Apple Q2 earnings preview: Analysts forecast robust growth with iPhone and Greater China leading the charge
Apple is set to report its fiscal second-quarter financial results after market close today, and Wall Street analysts are projecting… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Motorola Razr Fold price and availability announced ahead of iPhone Ultra
The book-style folding smartphone market continues to grow ahead of the expected launch of the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra later this year. We’ve so far seen models from Oppo, Huawei and Samsung, with a new Motorola device available soon. We already knew a lot of details about the Motorola Razr Fold, but this now includes the price and launch date in the US … more…

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iOS 27 will offer a range of AI features that can still be ignored
Apple will reveal more Apple Intelligence features than ever before during WWDC, but they will continue to stay out of the user's way. Those that don't want AI can just ignore it or turn it off.Siri's AI revamp is only a part of Apple's strategy with iOS 27We're only a few weeks away from WWDC 2026, so the internal leaks have begun in earnest. While I'm sure Apple Intelligence and AI will play a major role at the event, I also expect Apple to respect its user base.Unless something dramatic has changed at Apple, and no, I'm not talking about a CEO transition, I doubt Apple's stance on AI has shifted. Ever since its first big AI event at WWDC 2024, Apple has made it clear that it views AI as a tool that should be in the background and on device. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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I dumped Adobe for Apple and got everything I need for less
Macworld For years, Adobe Creative Cloud has been an essential part of my workflow. While I’m always writing as a journalist, I’m also constantly editing photos and videos, and Photoshop, Premiere, Lightroom, and other apps have been essential to my work. But like many freelance creators, I started to wonder if paying such a high price for Adobe apps was really worth it. Even before Apple Creator Studio became a reality, I had already decided to switch from Adobe to Apple and Pixelmator apps (which now belong to Apple). If you’re also wondering whether the switch is worth it, read on as I detail how this decision impacted my workflow and which suite is better. Adobe made sense, until it didn’t I’m not here to disparage Adobe apps. There’s a reason why Adobe dominates the industry when it comes to creativity apps. Creative Cloud offers powerful tools that work seamlessly with each other and are widely used in professional environments. Few things are easier than starting to edit a photo in Lightroom and retouching it in Photoshop with just a few clicks. Plus, if you work in a team, at an agency, or in a corporate environment, Adobe is usually the standard. It’s hard to be the only one using different software when you need to collaborate with others. But as a solo creator, I started to realize that I wasn’t actually using most of what I was paying for. Adobe’s Creative Cloud apps are incredibly powerful, but are also very expensive. Foundry I’ve been an independent journalist for years, and I also work from home. And as a Mac user, I started to notice that Adobe apps aren’t really optimized to take advantage of all the newer features in Apple hardware and software. All of Adobe’s apps run natively on Apple silicon, of course, but Adobe doesn’t keep up with the latest advancements in hardware or software as Apple does. And yet, I was locked into a subscription that kept getting more expensive and harder to cancel. Annual plans, cancellation fees, and constant subscription renewals created a sense that I was renting my tools indefinitely, whether I wanted them or not. Pixelmator Pro replaced Photoshop more easily than expected There’s no denying that Photoshop is the most powerful image editor on the market. There’s no denying that. But I also realized that I didn’t need all that power most days. My main use for Photoshop was to create artwork and crop images for my articles, or make templates for social media posts. I’m not a novice user, but I also didn’t really need all of Photoshop’s advanced tools. Pixelmator Pro is a worthy alternative to Photoshop.Foundry I gave other apps such as Affinity Photo a try and ended up choosing Pixelmator Pro as my new image editor. At the time, Apple hadn’t yet acquired the app, and it was only available for Mac, which wasn’t a problem since I prefer working on my Mac anyway. With Pixelmator Pro, you can work with multiple layers, add shapes, text, and masks, remove backgrounds, adjust colors, apply effects, and more. But one of my favorite features is Super Resolution, which uses AI to restore low-resolution images. Pixelmator Pro doesn’t have as many tools as Photoshop, but it gets the job done and covers everything I need for retouching, compositing, cropping, and easy exporting to the web and social media. The interface is much cleaner and easier to use than Photoshop’s, which is great for beginners. And Pixelmator Pro is a great Mac app. It’s built with the latest technologies and runs extremely smoothly on Apple silicon Macs. It became clear to me that I no longer needed Photoshop in my life. It started to feel like overkill. Photomator is the perfect Lightroom alternative In order to dump Adobe, I also needed a replacement for Lightroom. Since I was already using Pixelmator Pro, Photomator felt like the best and most natural choice. From the same developers as Pixelmator Pro and now also owned by Apple, Photomator is the perfect app for batch editing photos. Photomator is an underrated tool for touching up photos.Foundry It has all the essential tools for editing photos with color and texture correction, LUT support, automatic subject and background selection, and compatibility with multiple RAW formats. It’s also super easy to use and integrates with the iCloud Photos library, which is a huge plus for me. Like Pixelmator Pro, Photomator also has some interesting AI-based features, such as Super Resolution, Smart Deband to remove color banding artifacts, Denoise to remove camera noise, and Repair to remove imperfections or entire objects from a photo.  