Posts Tagged: MacBook

Engadget Podcast: The MacBook Air M3 is great (but we still love the M2 Air)

Apple’s refreshed MacBook Air laptops are finally here, and they’re toting shiny new M3 chips. This week, Cherlynn chats with Devindra about his review of the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air M3. They’re faster, as we expected, but they’re also not a huge leap over the M2 MacBook Air, which now starts at $ 999. (And we’re sure you’ll find some excellent refurbished and used deals soon.) No matter which one you pick, though, you’re getting one of the most stunning ultraportable notebooks around. In other news, we discuss Apple’s nearly $ 2 billion fine from the EU, Microsoft’s upcoming Surface AI event and the death of Android apps on Windows 11.


Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!

Topics

  • Finally, the MacBook Air gets an M3 update – 0:41

  • EU fines Apple nearly $ 2 billion for “blocking” competing music apps – 15:27

  • iOS 17.4 brings third party app stores to the EU, podcast transcription for everyone – 20:18

  • Microsoft announces a Surface and AI event for later in March – 22:02

  • No more (Amazon App Store) Android apps in Windows – 27:49

  • Developer of Switch emulator Yuzu fined $ 2.4 million to settle suit with Nintendo – 39:19

  • Around Engadget: Sam Rutherford’s Nothing Phone 2 review – 46:17

  • Working on – 50:30

  • Pop culture picks – 57:47

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Credits
Hosts: Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-podcast-macbook-air-m3-review-133055974.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Best After-Christmas Apple Deals: iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook & more

If you want to use your Christmas cash on Apple products, here are the deals for you to shop right now.
Digital Trends

Apple may unveil M3 MacBook Airs in March alongside new iPad Pro and iPad Air models

Apple is planning some big hardware drops for early 2024, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In the Power On newsletter, Gurman predicts the company will release the next generation of iPad Pro and iPad Air in March — each of which is expected to come in two sizes — and the new M3 MacBook Airs. The Mac Studio and Mac Pro will likely be much later to the M3 party; Gurman writes that Apple won’t have these ready for release until at least the end of 2024, and they could even slip into 2025.

With the release of its new iPads, Apple is planning to make clearer distinctions between the models so the choices are less confusing for consumers, according to Gurman. The iPad Pro is expected to get Apple’s new M3 chip, an OLED display and come in two sizes: 11 and 13 inches. Apple will also release a new Magic Keyboard just for the Pro, Gurman says. The iPad Air, on the other hand, will come in a 10.9-inch version and a new 12.9-inch option, and use the M2 chip. The changes should make the differences between the high-end, midrange and standard iPads more obvious so people can more easily decide what fits their needs.

As for the M3 MacBook Air, Gurman says it’ll also likely come in March, in the usual 13- and 15-inch configurations. At that time, Apple may also kill off the 2020 M1 MacBook Air. Its higher-end models, the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, will be last to get the M3 upgrade.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-may-release-m3-macbook-air-in-march-and-refine-its-ipad-lineup-with-new-ipad-pro-and-ipad-air-205425798.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Best Apple deals: AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and MacBook

Apple fans know how fleeting deals can be, but we’ve rounded up some great Apple deals for you right here.
Digital Trends

Apple’s new 15-inch MacBook Air is already $49 off at Amazon

Apple announced its newest laptop, the 15-inch MacBook Air, this Monday during the brand’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference — and there’s already at least one retailer offering a nearly $ 50 discount on pre-orders. Apple set the retail price at $ 1,299, but right now Amazon is listing it for $ 1,249.99. You won’t see big red discount numbers or really any indication that its on sale, other than the fact that it’s cheaper than at any other retailer. The discount applies to the 256GB storage configuration in either Silver or Midnight. The larger, 512GB versions are also $ 49 off, but only in the Starlight or Space Gray colorways. 

Amazon has a history of promoting discounts that are small but notable (hey, $ 50 is $ 50) on new and desirable products, in the hopes that you buy your new device from its site over the competition. Apple’s announcement came after many months of speculation that the company would put out a laptop with a screen large enough for serious productivity, without making people spring for the extra cost (and potentially superfluous processing power) of the Pro model laptops. 

Our deputy editor Cherlynn Low was on the ground at WWDC and had a chance to put her hands on the newest MacBook. She was impressed by how light and thin it is at just 3.3 pounds and measuring under a half-inch thick. She reported that the Liquid Retina display was rich, vibrant and sharp. A demonstration of its processing power seemed speedy enough — that’s not surprising as it has the same M2 chip as the 13-inch MacBook Air, which performs remarkably well. But we’ll need to get a unit in for testing before we can properly evaluate it. 

In the meantime, here’s what the new 15-inch MacBook Air offers: A 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, a 1080p camera and a promised 18-hour battery life. The M2 chip in the base model has an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, instead of the optional 8-core GPU you can get with the 13-inch version. It has the same 8GB of RAM as the smaller model (which is configurable to 24GB) and the same storage options, either 256GB or 512GB (both configurable up to 2TB of SSD). The MBA 15 sadly didn’t add any additional ports — you’ll still just two Thunderbolt 4 ports with MagSafe plug for power and a 3.5mm headphone jack. 

