All posts tagged: macbook pro

A Full Apple Ecosystem Now Costs Less Than a MacBook Pro

A Full Apple Ecosystem Now Costs Less Than a MacBook Pro

Published by skeptic

Apple’s entire entry-level product lineup now costs less than a single 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip. The ten products that now define Apple’s lowest-cost tier are as follows: iPhone 17e: $599 MacBook Neo: $599 iPad (11th generation): $349 Magic Keyboard Folio: $249 Apple Pencil (USB-C): $79 Apple Watch SE 3: $249 AirPods 4: $129 Apple TV 4K: $129 HomePod mini: $99 AirTag: $29 The total comes to $2,510, which is $189 less than the $2,699 starting price of the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with the M5 Pro chip. AppleCare One, which can cover any three Apple devices of the buyer’s choosing, costs an additional $19.99 per month. The MacBook Neo, announced on March 4, is the linchpin of the shift. At $599, it is Apple’s most affordable laptop ever and the first Mac to contain an A-series chip, using the A18 Pro that debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro. After its March 11 launch, Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple saw its “best launch week ever for first-time Mac customers.” The iPhone 17e …

MacBook Pro With Touch Screen and New Mac Studio Likely ‘Postponed’

MacBook Pro With Touch Screen and New Mac Studio Likely ‘Postponed’

Published by skeptic

The global memory chip shortage may result in the next MacBook Pro and Mac Studio models launching later than expected, according to the latest rumor. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has repeatedly stated that 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with a touch screen are slated to launch in late 2026 to early 2027. In his Power On newsletter today, though, he said to be prepared for the laptops to potentially arrive towards the end of that timeframe due to the chip shortage. In other words, early 2027 is now more likely than late 2026. Gurman previously expected a new Mac Studio to launch around the middle of 2026, which pointed towards an announcement around WWDC 2026 in June. However, in his newsletter today, he wrote that sources within Apple believe that the next Mac Studio models will not ship until around October this year as a result of the shortage. Touch-screen support will be part of a major refresh planned for the high-end MacBook Pro models, with other rumored features including M6 Pro and M6 Max …

Apple to Upgrade These Two Devices With OLED Displays Later This Year

Apple to Upgrade These Two Devices With OLED Displays Later This Year

Published by skeptic

Apple plans to release iPad mini and MacBook Pro models with OLED displays this year, according to industry sources who spoke to South Korea’s ETNews. The current iPad mini and MacBook Pro models have LCD displays with either LED or mini-LED backlighting. The move to OLED technology would result in improved image quality, thanks to richer colors and higher contrast ratio with true blacks. Samsung will supply the OLED displays for both devices, the report said. All of the iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad Pro models that Apple sells today are already equipped with OLED displays, excluding refurbished models. Other new features rumored for the next iPad mini include an A19 Pro or an A20 Pro chip, a vibration-based speaker system, and a water-resistant design. Apple will likely announce the device in September or October this year. For the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, other new features rumored include M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, a touch screen, a Dynamic Island, and a thinner design. Apple reportedly plans to release the laptops towards the end …

Apple Now Selling Parts for Seven New Devices Unveiled Last Month

Apple Now Selling Parts for Seven New Devices Unveiled Last Month

Published by skeptic

Launched in 2022, Apple’s self-service repair program provides customers with access to genuine parts, tools, and manuals to repair select iPhones, iPads, Macs, Studio Displays, and Beats Pill speakers. Apple says the program is “intended for individuals who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices.” Apple today started selling parts and tools for seven new devices through its self-service repair store in the U.S., Canada, and many European countries. As reported by 9to5Mac, genuine Apple parts are now available for these devices: iPhone 17e iPad Air with M4 chip MacBook Neo MacBook Air with M5 chip MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips Studio Display (2026) Studio Display XDR After ordering parts and tools, you can follow the steps in Apple’s repair manuals for each device. There is a notable piece of news related to this. As we reported last month, the MacBook Neo’s keyboard can be replaced individually. For years, replacing the keyboard in other MacBooks has required replacing the entire Top Case, which refers to the top half of …

Apple’s New 16-Inch MacBook Pro Charger Has a Compatibility Issue

Apple’s New 16-Inch MacBook Pro Charger Has a Compatibility Issue

Published by skeptic

The latest version of Apple’s 140W USB-C Power Adapter included with 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip has an issue for some. After the 16-inch MacBook Pro was updated last month, customers in some countries began to notice that Apple’s 140W USB-C Power Adapter that comes with it has a subtle design change that breaks compatibility with Apple’s Power Adapter Extension Cable. Specifically, while the charger continues to have a removable plug, Apple has apparently tweaked the design of the underlying male connector with two pins. The connector now has a slimmer pill-like shape, whereas it previously had a small triangular indent in the bottom of it. Due to this change, the new charger does not work with Apple’s Power Adapter Extension Cable, which still has a female connector designed to match the previous male connector. The redesigned male connector (on the right in the photo) Oddly, Apple’s product page for the Power Adapter Extension Cable says the cable is compatible with its 140W USB-C power adapters, despite this …