I also find that Photomator runs noticeably faster and smoother on my Mac than Lightroom. Plus, Photomator is available on iPhone and iPad, so I can edit photos right from my phone or retouch them with Apple Pencil on my iPad. Final Cut Pro is a real upgrade over Premiere When it comes to video editing, both Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro offer advanced tools and are widely used in the industry. But for me, Final Cut is much easier to use. Despite having professional tools for color grading, LUTs, transitions, and effects, Apple designed Final Cut Pro with an interface that makes it look like iMovie. Even if you’ve never edited a video before, you’ll learn how to use it in no time. Final Cut Pro is superior in many ways to Premiere.Foundry Of course, if you’re coming from Adobe Premiere, there’s definitely a learning curve. You have to relearn the interface, menus, keyboard shortcuts, and adjust your workflow. But once you do, you’ll master Final Cut and enjoy some excellent new tools. My favorite thing about Final Cut Pro over Premiere is the magnetic timeline. You can easily drag and drop videos, images, and audio files onto the timeline to rearrange them as you like, while Premiere is still track-based and much more complex to compose your videos. Once again, performance is also a key aspect of Final Cut Pro. It runs infinitely better than Adobe Premiere on macOS, and rendering time is also much faster. This really helps speed up my workflow. How the iPad fits I switched from Adobe to Apple because I’m more of a Mac person. Still, I have an iPad Pro that helps me work on the go. Both Apple Creator Studio and Adobe Creative Cloud offer versions of their apps for the iPad, but there are a few things to keep in mind. iPad apps, whether from Apple or Adobe, lack some of the features found in their desktop versions. With my Adobe subscription, I had access to iPad versions of Photoshop, Lightroom, and even Premiere. They were far from being desktop apps, but still quite useful when my Mac wasn’t around. Apple Creator Studio is just a few months old and already has some excellent features for the price.Apple When it comes to Creator Studio, you’ll find both Final Cut Pro and Pixelmator Pro on the iPad. However, while I love Final Cut Pro on the Mac, the iPad version still feels too basic. The mobile version of Premiere offers more tools (such as using AI to enhance audio) and is even available on the iPhone. I miss that, and it feels like a missed opportunity for Apple. Pixelmator Pro on iPad has pretty much the same tools available on the Mac, but with some limitations. You can’t open files with a huge number of layers, for example. Meanwhile, Photomator for iPad is also an excellent app, but here’s the thing: It’s not part of Creator Studio, which means you have to buy it separately ($119 or $30/year). Even worse, buying the Mac version doesn’t give you access to the iPad version, so you essentially need to buy it twice. So if you want to focus on creating on the iPad, Adobe is probably still be the best option. As I previously wrote here on Macworld, Apple hasn’t fully figured out Pro apps for the iPad yet. The price difference is a no-brainer Adobe Creative Cloud is powerful, but it’s expensive, especially if you need more than one app. Even the Photography plan with Photoshop and Lightroom adds up over time, and the full Creative Cloud subscription can feel heavy if you’re working independently. Apple, on the other hand, has a much more appealing deal with Creator Studio. For $12.99 per month or $129 per year, you get access to Final Cut Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Logic Pro, and many other apps. The only downside is that Photomator is not included in the bundle (a lifetime license costs $119). Adobe, on the other hand, charges $19.99 per month for its Photography plan with only two apps. If you want the full suite, it will cost you $69.99 per month if you commit to a full year or $104.99 on a per-month basis, and canceling incurs hefty fees. For independent creators, the price difference matters a lot—especially when you consider that two months is more than a full year of Creator Studio. Foundry Why I don’t regret switching When I first switched over to Creator Studio, I was afraid of losing important features by ditching Adobe apps. But in reality, Apple apps offer pretty much everything I need and are much more affordable. Final Cut Pro feels faster and more enjoyable to use on a Mac. Pixelmator Pro and Photomator cover everything I need for images without overwhelming me with features I’ll never touch. Are Adobe apps more advanced in many areas? Absolutely. But for an independent creator working primarily within the Apple ecosystem, they’re not always necessary. I can still do my job, and I no longer pay a fortune for tools I wasn’t fully using. If that’s the case for you (especially if you have a Mac), you should definitely give switching from Adobe to Apple apps a try.