When you pre-order now, your new MacBook Air should ship out next week. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-new-15-inch-macbook-air-is-already-49-off-at-amazon-184600287.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Apple’s MacBook Air M2 is on sale for $1,000 right now

If you’re in the market for a new ultraportable laptop, one of the best you can buy is on sale right now. While supplies last, you can get the base model M2 MacBook Air – in either Silver or Space Grey – for $ 1,000. That’s $ 200 off the MacBook Air’s current $ 1,200 starting price. It’s also an all-time low for the 2022 model. If interested in the new MacBook Air, we recommend acting fast on this deal.

Engadget Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar awarded the M2 MacBook Air a score of 96 last year. Since then, the ultraportable has sat atop our best laptops list, and for good reason. The M2 Air offers a compelling mix of performance, portability and ease of use. It also has a lovely 13.6-inch display and a powerful set of four speakers. What’s more, it’s possible to regularly get more than 16 hours of battery life out of the Air. Many will also appreciate that it only weighs 2.7 pounds and is less than 12 millimeters thick. Outside of a web camera that could be better and a modest 256GB of storage on the base model, there’s very little about the M2 Air that’s not compelling.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-macbook-air-m2-is-on-sale-for-1000-right-now-171756338.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Apple’s 512GB MacBook Air M2 falls to a new all-time low

Apple's MacBook air is the thin and light notebook to own if you're looking for the best mix of small size and performance, but the more desirable 512GB version is fairly expensive at $ 1,499. Fortunately, you can now grab that model Amazon for just $ 1,349 for a significant savings of $ 150 (10 percent) — the lowest price we've seen to date. And if you don't need that much space, the 256GB model is also on sale

Buy Apple MacBook Air M2 laptops at Amazon

With a 96 score on our Engadget review, the MacBook Air M2 is one of the best laptops we've ever test. For the first time since launch, Apple changed the design from a wedge to a uniformly thin form, making it not only thinner overall but more balanced. In fact, at 11.3 millimeters and 2.7 pounds, it weighs less than an iPad Pro with its smart keyboard. 

The 2,560 x 1,664 Liquid Retina screen is also slightly larger at 13.6 inches, thanks to the bezels and the webcam tucked into the screen notch up top. You also get improved speakers, a Magsafe power adapter and a pair of USB-C ports with support for charging, external monitors and data transfers up to 40Gbps. The M2 processor significantly boosts performance over the Air M1, offering performance nearly comparable to the 13-inch MacBook Pro M2. It starts rapidly, loads apps quickly and offers snappy performance across the board. 

The 512GB version is more desirable not only because of the extra space, but the faster SSD performance than the base model — and the $ 1,349 price tag is the lowest we've seen yet. If that's still not in your budget, the 256GB model is on sale at $ 1,099 for a savings of $ 100 (8 percent) — also an all-time low price.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Apple’s MacBook Air M1 is $100 off right now

While you may waiting in anticipation for Apple's next iteration of the MacBook Air, the current model is on sale at Amazon. You can pick up the 256GB MacBook Air M1 for $ 900 right now, or $ 100 off its normal price. We have seen it lower before — last year's holiday shopping season brought its lowest price ever of $ 800 — but a $ 100 discount remains a good one if you're in need of a new thin-and-light laptop.

Buy MacBook Air M1 (256GB) at Amazon – $ 900

We consider the MacBook Air M1 to be the best laptop for most people, despite it being about two years old at this point. It impressed us with its stellar performance and lack of fan noise, both of which help it feel speedier, smoother and more efficient than previous models. It also has improved GPU performance, and while it's not a gaming machine by any means, it can handle Apple Arcade games nicely.

Performance is the standout new feature on the MacBook Air M1, but that's only because Apple didn't fix what wasn't broken about the laptop's design. It's super thin and light, coming in at 2.8 pounds, plus it has a lovely 13-inch Retina Display, an excellent keyboard and trackpad and a battery that can last over 16 hours on a single charge. The biggest downsides come in its webcam and scant port selection. You're only getting a 720p webcam on this laptop, which is lackluster considering how much time many of us spend on video calls every day, and the machine has only two USB-C ports on it.

If you absolutely must have more ports and don't want to live the dongle life going forward, consider the 14-inch MacBook Pro instead. It's more expensive, but it'll be a better investment in the long run. However, if speed and portability are your top concerns, the MacBook Air M1 is one of the best options out there.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Apple’s new entry-level MacBook Pro may not include a ProMotion display

When Apple refreshed its MacBook Pro line last fall, it left the entry-level model alone. Since then, there have been rumors the company has been working on a new version of the computer that will feature its forthcoming M2 chip. Thanks to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, we now have a better idea of what to expect from the company.

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman says he expects the entry-level model will follow its siblings in dropping the much-maligned Touch Bar. He notes the computer is unlikely to include the ProMotion display technology found on the 2021 MacBook Pro, meaning it won’t support a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling. Mini-LED backlighting is apparently off the table as well, so don’t expect the base model’s display to get as bright as the screens on its counterparts. Internal storage is another area where you may have to compromise if you decide to buy the new model.

