Apple's Big Week: MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e, and M5 Macs

Apple does not often have weeks like this. Usually it is one product, maybe two, with the rest of the rumour mill filling in gaps for months. This week was different. MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e, M5 MacBook Air and Pro, iPad Air M4, and a completely overhauled display lineup - all at once. Here is what actually matters.

MacBook Neo: Entry-Level Mac That Actually Makes Sense

The MacBook Neo is the most interesting thing Apple has announced in a while, and not just because of the price. At £599, it runs the A18 Pro chip - the same silicon that powers the iPhone 16 Pro. That is not a cost-optimised, stripped-back chip. It is the real thing, in a laptop that costs less than most Windows machines in this category.

The specs read well for the price. You get a 13-inch Liquid Retina display at 2048 x 1506, 8GB unified memory, 256GB storage, and around 16 hours of battery life. It weighs 2.7 pounds and comes in four colours - blush, indigo, silver, and citrus, a yellow-green that is a clear nod to the original iBook. The coloured keyboard to match is a nice touch.

There are cuts worth knowing about. There is no MagSafe - charging is via USB-C only, and notably the right-hand port runs at USB 2.0 speeds rather than USB 3. The keyboard has no backlight. There is no ambient light sensor, so auto-brightness does not work properly. The second USB-C port is USB 3 and can drive an external display. The 1080p FaceTime camera has no notch, which is quietly interesting given Apple's previous justification for that design choice on the Air and Pro.

Pre-orders opened this week with a shipping date of 11 March.

Who it is for: Students, first-time Mac buyers, and anyone considering a Chromebook who wants a proper operating system. It is also a credible second machine for people who have a more powerful primary setup and want something light to carry without worrying about it.

iPhone 17e: Budget iPhone Finally Gets MagSafe

The iPhone 17e does one thing the 16e did not: it supports MagSafe. Wireless charging jumps from 7.5W Qi to 15W, and the full MagSafe accessory ecosystem is now available at the budget price point. That was the main reason to pass on the 16e, and Apple has fixed it.

The chip is the A18 - the same as the base iPhone 17, though with a 4-core GPU instead of 5. Base storage doubles to 256GB at the same price as last year. It gains Ceramic Shield 2 glass and Apple's new C1X modem for better 5G efficiency. There is also a new soft pink colour option.

What has not changed: the display is still 60Hz, there is still a notch rather than Dynamic Island, and it is still a single rear camera. The 16e is discontinued outright - there is no cheaper carry-over model.

If you are already invested in MagSafe accessories, or building out a creator setup around MagSafe mounting, the 17e makes a lot more sense as a starting point now. The iPhone Creator Pack pairs well with any MagSafe-ready iPhone at this price.

Ships 11 March alongside the MacBook Neo.

M5 MacBook Air and Pro: Faster, With a Storage Strategy Shift

The M5 chip brings roughly 30% better overall performance and up to four times faster on-device AI compared to the previous generation. That is the headline. The more interesting story is what Apple has done with storage.

The M4 MacBook Air started at $999 with 256GB. The M5 Air starts at $1,099 with 512GB. Apple is framing this as a storage upgrade at a small price increase - and technically that is accurate, since a 512GB M4 Air already cost $1,099. But the 256GB entry point is gone. If you wanted the cheapest possible MacBook Air before, that is no longer an option.

The M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are also available in MacBook Pro configurations, with the same performance uplift and improved neural engine performance.

iPad Air M4: A Quiet Update

The iPad Air moves from M3 to M4. That is the entire story. No design changes, no new features of note. If you have a recent iPad Air, there is no reason to upgrade.

Apple Display Lineup: Cleaner, Less Expensive to Mock

The Pro Display XDR is discontinued. In its place is the Studio Display XDR, sitting alongside a refreshed standard Studio Display. The display story is simpler now, and the lineup makes more sense without a £4,999 monitor requiring a separate stand as its own punchline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the MacBook Neo worth buying over the MacBook Air? If your budget is under £800 and your work is web browsing, documents, video calls, and casual creative work, the Neo is genuinely compelling. For heavier workflows, more port flexibility, or if you want MagSafe, step up to the MacBook Air.

What is the difference between iPhone 17e and iPhone 16e? The 17e adds MagSafe with 15W wireless charging, the A18 chip, 256GB base storage, Ceramic Shield 2 glass, and a new C1X modem. The display, camera, and overall design are largely unchanged. The 16e is no longer available.

Does the MacBook Neo work as a desktop replacement? It drives one external display via the left USB-C port, supports the full Mac app library, and handles everyday work without complaint. For sustained heavy workloads like video editing or running virtual machines, the MacBook Air or Pro is a better fit.