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Sketchy rumor suggests Apple Glasses will support Vision Pro-style hand gestures
We’re expecting to see the launch of an Apple Glasses product at some point next year, and a sketchy rumor suggests that they may borrow a key feature from Vision Pro. Specifically, it’s said they may be able to recognize hand gestures as a means of interacting with the wearable device – but there’s good reason to doubt the claim … more…

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FaceTime like a pro with these 7 hidden features
Macworld Back in 2010, Steve Jobs introduced FaceTime as an iPhone 4 perk, letting users video call their loved ones over Wi-Fi. The service matured over the years, bringing more advanced features like group calls, screen sharing, and much more. Despite its evolution, many users continue to rely on FaceTime for basic one-to-one audio and video calls, disregarding the slew of advanced tools it now offers. If you’re looking to make the most of FaceTime, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with these lesser-known tips and tricks. Smooth operator One of the main reasons many people are drawn to Apple-only setups is the ecosystem that brings all your devices together through a set of features Apple calls “Continuity.” Handoff is one of the popular Continuity features: it lets you seamlessly move a task from one Apple device to another. FaceTime supports it, so you can move audio and video calls between your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. For example, if a video call is taking longer than expected and I’m tired of holding my iPhone, I can conveniently move it to my MacBook. Similarly, I can hand off a call from the living room’s TV to my iPhone if I’m heading out during a call. Foundry To use the feature, make sure the Handoff toggle is enabled under Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity. Now, whenever you’re FaceTiming, all of your nearby devices will display a persistent notification that you can click to effortlessly move the call without interrupting it. Take the wheel Technology enthusiasts often become the default troubleshooters for their friends and family. FaceTime simplifies the process through its screen sharing feature. You could even doodle on the shared screen by tapping it, guiding the other party on where to tap. That’s not always efficient, however. Just tap the screen during a FaceTime call to show the controls, hit the share button and select Share My Screen. Fortunately, FaceTime supports remote control; you can initiate a session by tapping the dedicated button in the bottom-right corner of the screen sharing interface. Once the other party approves your request, you’ll be able to remotely control their iPhone by tapping and swiping naturally on your screen. It truly makes resolving technical issues easier when you’re away from each other. App-solute fun SharePlay is another FaceTime perk that brings people together while they’re apart. During a call, tap the 3-dot menu (…), followed by SharePlay. This will bring up a list of installed apps that support the feature, such as popular music and video streaming services. Once you select an app and its relevant content, you’ll be able to enjoy it on your individual devices at the same time. It’s a neat way to socialize with faraway friends and keep the stream in sync. Foundry The aforementioned list also includes apps that support collaboration, including Apple’s own productivity suite. So, you could similarly collaborate on a document via SharePlay by following the same steps. Face card never declines Between messy rooms and unforgiving lighting, video calls can easily put participants on the spot. Luckily, FaceTime offers several enhancements that can polish your audio and video streams. Head to your iPhone’s Control Center during a call, and tap on the Controls bar at the very top. This will reveal several effects that you can instantly apply, including Portrait for blurring chaotic backgrounds, Studio Light for adjusting the lighting on your face, and Center Stage to keep you in frame as you move. Likewise, you can opt for the Voice Isolation option when sitting in noisy places to clean up your audio. Foundry If you’re using a Mac, you get to utilize a couple of exclusive perks, including virtual backgrounds to completely conceal your surroundings and Edge Light, which acts as a digital ring light. Graphic responses Speaking of effects, FaceTime supports more prominent ones that can emphasize a certain opinion or emotion during a call. The Reactions toolbox includes a heart, thumb up, thumb down, balloons, rain, confetti, lasers, and fireworks. To apply any of them, simply tap and hold on your thumbnail during a FaceTime video call, and pick the desired reaction. You could alternatively enable the Reactions toggle after expanding your video tile and perform their respective gestures to apply them. Foundry Links to the other side If you’ve accidentally befriended Android or Windows users, you can actually FaceTime them, too. All you have to do is launch the FaceTime app on your iPhone, click on New Call, followed by Link (chain icon in the bottom-left corner). You can then optionally give the call a name and share the generated link via any messaging app. Foundry Keep in mind that anyone with the link will be able to request to join the call via a web browser. FaceTime doesn’t require them to sign in with an Apple Account, and they can assign themselves any alias. They’ll also be able to view your FaceTime caller ID (typically your phone number), so you should only share links privately with people you trust. Eye-catching tech During a FaceTime call, users naturally focus on the center of the screen, so you can see the other person. Because the front camera is positioned at the top, this creates the impression that you are looking downward instead of making eye contact. Your iPhone, however, can use its AI smarts to correct your gaze and establish virtual eye contact. Simply head to Settings > Apps > FaceTime, and enable the Eye Contact toggle. Et voilà.

