X-Plane, which is advertised as being the "world's most advanced flight simulator," is coming to Apple's Vision Pro in the next month or so.
The upcoming visionOS 26.4 update adds support for NVIDIA's CloudXR 6.0 platform, and this will enable Vision Pro users to wirelessly stream immersive PC games from NVIDIA RTX-powered servers via Wi-Fi, including the flight simulator X-Plane 12. According to Justin Ryan, the simulator will stream at up to 4K at 120 FPS.
Vision Pro users will be able to connect their own flight simulation hardware for an immersive flying experience. If you have a physical yoke or throttle, Apple's augmented reality framework ARKit uses image detection to recognize them and place them inside your virtual cockpit, as shown in Ryan's demo below (via 9to5Mac).
Here’s a first look at X-Plane 12 on Apple Vision Pro!
With visionOS 26.4 and NVIDIA CloudXR 6.0, the simulator streams wirelessly at up to 4K/120fps to your headset.
And if you have a physical yoke or throttle, ARKit uses image detection to recognize them and place them inside… pic.twitter.com/FTYzJH9ALP
— Justin Ryan ᯅ (@justinryanio) March 11, 2026
X-Plane 12 is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux for $59.99, or as a DVD for $99.99. A companion app for visionOS will be available in the Vision Pro's App Store "later this spring," according to the announcement. visionOS 26.4 is currently in beta testing, and the update is expected to be released in late March or early April.
Apple and Samsung produced nearly the same number of smartphones in 2025, tying for the top position in global smartphone production, according to a new report from TrendForce.
Global smartphone production reached approximately 1.254 billion units in 2025, rising 2.5% year over year. The research firm says Apple and Samsung each produced nearly 240 million smartphones during the year, tying for the top position in global production.
TrendForce says the smartphone market in the first half of 2025 benefited from China's government subsidy programs, which stimulated demand, while the second half of the year was supported by the traditional seasonal peak driven by new flagship smartphone launches.
Apple's production increased significantly toward the end of the year following the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup. TrendForce said Apple's smartphone production rose more than 50% quarter over quarter in the fourth quarter of 2025, supported by strong shipments of the company's latest iPhone models.
The report adds that the iPhone 17 series benefited from well-positioned retail pricing, which helped drive strong market performance. TrendForce suggests that if Apple adopts a more aggressive pricing strategy in 2026, it could help sustain both production and sales momentum.
Looking ahead, the broader smartphone industry is expected to face mounting cost pressures. TrendForce says surging memory prices are likely to significantly increase smartphone production costs in 2026. As a result, global smartphone output is projected to decline by at least 10% year over year to around 1.135 billion units.
According to the firm, smartphone manufacturers will face a difficult choice between raising retail prices to preserve margins or lowering device specifications to maintain shipment volumes, with the entry-level segment expected to be most affected by rising component costs.
Beyond Apple and Samsung, several other manufacturers ranked among the largest producers in 2025. Xiaomi (including Redmi and POCO) ranked third with production close to 170 million units, followed by OPPO (including OnePlus and Realme) with 143 million units.
Vivo placed fifth, while Transsion (the company behind TECNO, Infinix, and itel) ranked sixth after sharply cutting production late in the year due to inventory adjustments and demand concerns in emerging markets. Honor ranked seventh after accelerating production toward the end of 2025, while Lenovo (including Motorola) ranked eighth with roughly 61 million smartphones produced during the year.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said the MacBook Pro will receive a "major upgrade" with an OLED display by early next year.
In a blog post, Kuo said the new MacBook Pro will be released between late 2026 and early 2027.
With an OLED display, the MacBook Pro would have better image quality compared to the current models with LCD displays and mini-LED backlighting. Advantages of OLED displays include more vivid colors, higher contrast ratio, and wider viewing angles, and they can be more power efficient depending on the content being displayed.
The next-generation MacBook Pro is expected to feature many other upgrades, including a thinner design, a touch screen, a Dynamic Island, and M6 Pro and M6 Max chips manufactured with TSMC's 2nm process. It has been rumored that Apple might even expand its C1X or C2 modem to the MacBook Pro for built-in cellular connectivity.
With all of these new features, higher prices are likely. For this reason, it was recently reported that the model with an OLED display might be a so-called "MacBook Ultra" that is positioned above the MacBook Pro in the lineup.
