From iPhone 17e to MacBook Neo: A look at everything Apple unveiled this week

It has been an eventful week for Apple, with the company unveiling a wave of new products across its smartphone, tablet and laptop lineup. The announcements include the new iPhone 17e, an upgraded iPad Air M4, the colourful MacBook Neo, and refreshed MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models powered by Apple’s latest silicon.

Across these devices, Apple is emphasising faster performance, improved battery life and stronger on-device AI capabilities. The company has also continued its push towards sustainability by increasing the use of recycled materials in several of its new products.

From a redesigned entry-level iPhone to laptops built for heavy creative workloads, here is a closer look at everything Apple announced this week.

More from Tech

iPhone 17e: The affordable iPhone

The iPhone 17e arrives as a new addition to Apple’s smartphone lineup and is priced from Rs 64,900 in India for the 256GB variant. The 512GB model is listed at Rs 84,900, positioning the phone as a mid-tier option within Apple’s portfolio.

Apple has equipped the device with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display protected by Ceramic Shield 2. The company claims the updated glass technology is up to three times more resistant to scratches than before and also reduces reflections, making the display easier to view under bright outdoor lighting.

At the core of the device is the new Apple A19 chip, built on an advanced 3-nanometre process. The chipset includes a 6-core CPU that Apple says can deliver up to twice the performance of the iPhone 11, along with a 4-core GPU designed for graphics-heavy tasks. The GPU also supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, allowing mobile games to render more realistic lighting and shadows.

Apple says the combination of efficiency and performance enables the phone to deliver all-day battery life. Charging options include USB-C fast charging, which can power the device to about 50 per cent in roughly 30 minutes, as well as MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W.

For photography, the iPhone 17e features a 48MP Fusion camera, similar to the one found in the iPhone 16e. The camera allows users to capture images at the full 48MP resolution or switch to a 24MP default mode that balances detail and file size. On the front, the device houses a 12MP camera designed for selfies and video calls.

iPad Air M4

The newly launched iPad Air M4 is available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, offering multiple storage options and both Wi-Fi and cellular variants.

The 11-inch model starts at Rs 64,900 for the 128GB Wi-Fi version, while higher configurations are priced at Rs 74,900 for 256GB, Rs 94,900 for 512GB, and Rs 1,14,900 for 1TB. Buyers opting for Wi-Fi + Cellular connectivity will need to pay an additional Rs 15,000 for each storage tier. Meanwhile, the 13-inch model begins at Rs 84,900 for the 128GB configuration and goes up to Rs 1,34,900 for the 1TB version.

The standout feature of the tablet is the Apple M4 chip, which Apple says is up to 30 per cent faster than the previous M3-powered iPad Air and 2.3 times faster than the M1 model.

The device now includes 12GB of unified memory, representing a 50 per cent increase compared with the earlier generation. This additional memory is intended to support the more advanced multitasking and AI features available in iPadOS 26.

Apple has also introduced its C1X modem in the new iPad Air, a technology first seen in the iPhone Air. According to the company, the modem offers up to 50 per cent faster cellular speeds while consuming 30 per cent less power, helping improve battery efficiency during heavy data usage.

Connectivity improvements come via Apple’s new N1 wireless chip, which enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity. Both display sizes feature Liquid Retina IPS panels with 264 pixels per inch and up to 600 nits of brightness, providing sharp visuals for streaming, creative work and gaming.

MacBook Neo: The most awaited low-budget MacBook

One of the more eye-catching additions to Apple’s lineup is the MacBook Neo, a lightweight laptop that introduces brighter colours to the company’s traditionally understated design language.

The device is available in Silver, Blush, Citrus and Indigo, adding a vibrant twist to the MacBook family. In India, the 256GB variant with Magic Keyboard is priced at Rs 69,900, while the 512GB version with Touch ID costs Rs 79,900.

The MacBook Neo features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display capable of 500 nits of brightness, delivering sharp visuals and vivid colours for everyday use. Apple says the laptop is built using 60 per cent recycled aluminium, the highest proportion of recycled materials used in any Apple product so far.

Powering the laptop is the Apple A18 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 16 Pro. The company says the chip is capable of handling everyday productivity apps and AI-driven tasks while maintaining energy efficiency.

Apple claims the laptop can deliver up to 16 hours of battery life, making it suitable for students and professionals who need a portable device that lasts through a full day of work.

MacBook Air with M5 chip

Apple has also refreshed its popular MacBook Air with M5, bringing the next-generation Apple M5 chip to its thin-and-light laptop lineup.

The new MacBook Air is available in 13-inch and 15-inch variants, priced from Rs 1,19,900 and Rs 1,44,900 respectively. Both models come in colour options including Sky Blue, Midnight, Starlight and Silver.

The laptop continues Apple’s focus on portability. It weighs 1.23 kilograms and measures under 1.15 centimetres thick, making it one of the thinnest laptops in the company’s portfolio. Apple also notes that the device is built using more than 50 per cent recycled materials, including a recycled aluminium enclosure.

Under the hood, the M5 chip features a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. Each GPU core includes a Neural Accelerator, which Apple says improves on-device AI processing and machine learning workloads. The MacBook Air M5 is rated for up to 18 hours of battery life and supports fast charging, allowing the battery to reach 50 per cent capacity in around 30 minutes.

MacBook Pro with M5, M5 Pro and M5 Max chip

Apple’s high-performance laptop lineup has also been refreshed with the latest MacBook Pro with M5 series. The laptops are offered in 14.2-inch and 16.2-inch sizes and come with multiple chip configurations.

The 14-inch model can be configured with the Apple M5 chip, Apple M5 Pro chip, or Apple M5 Max chip. The 16-inch version is available exclusively with the M5 Pro or M5 Max processors.

Pricing begins at Rs 1,89,900 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip. The M5 Pro variants start at Rs 2,49,900 for the 14-inch model and Rs 2,99,900 for the 16-inch version. At the top end, the M5 Max models cost Rs 3,99,900 and Rs 4,29,900 respectively.

Both laptops feature Liquid Retina XDR displays with 1,600 nits of peak HDR brightness and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, offering one of the best displays currently available on a laptop.

Connectivity options include three Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, MagSafe 3 charging, an SDXC card slot, and a headphone jack. A 12MP Centre Stage camera handles video calls and automatically keeps users centred in the frame, while Desk View allows them to share their workspace during meetings.

The M5 chip family is designed to deliver substantial performance gains. Apple says the base M5 chip can offer up to six times the performance of the M1, while the M5 Pro delivers up to 7.8 times the speed of the M1 Pro. The M5 Max, meanwhile, is built for demanding creative and scientific workloads and can provide up to eight times the performance of the M1 Max.