O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: Max

  • Apple announces M4-based iPad Air

    Apple announces M4-based iPad Air

    Apple’s mega-week of announcements has begun, the company introducing a new iPad Air model on Monday, complete with an M4 chip, 12GB of RAM, the N1 wireless networking chip, Wi-Fi 7 support, and the custom C1X modem for cellular models.

    The new iPad Air has the same overall design as the previous-generation model, which is equipped with the M3 chip, 8GB of RAM, and Wi-Fi 6E support.

    With the M4 chip, Apple has cited that the new iPad Air offers up to 30 percent faster CPU performance compared to the M3-based iPad Air. In the iPad Air, the M4 chip has an 8-core CPU, a 9-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Memory bandwidth increased from 100GB/s to 120GB/s, according to Apple’s tech specs.

    The inclusion of the N1 chip in the iPad Air offers Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support. Apple has also cited improved wireless performance on 5GHz Wi-Fi networks as well as improvements to features such as AirDrop and Personal Hotspot. Apple introduced the N1 chip last year, across the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, and iPad Pro.

    The C1X chip, which is now found on the cellular models, offers support for 5G and LTE networks. Apple, in turn, has stated that this offers 50 percent faster cellular performance while using up to 30 percent less power compared to the previous iPad Air model, which used a Qualcomm modem.

    The new iPad Air can be per-ordered on Apple.com and in the Apple Store starting Wednesday, March 4, and will be available for retail sales on Wednesday, March 11.

    In the U.S., pricing continues to start at $599 for the 11-inch model, and at $799 for the 13-inch model. Color options remain Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray and the tablet will be available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities.

    iPad Air continues to feature an LCD screen with up to 500 nits of brightness, a 12-megapixel front camera with Center Stage support, a 12-megapixel rear camera, Apple Intelligence support, a Touch ID power button, a USB-C port stereo speakers, two microphones, Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro support, and more.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Apple.com

  • Apple begins teasing “a big week ahead” for next week’s product announcements

    Apple begins teasing “a big week ahead” for next week’s product announcements

    Apple has begun releasing teaser material citing “a big week ahead” next week, complete with CEO posting to social media with an #AppleLaunch hashtag with a colorful Apple logo, along with a short video that ultimately shows an Apple logo on the lid of a Mac.

    The company is reportedly planning a three-day stretch of product announcements beginning Monday, March 2, through Wednesday, March 4. It’s rumored that up to five new products could be unveiled, including a lower-cost MacBook, an iPhone 17e, and more.

    Other possible product introductions could include an M4-based iPad Air, an iPad 12 with an A18 chip and Apple Intelligence support, a MacBook Air with the M5 chip, and MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. There’s also some expectation of updated Apple TV and HomePod mini models, which have been some time since they were updated.

    Apple already invited selected journalists and content creators to an “Apple Experience” in New York, London, and Shanghai on Wednesday, March 4 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. During these in-person gatherings, attendees will likely receive hands-on time with the new products that Apple unveils between Monday and Wednesday next week.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and @tim_cook

  • Dell offers a sitewide sale on select Alienware monitors and accessories

    Dell offers a sitewide sale on select Alienware monitors and accessories

    You may be a die hard Apple and Mac fan, but good hardware is good hardware and a good price is worth taking a gander at.

    Dell has been running a sale this week across its assorted product categories, including wares from Alienware, Logitech, Bose, and JBL. Where monitors are concerned, you’ll find up to $200 off select models, including the 27-inch Alienware 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor.

    Monitors:

    • 24-inch Dell Plus Monitor – $119.99, down from $149.99
    • 27-inch Dell Plus QHD Monitor – $189.99, down from $219.99
    • 27-inch Dell Plus 4K Monitor – $239.99, down from $299.99
    • 32-inch Dell Plus 4K Monitor – $299.99, down from $369.99
    • 34-inch Alienware Curved Gaming Monitor – $299.99, down from $399.99
    • 27-inch Alienware 4K Dual-Resolution Gaming Monitor – $399.99, down from $499.99
    • 27-inch Alienware QD-OLED Gaming Monitor – $499.99, down from $649.99
    • 27-inch Alienware 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor – $699.99, down from $899.99
    • 32-inch Alienware 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor – $849.99, down from $999.99

    Accessories:

    • Alienware Wireless Gaming Mouse – $69.99, down from $99.99
    • Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Mouse – $99.99, down from $119.99
    • Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Speaker – $119.00, down from $159.00
    • JBL Charge 6 Portable Speaker – $159.95, down from $199.95
    • Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Keyboard – $174.99, down from $199.99
    • Dell Pro Plus Earbuds – $179.99, down from $229.99
    • Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker – $329.00, down from $399.00

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Dell

  • Rumor: M5 Pro and M5 Max-based MacBook Pro models could launch between now and the end of March

    Rumor: M5 Pro and M5 Max-based MacBook Pro models could launch between now and the end of March

    Apple may be releasing its M5 Pro and M5 Max-based MacBook Pro notebooks this month and next month.

    Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurmanthe new models could launch before the spring. According to Gurman, a new MacBook Pro is planned to launch roughly alongside macOS 26.3, though he doesn’t necessarily give a strict timeline:

    “I’m told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from February through March.”

    While this isn’t exactly groundbreaking information, it helps to hone in on a target date, as well as highlights that Apple’s macOS 26.3 Tahoe update is set to arrive within the coming weeks. Typically, spring Apple products are tied to the x.4 release cycle. Those releases tend to debut in late March or April.

    From a retail perspective, Apple is thought to be running low on inventory for the higher-end M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro configurations. This tends to happen when a new model is fast approaching.

    Within his new Power On newsletter, Gurman also hints at the possibility of a Studio Display refresh coming soon given that the current model is also in low supply.

    After these product launches, Apple will kick off its much larger product launch cycle, where iPhone 17e, M5 MacBook Air, new iPad and iPad Air models, and more are expected.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and Bloomberg

  • Some MacBook Pro configurations see up to a two-month delay ahead of possible next-gen M5 MacBook Pro release

    Some MacBook Pro configurations see up to a two-month delay ahead of possible next-gen M5 MacBook Pro release

    If there’s one telltale sign of a forthcoming next generation of hardware, it’s usually supply constraints and how this affects shipping.

    Per MacRumors, the availability has recently tightened for the MacBook Pro on Apple’s online storefront, with select configurations facing up to a two-month delivery timeframe in the United States.

    A few 14-inch and 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro notebooks are still available without any shipping delay. Still, the estimated delivery dates for many configurations with the M4 Max chip now extend from February 6 to February 24 or even later. At the most extreme end, all built-to-order 14-inch MacBook Pro configurations with a 16-core M4 Max chip and 128GB of RAM are estimated to be delivered as late as March 17 on Apple’s online store.

    In the case of the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, which was updated to an M5 chip in October, the wait continues for configurations with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. These delays have historically indicated that a forthcoming generation is on the horizon, although ongoing RAM supply constraints could also be contributing to the shipping delays.

    Apple unveiled MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in January 2023, so there is precedent for a MacBook Pro refresh in January. Apple’s Creator Studio bundle of creative apps launches on Wednesday, January 28, and the company will be holding its next quarterly earnings call on Thursday, January 29.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Apple