Kuo expects the MacBook Air to receive an OLED display as well, but not until 2028 or 2029.
Apple just released MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, but if you are interested in bigger upgrades, it might be best to wait. The last MacBook Pro redesign occurred in 2021, so these moments do not come along too often.
Apple today announced three new games coming to Apple Arcade in April, along with several updates to existing titles on the service.
The three new games heading to Apple Arcade next month are as follows:
DREDGE+: A complete edition of the award-winning fishing adventure where players explore eerie archipelagos, dredge the ocean floor for hidden treasures, and uncover mysteries lurking beneath the waves. The Apple Arcade version includes all previously released downloadable content, including The Pale Reach, The Iron Rig, and Blackstone Key, along with a custom rod.
Unpacking+: A relaxing puzzle game centered on unpacking belongings and arranging them in a new home. As players organize items across different rooms, they gradually piece together the story of the life they are unpacking.
My Very Hungry Caterpillar+: An interactive experience based on Eric Carle's beloved children's character where players care for their own caterpillar, feeding and playing with it as it grows and eventually transforms into a butterfly.
All of the new games will be available on April 2, 2026. Two Apple Arcade titles are also set to receive updates in the coming weeks:
Disney SpellStruck: A Star Wars crossover arriving March 19 adds Adventure Mode levels inspired by Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back and introduces Darth Vader and Lando Calrissian as playable characters.
Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop: A new game mode called Puyo Puyo Garden arrives April 9 to celebrate the franchise's 35th anniversary, allowing players to grow and battle their own unique Puyo.
Apple Arcade is a subscription service that provides access to hundreds of games across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. All of the games are free of ads and in-app purchases, and the service continues to expand its catalog of more than 200 titles.
In the U.S., Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month, and it is also bundled with other Apple services in all Apple One plans. Apple Arcade can be accessed through the App Store and the Apple Games app.
With the latest version of the Apple Invites app on the iPhone, released today, the app's Home Screen widget has received a small but useful enhancement.
In August, the app gained a Home Screen widget that counts down the days until an upcoming event, but you had to choose a specific event. Starting today, though, a new "Next Upcoming" option can automatically refresh the widget with your next closest event as they pass by. You can still set a specific event manually if you prefer.
The update also contains bug fixes and performance improvements.
Released in February 2025, the Apple Invites app makes it easy to invite people to events, such as birthday parties and baby showers. First, you create an event invitation, which can include a description, a custom background, and even a shared photo album. Then, you can generate a link to the event that you can share with invited guests.
The ability to create an event in the app is limited to iCloud+ subscribers, but anyone who receives an event link can RSVP for free. In the U.S., the cheapest iCloud+ plan with 50GB of storage currently costs 99 cents per month.
Amazon today has the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation for $119.99, down from $179.00. This is a solid second-best price on the AirPods 4 with ANC, and the best price we've tracked so far in 2026.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Amazon currently provides a March 16 delivery date for free shipping on the AirPods 4, and Prime members should see faster estimates with same-day delivery in many locations. As of writing, we're only tracking this deal at Amazon.
Amazon also has the AirPods 4 base model for $99.00, down from $129.00, which is another second-best price. Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Deals Newsletter
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Apple's refreshed Studio Display arrives alongside the all-new Studio Display XDR, which replaces the previous Pro Display XDR. The Studio Display XDR is more than twice the price of the Studio Display, so which should you choose?
