Trending Now - Apple Launches Budget-friendly Iphone 17e and Macbook Neo

WHO:

Apple Inc., a California-based technology company

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple

John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Apple

Chance Townsend, General Assignments Editor at Mashable

WHAT:

Apple announced the iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo on March 2, 2026.

The iPhone 17e features:

A19 chip

C1X cellular modem, which is approximately twice as fast as the modem in the iPhone 16e

6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with Ceramic Shield 2, offering three times the scratch resistance of the previous generation

48MP Fusion camera with optical-quality 2x telephoto crop

Baseline storage of 256GB, doubled from the previous generation, at a starting price of $599

Available colors: black, white, and soft pink

Pre-orders opened on March 4, 2026; official availability on March 11, 2026.

The MacBook Neo features:

A18 Pro chip, same as in the iPhone 16 Pro

8GB of unified memory, non-upgradable

256GB storage, with an option for 512GB

13-inch Liquid Retina display

Starting price of $599, or $499 for education customers

Available colors: blush, indigo, silver, and citrus

Pre-orders opened on March 4, 2026; official availability on March 11, 2026.

The MacBook Air was refreshed with the M5 chip, starting at $1,099 for the 13-inch model and $1,299 for the 15-inch model, with storage doubled to 512GB.

The MacBook Pro models were updated with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with prices starting at $2,199 for the 14-inch model and $2,699 for the 16-inch model.

The iPad Air was updated to the M4 chip, with prices starting at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model.

Studio Display and Studio Display XDR were also announced, with prices starting at $1,599 and $3,299, respectively.

WHERE:

Cupertino, California (Apple's headquarters)

Announcements made during events in New York, London, and Shanghai

WHEN:

iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo announced on March 2, 2026

Pre-orders for all products opened on March 4, 2026

Official availability for all products on March 11, 2026

Fiscal first quarter of 2026 reported on January 27, 2026

WHY:

Apple aims to expand its product lineup to reach more budget-conscious consumers and compete in the entry-level laptop market dominated by Windows laptops and Chromebooks.

The introduction of the iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo is part of a strategy to capitalize on strong sales momentum from the iPhone 17 models.

HOW:

Apple utilized its in-house silicon technology to create more affordable products while maintaining quality.

The MacBook Neo is designed to be lightweight and durable, with a focus on essential everyday tasks and AI integration.

Apple Inc. made headlines last week by announcing the iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo on March 2, 2026, during events held in New York, London, and Shanghai. The iPhone 17e boasts impressive features, including an A19 chip, a fast C1X cellular modem, and a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, all starting at $599 with pre-orders opening on March 4 and official availability on March 11. Meanwhile, the MacBook Neo, which shares the A18 Pro chip with the iPhone 16 Pro, also starts at $599 and offers a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, with pre-orders available from the same date. Apple has also refreshed its MacBook Air and Pro models, introducing new chips and increased storage options, while the iPad Air received an upgrade to the M4 chip. The company aims to attract budget-conscious consumers with these new products, leveraging its in-house silicon technology to offer quality and affordability in a competitive market.