According to Gurman, Apple plans to release at least four M2-powered Macs in 2022. Outside of the aforementioned MacBook Pro, the company is reportedly preparing to refresh the MacBook Air, 24-inch iMac and entry-level Mac Mini to include the latest version of its in-house silicon. There are also reports the company is working on a 27-inch iMac Pro that will feature its M1 Pro and Max chips.

Gurman didn’t say when Apple fans should expect the company to release the new MacBook Pro model. We likely won’t see the computer at the company's next hardware event. In a separate report he published earlier this week, Gurman said Apple plans to host an event sometime on or around March 8th. The company will reportedly announce a new iPhone SE and iPad Air then.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

ICYMI: An in-depth look at Apple’s MacBook Air M1

Although there weren’t quite as many new products to review this week as there were in the previous couple of weeks, the devices we did get our hands on were impressive. We put Apple’s new MacBook Air with M1 system-on-chip to the test, as well as AM…
Engadget

Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro gets a $300 price drop at Amazon

Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro is barely a few months old, but there are already good deals to be had if you're willing to be patient. Amazon is selling the base configuration of Apple's latest laptop for $ 2,099, a full $ 300 off its usual sticker price…
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The Morning After: Reviewing Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Pro

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. It's time to find out if Apple's new MacBook Pro is worth the money, plus we'll break down the controversy over G2A's business model. Meanwhile, Nintendo slipped in a Switch upgrade and an iconic Braun product l…
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iFixit takes a peek inside the new MacBook Air

You know the drill — new hardware arrives and iFixit pulls it apart. Apple's revised MacBook Air just hit the shop table, so you can look inside while figuring out which of the company's portable computing solutions fits your lifestyle (if any of th…
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Samsung’s 2018 Notebook 9 lineup includes MacBook, Surface challengers

Last year Samsung's Notebook 9 laptop kept it simple with a standard thin-and-light design that got the important things right, but didn't sport flashy features like a high-res display or hybrid design. Earlier this year the Pro edition added a foldi…
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Outraged at the ports on the MacBook Pro? Apple slashes prices of its USB-C dongles

MacBook Pro customers, Apple has heard your cries! The company has slashed the prices of its USB-C dongles in response to the criticism surrounding the ports available on the new MacBook Pro.

The post Outraged at the ports on the MacBook Pro? Apple slashes prices of its USB-C dongles appeared first on Digital Trends.

Mobile–Digital Trends

We’re liveblogging Apple’s ‘Hello Again’ MacBook launch!

Hello again, indeed! If it feels like we were just doing this, it's because… we were. Apple held an event last month to unveil the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2. There was much fanfare and we had quite a bit to say about it all. Now, just a few…
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Somebody actually had the audacity to make a selfie stick for your MacBook

Capitalizing upon our obsession with … ourselves, the same team that brought you the real-life Netflix and Chill Room has now outdone itself, creating a selfie stick capable of supporting a full-size MacBook

The post Somebody actually had the audacity to make a selfie stick for your MacBook appeared first on Digital Trends.

Mobile–Digital Trends

Apple Updates 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display and MacBook Air

Apple has updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display and the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air. “Today, the popular 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, 11-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Air all received significant upgrades,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The 13-inch MacBook Pro has been updated with the latest processors, more powerful graphics, faster flash, longer battery life, and the all-new Force Touch trackpad. We’re also bringing the latest processors and graphics and faster Thunderbolt 2 to the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air, as well as up to two times faster flash to the 13-inch MacBook Air.”
Apple Hot News

Apple Unveils All-New MacBook

Apple today unveiled the all-new MacBook, a thinner and lighter line of notebooks available in gold, silver, and space gray aluminum finishes. MacBook features a 12-inch Retina display; a full-size keyboard; the all-new Force Touch trackpad; a compact USB-C port for data transfer, video out, and charging in a single connector; and a new battery designed to deliver all-day life. “Apple has reinvented the notebook with the new MacBook, and at just 2 pounds and 13.1 millimeters, it’s the thinnest and lightest Mac ever,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Every component of the MacBook reveals a new innovation. From its fanless design, ultrathin Retina display, and full-size keyboard that’s 34 percent thinner, to its all-new Force Touch trackpad, versatile USB-C port, and breakthrough terraced battery design, the new MacBook is the future of the notebook.”
Apple Hot News

Apple Introduces 15-inch MacBook Pro with Force Touch Trackpad and New $1999 iMac with Retina 5K Display

Apple today updated the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display with the new Force Touch trackpad, faster flash storage, longer battery life, and faster discrete graphics. Apple also introduced a new $ 1,999 configuration of the 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display featuring a 14.7 million pixel display, quad-core processors, and AMD graphics, and lowered the price of the top-end iMac to $ 2,299. “The response to the new MacBook and updated 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display has been amazing, and today we are thrilled to bring the new Force Touch trackpad, faster flash storage, and longer battery life to the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Customers love the groundbreaking iMac with Retina 5K display, and now with a new lower starting price, even more people can experience the best desktop we’ve ever made.”
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