Apple has officially kicked off what CEO Tim Cook is calling a “big week” of announcements, and the first wave of hardware is already making waves. If you have been waiting for the “budget” iPhone to get a serious glow-up or for the iPad Air to close the gap with the Pro, this update is for you.
The iPhone 17e: No Longer the “Basic” Choice
The iPhone 17e is replacing last year’s 16e, and it feels like Apple is finally stopped holding back on its entry-level model. While the $599 starting price remains the same, the value proposition has shifted significantly.
Key Upgrades
- The A19 Chip: Apple didn’t give this a hand-me-down processor. It uses the same A19 chip found in the standard iPhone 17, which means it’s fully ready for the new suite of Apple Intelligence features.
- Storage Double-Down: In a move that will please almost everyone, the base storage has jumped from 128GB to 256GB.
- MagSafe is Finally Here: For years, the budget line lacked MagSafe support. That changes today, as the 17e now works with the full ecosystem of magnetic chargers, wallets, and stands.
- Tougher Build: It features the new Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple claims is three times more scratch-resistant than what we saw on the 16e.
The design stays relatively familiar with its 6.1-inch OLED display and a single 48MP Fusion rear camera, but the internal upgrades make it a much more “pro-lite” experience than its predecessor.
iPad Air Refreshed with M4 Muscle
The iPad Air also received a substantial mid-cycle refresh. Both the 11-inch and 13-inch models have transitioned to the M4 chip, the same silicon that debuted in the iPad Pro last year.
Performance and Connectivity
The move to the M4 makes the new Air up to 30 percent faster than the M3 version. More importantly for power users, Apple bumped the unified memory to 12GB (up from 8GB) to better handle the heavy lifting required by iPadOS 26’s multitasking and AI tools.
On the connectivity front, these are the first iPad Airs to support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, thanks to a new N1 wireless chip. If you opt for the cellular model, you will also get the C1X modem, which is touted to be 30 percent more power-efficient than the previous Qualcomm hardware.
Pricing and Availability
- 11-inch iPad Air: Starts at $599
- 13-inch iPad Air: Starts at $799
- Pre-orders: Begin Wednesday, March 4
- Availability: In stores starting Wednesday, March 11
What is Next?
Apple is not done yet. Rumors are swirling that we will see a new “low-cost” MacBook and potentially an update to the standard iPad later this week. For now, the iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air represent a solid effort from Apple to bring high-end performance down to more accessible price points.