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Let AI handle the repetitive stuff — MS Visual Studio makes coding easier for $35
Macworld TL;DR: Through May 17, get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for $34.97 (MSRP $499.99) and take advantage of AI-assisted coding, cross-platform development tools, and more. Macs are great dev machines, but if your work has to ship across Windows, Linux, and everything in between, you’ve almost certainly spent time in Visual Studio. The latest release rolls in stronger AI tools, faster performance, and better workflows for teams. Included in Visual Studio 2026: Visual Studio Professional 2026 is a 64-bit development environment, designed to handle massive codebases and complex projects without slowing you down. You can build everything from mobile apps to web platforms and containerized cloud services. Some highlights include: AI-assisted coding with IntelliCode: suggests code based on patterns in your project, helping you write faster and reduce repetitive boilerplate. Cross-platform development tools: build and debug .NET or C++ apps targeting Windows, Linux, and containers, making it useful for mixed-device teams. Live Share collaboration: jump into real-time coding sessions without teammates needing to clone repos or install dependencies. CodeLens insights: see commit history, tests, and authors directly in your editor so you understand your codebase faster. Don’t miss this great deal on Microsoft Visual Studio Pro 2026, on sale for $34.97 (MSRP $499.99) until May 17. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Exclusive: All Babbel language courses available for one lifetime price
Macworld TL;DR: Lifetime access to Babbel’s 14 languages for $159.00 (reg. $646.20) with code LEARN at checkout — expires June 30. AI can translate a menu, but it can’t teach you how actually to hold a conversation. The folks at Babbel know this and take a different approach than those gimmicky AI language learning apps. Every lesson is crafted by a team of 100+ linguists and language educators, built around real-life dialogue, cultural nuance, and the kind of practical exchanges that actually come up when you’re out in the world. Right now, a lifetime subscription to all 14 languages is $159.00 with code LEARN at checkout — but the deal ends June 30. You’ll get access to over 10,000 hours of content across Spanish, French, German, Italian, Turkish, and more. Lessons run just 10 to 15 minutes and are grounded in everyday scenarios, so you’re learning language the way humans actually use it — not just pattern-matching through an algorithm. Speech recognition helps you refine your pronunciation, and offline access keeps your learning going wherever you are. Whether you’re prepping for a trip or want a structured path to fluency, Babbel’s human-centered method is built to get you there. Get Babbel for $159.00 (reg. $646.20) with code LEARN — offer ends June 30 at 11:59 PM PT. Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Macworld Podcast: Why you should care about Apple’s big CEO change
Macworld Apple has announced that Tim Cook will no longer serve as Apple’s CEO and John Ternus will have the job starting on September 1. In this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we talk about the announcement and what it could mean.  This is episode 981 with Michael Simon, Jason Cross, and Roman Loyola.  Watch episode 981 on YouTube Listen to episode 981 on Apple Podcasts

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AirPods Max 2 is $19 Off
The next-generation AirPods Max provides you with the ultimate over-ear listening experience, giving you improved high-fidelity audio, crisp highs, expansive mids and deep bass made possible with the Apple made H2 chip. It also places sound all around you with personalized Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking.Break language barriers with Live Translation powered by Apple […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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MacBook Neo Behind the Scenes Clip Shared by Apple
A YouTube Short has been released by Apple, showing the behind the scenes of the creation of their introduction video for their MacBook Neo. The clip shows what Apple described as a look at the handmade magic showing the camera techniques and physical models used during the making. Real-world props were also shown, merged with […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Looking To Have OLED Micro Curved Panel for 20th Anniversary iPhone
For the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, Apple is looking to Samsung to create a custom OLED display that is micro-curved that will be thinner and brighter than current panels in the market. Apple is rumored to be creating a radical design for their 20th anniversary iPhone; it might have a bezel and a display […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iPhone 18 To Have 12GB of RAM
