is a new Mac computer powered by Apple’s M1 Ultra chip. Apple said the computer is targeted toward power users who want the optimal performance. The computer itself is small, at 3.7 inches tall and 7.7 inches wide.
It features four Thunderbolt ports, HDMI, a 10 GB ethernet port, a Pro audio jack, and USB ports. On the front of the computer is two USB-C ports that double as Thunderbolt ports and an SD card slot.
Also unveiled by Apple: a separate 27-inch Mac Studio Display, which will work with the Mac Studio as well as other MacBooks and the Mac Mini. It features a 12-megapixel camera, six speakers and spatial audio support.
More powerful M1 Ultra chip revealed
If the M1, M1 Pro, and M1 Max processing chips for Macs just aren’t enough, Apple announced it has developed a fourth option called M1 Ultra. Apple says it’s eight times faster than the standard M1 chip.
So what does that mean for Macs? Computers with the Ultra chip will likely run beefier software like video editing programs with greater speed and efficiency. Meanwhile, other apps and tools will run even faster, according to Apple.
iPad Air: New model for $599 unveiled
It’s iPad’s turn. Cook just unveiled a revamped iPad Air, which is the company’s thinner, lighter version of its popular tablet.
The iPad Air will add the M1 chip, which will give the iPad Air a big bump in graphics and processing performance, said Apple.
The iPad Air will also feature a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and will add the Center Stage feature, a cool tool used to help keep users centered on the screen during video calls. The new Air will also support 5G.
The tablet will be compatible with accessories like Apple’s magic keyboard and the second generation of Apple Pencil.
The iPad will launch March 18 starting at $599. It will be available in multiple colors, including space gray, starlight and blue.
New iPhone SE starts at $429
Apple confirmed the new iPhone SE, which will include a 4.7-inch screen and support for Touch ID, will launch on March 18 at $429.
iPhone SE with 5G announced
Cook introduced what we all expected: a new iPhone SE. The big takeaway thus far is it will use the A15 processing chip, which is the same as in the iPhone 13. It’s twice as fast as an iPhone 7 and nearly twice as fast as iPhone 8, according to Apple. It also appears the home button will remain on the SE model.
The phone will be available in three colors: midnight, starlight, and red. It will also support 5G.
Green iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro
The iPhone 13 is now available in two new shades of green. The iPhone 13 will soon be available in a forest green color, while the iPhone 13 Pro will arrive in a lighter alpine green finish.
Baseball on Apple TV+
Major League Baseball is making its debut on Apple TV+. Well, that’s if baseball actually comes back this season. Friday Night Baseball will feature two games every Friday during the season only available on its platform.
Tim Cook starts with Apple TV+
Apple CEO Tim Cook kicks things off with the livestream directly from Apple Park in California.
He begins with Apple TV+, one of many streaming services occupying our time during the pandemic. Cook introduces several original films coming soon to the platform, featuring some big name actors including Mahershala Ali, Denzel Washington, and Ryan Reynolds.
Apple event: How to watch online
If you want to follow along and watch the Apple event streamed online, you have a couple options.
Apple says it will stream the event from its website, as well as through the Apple TV app. When you visit the app, you will likely see an image of the invite to select, which takes you directly to the stream.
If you don’t have Apple TV, the company will also stream through its YouTube channel.
Why call it ‘Peek performance?’
With every invite comes speculation about the language Apple uses. In this case: “Peek performance.”
Forrester analyst Thomas Husson said don’t be surprised if Apple reveals new hardware including “a new MacBook Air with a new boosted processor, some other Macs and a new iPad Air.”
For those hoping Apple may finally reveal some news related to the metaverse, Husson said prepare to be “disappointed.”
“This will be the Apple spring collection not a peek preview of disruptive new product categories,” he said.
Apple’s online store is down
Under normal circumstances, Apple’s online store going down would present a problem. But this is just one of the first steps in Apple’s dance toward unveiling its new line of devices.
“Be right back,” reads a message on Apple’s website. “We’re making updates to the Apple Store. Check back soon.”
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Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.
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