Both Studio Display models offer a wide range of the same core features and are designed to provide a very similar overall experience for everyday use. They share the same aluminum enclosure, identical 27-inch 5K resolution with a high pixel density of 218 ppi, and many of Apple's built-in workstation features such as the 12-megapixel Center Stage camera, studio-quality microphones, and six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio. Both displays also include Thunderbolt connectivity, along with options like nano-texture glass and VESA mounting for different workstation setups. As a result, the two displays are much more alike than their price difference might initially suggest. The shared features include:
Design
27-inch display size
5120 by 2880 pixels
218 ppi
P3 wide color gamut
True Tone
Anti-reflective coating
Nano-texture glass option
12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View
Studio‑quality three‑mic array
Six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio
One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port for connecting to a Mac and charging
One downstream Thunderbolt 5 port for high-speed accessories or daisy-chaining additional displays
Two USB-C ports for accessories and charging
VESA mount adapter option
Despite these similarities, there are still several key differences that separate the two displays and explain the substantial jump in price. Most of these distinctions relate to the underlying display technology and performance capabilities of the Studio Display XDR, which introduces a more advanced mini-LED panel, higher brightness levels for both SDR and HDR content, and a faster refresh rate with Adaptive Sync. It also offers additional professional-focused capabilities such as expanded color support and a more powerful chip. In total, there are 10 major differences between the two monitors:
Tilt-adjustable stand included Tilt- and height-adjustable stand option
Tilt- and height-adjustable stand included
$1,599 (Tilt-adjustable stand) $1,999 (Tilt- and height-adjustable stand option)
$3,299
The standard Studio Display is the better choice for most users. It offers the same 27-inch 5K resolution, design, camera, speakers, and Thunderbolt connectivity as the Studio Display XDR, making it an excellent general-purpose display for everyday Mac use. For tasks such as productivity, software development, office work, and most creative projects, the 5K Retina, 600-nit panel with P3 wide color provides more than enough brightness and accuracy. It is also substantially more affordable, starting at $1,599, which makes it far easier to justify as a monitor for Mac mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro users.
The Studio Display is still well suited to photographers, designers, and video editors working primarily in standard dynamic range (SDR). Its high pixel density and wide color support allow images and graphics to appear extremely sharp and vibrant, while the built-in camera, microphones, and six-speaker system make it ideal for video calls and general-purpose workstation setups. In many workflows, especially those focused on web content, software development, or SDR video production, the additional technologies offered by the Studio Display XDR provide few practical advantages.
The Studio Display XDR is aimed at far more specialized professional workflows. Its mini-LED backlight with more than 2,000 local dimming zones enables dramatically higher contrast and brightness, reaching up to 1,000 nits in SDR and 2,000 nits for HDR content. It also supports a 120Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync and adds broader color support, including Adobe RGB, which is important for certain print and professional imaging workflows.
These capabilities make the display particularly valuable for HDR video editing, color grading, 3D rendering, and other production environments where accurate brightness, contrast, and color reproduction are critical. As a result, the Studio Display XDR is primarily intended for high-end creative professionals who rely on reference-grade display performance, just like the Pro Display XDR it replaced.
Some prosumers and enthusiasts who are happy to spend more for a more capable product may also gravitate toward the Studio Display XDR simply to obtain the most advanced panel Apple offers. Its 120Hz refresh rate, higher brightness, and mini-LED backlight make it much closer to the display technology used in the MacBook Pro, allowing content to appear more consistent with the built-in Liquid Retina XDR display.
Users who are accustomed to ProMotion and high dynamic range on a MacBook Pro may prefer the smoother motion and greater contrast of the XDR model, even if their work does not require it. For these buyers, the additional cost may be easier to justify as a way to achieve a more premium and future-proof desktop setup that aligns with Apple's highest-end Mac hardware.
For everyone else, the Studio Display remains the more sensible option. The two displays share most of the same everyday features and design, but the XDR model's advanced panel technology significantly increases the price. Unless your work directly requires HDR, extremely high brightness, or specialized color spaces, the standard Studio Display delivers a nearly identical day-to-day experience at roughly half the cost.
The colorful MacBook Neo and all of the other new products are on display at most Apple Store locations around the world starting today. Apple Stores have inventory of the new products for both walk-in customers and Apple Store pickup, but availability varies, so make sure to see if your local store has stock via Apple's online store.
The other six products include an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a new Studio Display, and a higher-end Studio Display XDR.
iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gains Apple's A19 chip, MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories, Apple's second-generation C1X modem for faster 5G, and a doubled 256GB of base storage. In the U.S., the iPhone 17e starts at $599, just like the iPhone 16e did.
The new iPad Air's key upgrades include Apple's M4 chip, an increased 12GB of RAM, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and the C1X modem in cellular models.
The MacBook Air received a faster M5 chip, and a doubled 512GB of base storage, but the starting price increased from $999 to $1,099 as a result of a 256GB configuration being dropped. With the N1 chip, the MacBook Air now has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and it now comes with Apple's 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max.
The higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models finally received M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, plus up to twice as fast SSD speeds and a doubled 1TB of base storage. Battery life has increased slightly across all of the models, and the N1 chip extends to the MacBook Pro line now for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support.
The regular Studio Display gained Thunderbolt 5 support and improved speakers, and the camera now supports Desk View. There is also an all-new, higher-end Studio Display XDR that gained all of those benefits, plus bigger improvements such as a 120Hz refresh rate, mini-LED backlighting, increased brightness, and more.
The colorful new MacBook Neo starts at just $599 in the United States, and at an even lower $499 for college students. Available in Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and Silver, the MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone, and it is equipped with a 13-inch display, up to 512GB of storage, and a non-configurable 8GB of RAM.
To learn about these new products, read our coverage of Apple's announcements:
Today is the launch day for all of Apple's newest products, including the M4 iPad Air, MacBook Neo, M5 MacBook Air, M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro, and iPhone 17e. Below, we've collected all of the offers and discounts you can get on these products at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
M4 iPad Air
On Amazon you can get multiple cash discounts on the new M4 iPad Air, with up to $80 off the 11-inch M4 iPad Air and up to $100 off the 13-inch M4 iPad Air. All of these discounts have been automatically applied and do not require a coupon code or a Prime membership. Most models have an estimated delivery date of March 16.
The new iPad Air features the M4 chip, C1X modem, and N1 networking chip, which brings support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. In terms of design, the 2026 models are identical to the 2025 iPad Air tablets, with an edge-to-edge display, slim bezels, and aluminum chassis.
If you order the new low-cost MacBook Neo at Best Buy, you'll get a free $25 Best Buy gift card after purchase. In order to get the deal, you need a My Best Buy Plus/Total membership, and then order any MacBook Neo model at Best Buy with a valid e-mail address. The e-gift card will be sent out after you receive the MacBook Neo, or after you pick it up in a Best Buy store.
Apple announced the MacBook Neo last week, and it's now the cheapest MacBook in the lineup starting at $599 and powered by the A18 Pro chip. Apple says it is up to 50% faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5, up to 3x faster for on-device AI workloads, and up to 2x faster for tasks like photo editing.
In order to get these deals, you need to order one of the newest MacBooks at Best Buy with a valid e-mail address. The e-gift card will be sent out after you receive the eligible MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, or after you pick it up in a Best Buy store.
In regards to the upgrades, the MacBook Air features performance improvements thanks to the newest M5 chip, as well as Apple's custom N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity.
The new MacBook Pro includes M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which are up to 30 percent faster when compared to the M4 generation, and up to 2.5x faster than M1 Pro and M1 Max. In terms of design, both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro keep the same overall designs as previous generations.
Apple's latest iPhone, the iPhone 17e, is now available to purchase, and as always you can find numerous offers on the newest Apple smartphone from cellular carriers. This includes savings from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
AT&T At AT&T, you can get the iPhone 17e (256GB) for $5.99/month when you activate a new line or upgrade an existing line on one of AT&T's unlimited voice and data plan.
Specifically, you'll get up to $384.36 in bill credits on the 256GB iPhone 17e, or up to $404.36 in bill credits on the 512GB iPhone 17e. No trade-in is required for this deal.
Verizon Verizon's deal has the iPhone 17e at no cost when you purchase the device on an Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plan. You'll also need to add a new line on one of these plans, and this is for the 256GB iPhone 17e.
Once you qualify, you'll see the promo credit applied to your account over 36 months.
T-Mobile At T-Mobile, you can also get the iPhone 17e at no cost, but you'll need to trade in an eligible device on the Experience More plan. Otherwise, you can get the same offer when trading in an eligible device and add a line on most other plans.
If you're purchasing for a family, you can get four iPhone 17e models at no cost and four new voice lines for $25/line per month. You'll need to trade in four eligible devices on the Essentials plan in order to get this deal.
If you're switching to T-Mobile, you'll get the iPhone 17e at no cost and you won't need to trade in any device for this one.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.
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Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models may not have a smaller Dynamic Island after all, despite rumors suggesting that it would see a reduction in size this year, according to a known leaker.
