Apple Unleashes iPhone 17e, M5 MacBooks & More

Well, Mobikolik.com readers, it seems Apple really pulled out all the stops this week! After hinting at a 'big week' of announcements, the tech giant truly delivered, showcasing a flurry of new and updated devices that are sure to get many of us excited. From a refreshed entry-level iPhone to powerful new MacBooks and even an unexpected budget-friendly laptop, there's a lot to unpack.

Kicking things off, Apple unveiled the new iPhone 17e. Keeping its $599 starting price, this model gets some solid upgrades, including double the base storage at 256GB and MagSafe support with 15W Qi2 wireless charging. While the design largely stays the same, it boasts a 6.1-inch Super Retina display with Ceramic Shield 2 for better scratch resistance and a C1X cellular modem for faster connectivity. Powered by the A19 chip and running iOS 26, it also supports Apple Intelligence AI tools, making it a pretty compelling entry-level option. Pre-orders are open, with availability starting March 11.

Next up, the M4-powered iPad Air made its debut. While it's a generation behind the iPad Pro's M5 chip, the M4 still offers impressive power, especially for those looking to tackle more resource-intensive tasks than casual browsing. Apple bumped the RAM to 12GB, yet managed to keep the starting price at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch. With Wi-Fi 7 support thanks to new N1 and C1X chips, this iPad Air is ready for the future. You can pre-order it now, with a March 11 release date.

For the power users out there, the MacBook Pro line received its anticipated M5 Pro and M5 Max chip upgrades. These new models bring significant performance boosts, though they also come with a slight price increase. For instance, the 14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro starts at $2,199, but Apple has generously doubled the base storage to 1TB. The 16-inch model starts at $2,699, also with 1TB storage. Both benefit from faster memory and SSDs, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6 connectivity. Pre-orders are live, and they'll be in stores on March 11.

The ever-popular MacBook Air also got the M5 treatment, a year after its M4 refresh. Apple boosted the base storage from 256GB to 512GB and enhanced memory bandwidth. However, this comes with a $100 price bump, bringing the 13-inch model back to $1,099 and the 15-inch to $1,299. Still, with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, it's a powerful and portable machine. Pre-orders are open, with a March 11 launch.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the introduction of the MacBook Neo, Apple's most affordable laptop yet, starting at an incredibly competitive $599 ($499 for education). Running on an A18 Pro chip (yes, the one from the iPhone 16 Pro!), it aims to challenge the budget laptop market. With a 13-inch Liquid Retina Display, up to 16 hours of battery life, and support for Apple Intelligence, it's a compelling option for students and users on a tighter budget. It comes in fun colors like silver, blush, citrus, and indigo, and is made with significant recycled content. It's available for pre-order now, hitting shelves March 11.

Finally, Apple surprised us with new display offerings: a refreshed Studio Display and the brand-new Studio Display XDR. The 27-inch 5K Retina XDR screen on the XDR model features mini-LED technology, 2,000 nits peak HDR brightness, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a tilt- and height-adjustable stand as standard. Starting at $3,299, it's a serious piece of kit for professionals. The refreshed Studio Display, starting at $1,599, also gets upgrades like an improved 12MP Center Stage camera and Thunderbolt 5 support. Both are available for pre-order and will launch on March 11.