Apple Inc. has kicked off what it described as a “big week” of announcements, unveiling a series of new products ahead of its in-person event for press and creators scheduled for March 4.
The tech giant began the week on Monday with the launch of the iPhone 17e and a refreshed iPad Air powered by the M4 chip. On Tuesday, Apple expanded the lineup with the introduction of the new M5 MacBook Air, the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, updated MacBook Pro models featuring those processors, a refreshed Studio Display and a new 27-inch Studio Display XDR.
Here’s a closer look at the key announcements so far.
iPhone 17e
Apple has updated its entry-level iPhone while maintaining the starting price at $599. The iPhone 17e now comes with 256GB of base storage — double that of its predecessor, the iPhone 16e.
The device adds MagSafe support and Qi2 wireless charging with speeds up to 15W, twice as fast as the previous model. While the external design remains largely unchanged, the 6.1-inch Super Retina display now features Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple says offers three times better scratch resistance and reduced glare compared to the earlier version.
The iPhone 17e retains the 48MP Fusion camera system found in the iPhone 16e. It is powered by the A19 chip — the same processor used in the iPhone 17 — enabling support for Apple Intelligence AI features and running on iOS 26.
Apple has also integrated its new C1X cellular modem, which it claims is up to twice as fast as the earlier C1 modem. The device carries an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and promises all-day battery life. Satellite-based features such as Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages and Find My are also supported.
Pre-orders open on March 4, with availability beginning March 11 in more than 70 countries and regions. The phone will be offered in black, white and soft pink.
iPad Air with M4 Chip
Apple also introduced a new iPad Air equipped with its M4 processor. While this keeps the iPad Air one generation behind the iPad Pro — which now runs on the newer M5 chip — the M4 still delivers strong performance for everyday tasks such as streaming, browsing and email, as well as more demanding applications like video editing.
The company has increased RAM from 8GB in the previous model to 12GB. Despite rising component costs, Apple has maintained pricing: the 11-inch model starts at $599 and the 13-inch version at $799, both with 128GB of storage. A $50 education discount is available.
According to Apple, the M4 chip offers up to 2.3 times faster performance compared to the M1 iPad Air and more than four times faster 3D rendering with ray tracing. The device runs on iPadOS 26.
Connectivity has also been upgraded with the addition of Apple’s N1 and C1X chips, making this the first iPad Air to support Wi-Fi 7. Optional 5G cellular connectivity is also available.
The overall design remains similar to the previous two generations, including the same LCD display, rear camera system and dual-speaker setup.
Like the iPhone 17e, pre-orders for the M4 iPad Air begin on March 4, with retail availability starting March 11 in 35 countries and regions. It will be available in blue, purple, starlight and space gray.
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