Citing recent supply chain information, the leaker known as "Digital Chat Station" claims that the iPhone 18 Pro models may reuse some of their predecessor's molds and chassis designs. Face ID and the Dynamic Island will remain "largely unchanged," with plans to implement under-display Face ID and shrink the size of the Dynamic Island apparently now delayed to the following generation. Instead, the main upgrades will be the 2nm A20 Pro, a 5,000mAh+ battery, and improved large-aperture camera hardware.
There has been considerable disagreement between reliable sources on the iPhone 18 Pro's Dynamic Island. Over the past year, there have been mixed rumors about whether the iPhone 18 Pro models will continue to feature a Dynamic Island or have a hole punch camera with under screen Face ID and no Dynamic Island.
In January, things seemed to become clearer when Weibo leaker "Instant Digital," "ShrimpApplePro," and DSCC's Ross Young supported the rumor of a narrower Dynamic Island. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman then independently reported that the device would have a smaller Dynamic Island.
Thus the latest rumor from "Digital Chat Station" seems to go against the grain, but it is not out of the question. We heard the same rumors about a smaller iPhone 17 Pro Dynamic Island last year, but the Dynamic Island ultimately ended up being the same size.
In the long term, Apple apparently wants to create an iPhone that's a slab of glass with no cutouts, and we may see that with the 20th anniversary iPhone in 2027. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in the fall of 2026.
TikTok and Apple today announced that Apple Music subscribers will be able to listen to full-length songs on Apple Music without leaving the TikTok app.
When a TikTok user comes across a song they love while browsing their "For You" page, they will be able to tap a "Play Full Song" button to open up an Apple Music player in the app and listen to the song in its entirety. From there, Apple Music subscribers can continue listening to a personalized stream of recommended songs.
The feature is built with Apple's MusicKit, and music artists will be paid for streams as usual.
TikTok and Apple are also introducing "Listening Party," a new feature that is "designed to bring artists and fans together around music."
"Listening Party creates a shared environment where fans can listen to songs from their favorite artists in real time, interact with each other, and engage directly with the artist during the session," says TikTok. "It offers a new, more social way to experience music while deepening the connection between artists and their communities."
"Play Full Song" and "Listening Party" are rolling out worldwide over the coming weeks, so make sure to keep the TikTok app updated on your iPhone.
Apple's pricing for the iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo strongly suggests that Apple plans to keep iPhone 18 Pro prices unchanged when the new models launch later this year, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Sharing his latest thoughts on Apple's increasingly diversifying product roadmap, Kuo said on X that Apple's strategy is to use turmoil in the global memory chip market to its advantage, by securing supply, absorbing higher component costs, and gaining market share while competitors are forced to raise prices or cut specs.
Kuo first made the claim in January, when he said Apple's plan for the iPhone 18 Pro models was to "avoid raising prices as much as possible" despite having to pay more for components. The $599 MacBook Neo and $599 iPhone 17e, both of which launched today, appear to bear that out.
In a separate report last month, analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities corroborated Kuo's pricing outlook, saying his research of Apple's supply chain points to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max maintaining starting prices of $1,099 and $1,199, respectively.
DRAM and NAND prices have surged in recent months, driven by soaring demand from companies building AI server infrastructure. According to Kuo, Apple negotiates memory prices with suppliers on a quarterly basis rather than every six months, which gives it more flexibility but also more exposure to such price swings.
One possible sign of that risk management came last week when Apple removed the 512GB memory upgrade option when purchasing a Mac Studio, with the machine now maxing out at 256GB. The latter option also got a price rise – it used to cost $1,600 to go from 96GB to 256GB on the high-end M3 Ultra machine, but now it costs $2,000.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro models in September.
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max will be slightly thicker than its predecessor, measuring in at 8.8mm, up from 8.75mm on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The information comes from oft-accurate Weibo-based leaker Ice Universe.
The claim chimes with a report last year that alleged hardware changes in the iPhone 18 Pro Max will make it the heaviest iPhone yet.
Last November, fellow Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital said the body of the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be slightly thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, tipping its weight over 240 grams and making it the heaviest iPhone since the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
That could be good news for those who crave longer-lasting battery life. Digital Chat Station – yet another Weibo-based leaker – has claimed the iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery, with a capacity in the range of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh (up from 5,088 mAh in the eSim version of the iPhone 17 Pro Max).