The upcoming base iPhone 18 is rumored to have 12GB of memory, marking the first time for base iPhone models to have this much memory. A report surfaced that the base iPhone 18 model will have 12GB Of RAM like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro. Apple has reportedly secured the first […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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AirPods 4 is $30 Off
The AirPods 4 feature personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking placing sound all over you creating a concert, theater like experience when you put them on. They have been redesigned for comfort with a shorter stem, quick-press controls for both calls and music and a refined contour. The case is 10% smaller in volume […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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MacBook Ultra To Have These Features
The MacBook Pro has just been refreshed and given the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. There are already rumors that the device is expected to have bigger updates. The devices are rumored to be getting a significant redesign by early next year and Apple may use the branding MacBook Ultra for the devices. As […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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XChat Released
XChat has been released today on X, a standalone platform for messaging for the iPad and iPhone that allows people to chat with anyone on the platform X in private, separate from X. During launch, the app will support group chat, video calls, audio, and direct messaging, along with file sharing. It will have PIN […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iPhone Ultra Won’t Have Some Features From iPhone 18 Pro
The iPhone Ultra is the upcoming foldable iPhone Apple will be releasing later this year. Despite the price tag of $2,000, the device is expected not to have at least 5 features that are available on the iPhone 18 Pro. Dummy model photos have been uploaded by Vadim Yuryev and Sonny Dickson showing the missing […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Watch Series 11 42mm GPS is $100 Off
The Apple Watch 11 has safety features capable of detecting severe car crashes and hard falls. It also connects you to emergency hotlines automatically to let them know of your situation and to receive immediate medical attention. The watch features a lightweight and thin design, allowing for comfortable all-day wear even when you are sleeping […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Watch and iPhone Pairing Highlighted in Apple Ad
A new ad was uploaded by Apple to attract customers who are in the market with an Apple Watch and iPhone pairing, emphasizing the insights that the watch and device can provide you for your health. The ad was titled Health with iPhone + Apple Watch. It is a half-minute long, and it follows a […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Rate for Savings Account on Apple Card Lowered
The Apple Card’s savings account interest rate has been lowered to 3.50% from 3.65%, notifications are sent regarding the reduced rate to users of the Apple Card this Thursday. The interest rate for Savings Account fluctuates often due to the changes made by the Federal Reserve.  When the rates are reduced the APY or Annual […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Verizon is selling Apple AirPods 3 for $199, $50 off MSRP
Verizon has Apple AirPods Pro 3 on sale for 20% off MSRP on their online store right now. Their price is among the lowest prices available for these AirPods from any Apple retailer. Verizon service is not required for purchase. Buy online and choose free shipping or free local store pickup (if available). Sale price for online orders only, in-store price may vary. - AirPods Pro 3rd-generation: $199 $50 (20%) off For the latest prices and sales, see our Apple AirPods Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Amazon is offering new 11-inch M4 iPad Air preorder discounts ranging up to $80 off MSRP
Take $40-$80 off new 11-inch M4 iPad Airs at Amazon as part of their early preorder discounts. Shipping is free: - 11" 128GB WiFi M4 iPad Air: $559, $40 off MSRP - 11" 256GB WiFi M4 iPad Air: $649, $50 off MSRP - 11" 512GB WiFi M4 iPad Air: $839, $60 off MSRP - 11" 1TB WiFi M4 iPad Air: $1019, $80 off MSRP Be sure to order from Amazon itself rather than a third-party seller. These are the lowest prices currently available for new 11" M4-powered iPad Airs. For the latest prices & sales, keep an eye on our iPad Air Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Apple AirPods Max on sale for $120 off MSRP, only $429.99
Walmart has AirPods Max headphones on sale for $429.99, $120 off Apple's MSRP. Sale price for online orders only, in-store price may vary. Order online, and choose free shipping or free local store pickup (if available). It's the lowest price available for these AirPods among the retailers we track. Keep an eye on our AirPods Price Tracker for the latest prices and deals, updated daily.