M5 MacBook Air vs. M5 MacBook Pro Buyer’s Guide

M5 MacBook Air vs. M5 MacBook Pro Buyer’s Guide

Published by skeptic

Both the MacBook Air and entry-level MacBook Pro now feature the M5 chip, so how do the latest models compare? While the 13-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ starts at $1,099 and the 15-inch model at $1,299, moving to the 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ requires spending at least $300 more. For some buyers, the extra cost is unnecessary; for others, the Pro’s ability to sustain performance, along with its more advanced display and expanded I/O, meaningfully change the experience in ways the Air cannot match even with higher configurations. With the introduction of the MacBook Neo as a new entry-level option, the Mac lineup now spans three distinct tiers. As a result, the ‌MacBook Air‌ no longer represents the default choice for most buyers, but instead occupies a middle position between affordability and performance. If you’ve already ruled out the ‌MacBook Neo‌, this guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of Apple’s other two popular laptops is best for you. The key differences are as follows: ‌MacBook Air‌ ‌MacBook Pro‌ 13.6- or 15.3-inch display 14.2-inch …

MacBook Pro to Receive ‘Major Upgrade’ by Early Next Year

MacBook Pro to Receive ‘Major Upgrade’ by Early Next Year

Published by skeptic

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said the MacBook Pro will receive a “major upgrade” with an OLED display by early next year. In a blog post, Kuo said the new MacBook Pro will be released between late 2026 and early 2027. With an OLED display, the MacBook Pro would have better image quality compared to the current models with LCD displays and mini-LED backlighting. Advantages of OLED displays include more vivid colors, higher contrast ratio, and wider viewing angles, and they can be more power efficient depending on the content being displayed. The next-generation MacBook Pro is expected to feature many other upgrades, including a thinner design, a touch screen, a Dynamic Island, and M6 Pro and M6 Max chips manufactured with TSMC’s 2nm process. It has been rumored that Apple might even expand its C1X or C2 modem to the MacBook Pro for built-in cellular connectivity. With all of these new features, higher prices are likely. For this reason, it was recently reported that the model with an OLED display might be …

MacBook Pro to Receive ‘Major Upgrade’ by Early Next Year

MacBook Pro Review – MacRumors

Published by skeptic

The first reviews of the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Apple’s M5 Pro and M5 Max chips were published today by selected publications and YouTube channels, ahead of the laptops launching on Wednesday. In addition to the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the new MacBook Pro models offer up to twice as fast SSD speeds compared to the previous generation, and storage now starts at 1TB. Battery life has increased slightly on all of the new models, and the N1 chip extends to the MacBook Pro now for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support. Geekbench 6 benchmark results already surfaced for the M5 Pro and M5 Max last week. In line with Apple’s advertised figures, the chips offer up to approximately 15% faster CPU performance and up to approximately 20% faster GPU performance compared to the previous-generation M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. Mac Model Multi-Core CPU Score MacBook Pro (M5 Pro and M5 Max) 28,500 to 29,500 Mac Studio (M3 Ultra) 27,726 MacBook Pro (M4 Max) 25,702 MacBook Pro (M4 …

MacBook Pro to Receive ‘Major Upgrade’ by Early Next Year

Apple Planning ‘MacBook Ultra’ With Touchscreen and Higher Price

Published by skeptic

Apple is planning to launch an all-new “MacBook Ultra” model this year, featuring an OLED display, touchscreen, and a higher price point, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reports. Gurman revealed the information in his latest “Power On” newsletter. While Apple has been widely expected to launch new M6-series MacBook Pro models with OLED displays, touchscreen functionality, and a new, thinner design in the fourth quarter of 2026 for some time, Gurman today turned that rumor on its head with the suggestion that this is an all-new kind of MacBook rather than a ‌MacBook Pro‌. Instead of succeeding the newly announced M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, the “MacBook Ultra” will be a new, top-tier Apple laptop. Gurman added that the device is likely to sit above the current M5 MacBook Pros, rather than replace them, suggesting that they will remain on sale. This would enable a markedly higher price point for the new machines. Gurman noted that when Apple brought OLED displays to the iPhone X in 2017 and the iPad Pro in 2024, it simultaneously …

Apple Could Launch Three New ‘Ultra’ Devices This Year

Apple Could Launch Three New ‘Ultra’ Devices This Year

Published by skeptic

Apple is planning to launch at least three new “Ultra”-class devices this year, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. Writing in this weekend’s “Power On” newsletter, Gurman explained that while the low-end of Apple’s product lineups are now well-served by the Apple Watch SE, iPad 11, and MacBook Neo, there is “a more significant shift underway” toward higher-end, “Ultra” devices. Apple is planning to launch at least three such devices this year: iPhone Ultra: With a ~$2,000 price tag, large inner display, and under-display sensors, the first foldable iPhone will “cast a shadow over the rest of the lineup.” AirPods Ultra: Priced above the current AirPods Pro at the top of the lineup, the new AirPods will feature computer-vision cameras to feed Visual Intelligence data to Siri. MacBook Ultra: With a touch-enabled OLED display that will raise the overall price by up to 20%, the new machine will likely sit above the current M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, rather than replace them. Gurman said that Apple “may not use the Ultra branding for all …