Apple's product events are eagerly awaited around the world, with fans discussing rumors and anticipating new product releases in the lead up. Apple's recent "Unleashed" event was no different, with the company announcing new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with new Apple silicon chips, AirPods 3, and more.
We've covered everything Apple announced below, so read on to learn what you need to know.
14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro Models
Apple officially announced its new next-generation MacBook Pro lineup powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max processors. The Macs bring back a variety of ports and have more powerful processors—but they also include a notch in the screen.
The new MacBook Pro models come in two sizes: 14-inch or 16-inch. They include three Thunderbolt 4 ports, as well as an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, and MagSafe connectivity for charging. The Touch Bar has also been removed in favor of the traditional function keys atop the keyboard.
The displays have been upgraded in favor of mini-LED technology for up to 1,000 nits of sustained, full-screen brightness and an incredible 1,600 nits of peak brightness for HDR content. Apple has also introduced its ProMotion display technology to the Mac for the first time, offering up to 120Hz refresh rate.
Apple has also included a notch cutout on the top of the MacBook Pro display—much to the dismay of fans. The notch is similar to the iPhone, with a camera that comes in at a 1080p resolution as compared to the 720p resolution on previous MacBook models.
In terms of specifications, the 14-inch MacBook Pro features the M1 Pro processor (more on the new processors below). It can also be configured with 32GB of RAM and up to 8TB of SSD storage. The 16-inch can be configured with either the M1 Pro or M1 Max processors and can be customized with up to 64GB of RAM and 8TB of SSD storage.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,999 whereas the 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,499. For those looking to make a smaller dent in their wallet, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 chip is still available at the same $1,299 price point.
M1 Pro and M1 Max Chips
Apple unveiled the next step in Apple Silicon chips, dubbed the M1 Pro and M1 Max. These are the new versions of the M1 chip that first debuted last year.
The M1 Pro processor is up to 70 percent faster than the M1. It has a 10-core design with 8 high-performance cores and two high-efficiency cores. For graphics, the M1 Pro has an up-to-16-core GPU that is up to twice as fast as the M1. The M1 Pro can be built with up to 32GB of RAM, as compared to the current 16GB limitation on the M1 Mac models.
Apple calls the M1 Max range the "world's most powerful chips for a pro notebook." The chip is paired with a powerful 32-core GPU for up to four times faster graphics performance than the M1. It can be configured up to 64GB of RAM.
The M1 Pro powers both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro base models, whereas the 16-inch MacBook Pro can also be configured with the M1 Max for a higher price tag.
AirPods 3
The rest of Apple's event focused on music, with the company announcing the new third-generation AirPods. The AirPods 3 are inspired by the AirPods Pro design with some subtle changes.
The AirPods 3 look nearly identical to the AirPods Pro, but they come without ear tips. This means that they have the same plastic surface as the AirPods 2. Apple says that the "contoured design" is meant to fit at "just the right angle for comfort and to direct audio into the ear."
The new AirPods are resistant to sweat and water, with an IPX4 rating. Apple has also introduced MagSafe charging support to the AirPods 3 case. There is the option to also charge using Lightning. The AirPods pack up to six hours of listening time per charge, and up to 30 hours of total listening time with a fully charged case.
The AirPods 3 are available to order for $179. The current second-generation AirPods also remain available to purchase from Apple for a lower price of $129. The AirPods Pro now also comes with a MagSafe-enabled case for the same $249 price.
New HomePod mini Colors
The HomePod mini has been introduced in three new colors: yellow, orange, and blue. These colors join the existing white and space gray options for the same $99 price point.
Apple Music Voice Plan
Apple also announced a new voice-only subscription for Apple Music, called the Apple Music Voice Plan. It's only $4.99 per month but only allows users to use Siri to choose and play music rather than use the interface and app on phones, tablets, and laptops.
Apple Music Voice Plan is more suited to casual listeners who don't spend hours carefully curating playlists and just want to casually listen to music or owners of a HomePod. The downside is that you can only control it using Siri, so if you don't use Siri, you might have a hard time adjusting to the service.
Are You Interested?
Now that you know all of Apple's latest releases, are you interested in purchasing any of them? The products will be available from October 26, so be sure to check them out at an Apple store before purchasing them. Or if you're really convinced, pre-order them directly from Apple's website.