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Guess what? Walmart and Target are selling the MacBook Neo on their online stores
Walmart and Target are selling new macOS products on their online stores for the first time. Walmart had previously sold clearance 13" M1 MacBook Airs, but this is the first time either store is selling a brand new macOS product. You can preorder any new 256GB or 512GB MacBook Neo today, and choose free shipping or free local store pickup (if available). Apple's official release date for the Neo is on March 11th: - MacBook Neo at Walmart - MacBook Neo at Target For the latest sales and deals, see our new MacBook Neo Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Price Drop! Take $100-$300 off clearance 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs
Amazon has clearance 15" M4 MacBook Airs on sale for $100-$300 off Apple's original MSRP. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party: - 15" M4 MacBook Air (16GB/256GB): $1099, $100 off - 15" M4 MacBook Air (16GB/512GB): $1199, $200 off - 15" M4 MacBook Air (24GB/512GB/): $1299, $300 off These are the lowest clearance 15" M4 MacBook Air prices currently available at Apple retailers. For the latest sales & prices see our 15" MacBook Air Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Price Drop! Take $100-$200 off clearance 13-inch M4 MacBook Airs
Amazon has clearance 13" M4 MacBook Airs on sale for $100-$200 off Apple's original MSRP. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party: - 13" M4 MacBook Air (16GB/256GB): $899, $100 off - 13" M4 MacBook Air (16GB/512GB): $999, $200 off - 13" M4 MacBook Air (24GB/512GB): $1199, $200 off These are the lowest clearance M4 MacBook Air prices currently available at Apple retailers. For the latest sales & prices see our 13" MacBook Air Price Tracker, updated daily.

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MacBook Neo Arrives at $599 — Here’s How It Compares to the New M5 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro
Apple has expanded its laptop lineup in a big way this week, introducing the all-new MacBook Neo just one day after refreshing the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro families with next-generation M5 chips. The Neo becomes Apple’s most affordable laptop ever, starting at $599 ($499 for education), and it marks a push to bring macOS to an even broader audience. MacBook Neo features a durable aluminum enclosure weighing just 2.7 pounds and comes in four colors: blush, indigo, silver, and citrus. It has soft rounded corners and a cohesive design that extends to the Magic Keyboard and matching wallpapers. The 13-inch Liquid Retina display offers a 2408-by-1506 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, support for 1 billion colors, and an anti-reflective coating. For a laptop at this price point, the display specs are especially impressive and should make everyday tasks like browsing, writing, and streaming feel premium. Under the hood, MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip — the same class of silicon found in Apple’s high-end iPhones — scaled for the Mac. The system includes a 5-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, enabling strong everyday performance and fast on-device AI tasks. Apple claims it is up to 50 percent faster for common tasks like web browsing compared to a Core Ultra 5 PC and up to three times faster for AI workloads. The design is fanless, meaning it runs completely silent. Battery life is rated at up to 16 hours, making it a strong all-day machine for students and casual users. The Neo includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, dual beamforming microphones, and dual side-firing speakers with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos support. Connectivity is simple but sufficient: two USB-C ports (both capable of charging), a headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 6. It runs macOS Tahoe with built-in Apple Intelligence features and tight iPhone integration through Continuity tools like Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and iPhone Mirroring. On the downside, the Neo only provides 8GB of RAM and 500 nits of display brightness. By contrast, the newly updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are built around Apple’s next-generation M-series chips: Apple M5, Apple M5 Pro, and Apple M5 Max. These processors are significantly more powerful than A18 Pro, offering more CPU and GPU cores, greater memory bandwidth, and much stronger sustained performance. While the MacBook Air remains fanless like the Neo, it is designed for heavier multitasking and more demanding creative tasks. It also typically offers longer battery life and expanded external display support. The MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max go much further. With active cooling systems, they are built to handle prolonged high-performance workloads such as video editing, software development, 3D rendering, and advanced AI processing. The Pro lineup also features Apple’s Liquid Retina XDR displays with dramatically higher brightness, HDR support, and ProMotion 120Hz refresh rates. In addition, they offer a wider array of ports, including multiple Thunderbolt connections, HDMI, SD card slots, and MagSafe charging — features that professionals rely on daily. Ultimately, MacBook Neo is not meant to compete with the Air or Pro on raw power. Instead, it establishes a new entry point into the Mac ecosystem. For students, families, and first-time Mac buyers who primarily browse the web, stream media, write papers, and occasionally edit photos, Neo may be more than sufficient. Users who need more performance headroom or plan to grow into heavier creative workloads will still find the MacBook Air a better long-term investment. Professionals whose livelihoods depend on speed, graphics power, and advanced display technology will continue to gravitate toward the MacBook Pro lineup. With the introduction of MacBook Neo, Apple has created a clear three-tier structure: Neo for accessibility, Air for mainstream performance, and Pro for professional power. It’s a strategic move that broadens the Mac market while preserving meaningful differentiation across the lineup.

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