Apple isn't expected to change the screen size of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and it will feature the same 6.9-inch display as the current model.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch later this year, featuring a possibly smaller Dynamic Island, the C2 modem, a simplified Camera Control, and an upgraded main camera with a variable aperture.
Apple's second-generation MacBook Neo may not feature a touch-capable display after all, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a report dated September 2025, Kuo accurately predicted that the MacBook Neo would enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2025, noting that it would not feature a touchscreen. In the same report, however, the analyst said he believed Apple could add a touchscreen for the second-generation model, expected in 2027.
Kuo's latest thoughts now appear to push back against the possibility. From the report shared this morning:
Neo 2 was originally expected to feature a touch panel to compete with Chromebooks (50%+ of which support touch), but my latest industry checks suggest Neo 2 may not adopt it.
Kuo says Apple's first touchscreen Mac is still expected to launch later this year in the form of a new, high-end MacBook Pro with an OLED display and a new design. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested the machine may be positioned above Apple's existing MacBook Pro Models, and could adopt the moniker "MacBook Ultra."
The all-new MacBook Neo launches today, with prices starting at $599. Kuo says shipments of the Neo are slightly lower than his prior estimates, totaling around 4.5–5 million units (with about 2–2.5 million in the first half of 2026). For a single laptop model though, that's still a very impressive number.
Apple has updated its battery cycle count support document to include the new MacBook Neo, revealing that the entry-level laptop has a maximum cycle count of 1,000.
A battery cycle is completed when you've discharged an amount equal to 100% of the battery's total capacity, but not necessarily in one go. For example, if you use 60% one day and 40% the next, it still counts as one cycle, even though you recharged in between.
First spotted in the updated support document by 9to5Mac, the 1,000-cycle limit puts the MacBook Neo right in line with every MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and standard MacBook that Apple has sold since 2009. Older models from the pre-unibody era had limits as low as 300 cycles.
In real-world terms, even someone who burns through a full cycle every day would take nearly three years to hit the 1,000 count cap. More typical usage patterns could well stretch that beyond five years.
Apple says its lithium-ion batteries are designed to hold up to 80% of their original capacity at the maximum cycle count. After that, the battery is considered "consumed" and a replacement is recommended, but that doesn't mean it will simply stop working.
Launching today with a $599 starting price, the all-new MacBook Neo ships with a 36.5-watt-hour lithium-ion battery, which Apple rates for up to 16 hours of video playback and up to 11 hours of wireless web browsing.
Every new Mac bought from Apple comes with a one-year warranty that includes service coverage for a defective battery. If your Mac is out of warranty and the battery hasn't aged well, Apple offers battery service for a charge. In this case, a MacBook Neo battery service costs $149.
Wednesday is the official launch day of Apple's low-cost MacBook Neo, and as customers who pre-ordered begin to receive their purchases, Apple has also started in-store sales for the new laptop, along with a host of other new products it announced last week.
Customers across Europe, Asia and other regions can now place an order on Apple's website or in the Apple Store app and arrange for in-store pickup at a local retail location.
A quick spot check on the U.K. Apple online store suggests that most stores in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have available stock for customers today, although there are bound to be exceptions, with availability also running on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Apple has yet to update its online store for customers in the United States and Canada, but that will change in the next few hours, when in-store availability across North America will become clear.
To order a product with Apple Store pickup, add the product to your bag on Apple.com, proceed to checkout, select the "I'll pick it up" option, enter your ZIP code, choose an available Apple Store location, and select a pickup date. Payment is completed online, and a valid government-issued photo ID and the order number may be required upon pickup.
The MacBook Neo starts at $599, and is powered by the A18 Pro chip first introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro in 2024. It's the first Mac to use an iPhone-class chip. Apple says it delivers up to 50% faster everyday performance than the bestselling PC with Intel's latest Core Ultra 5 processor.
It features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2,408 × 1,506 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and an anti-reflective coating. The display uses uniform, iPad-style bezels instead of a notch, and the machine weighs 2.7 pounds and comes in Silver, Indigo, Blush, and Citrus, with matching keyboard accents and wallpapers.
Connectivity includes two USB-C ports – one USB-C 2 (up to 480 Mb/s) and one USB-C 3 (up to 10 Gb/s) – plus a headphone jack. Other features include 8GB of unified memory, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, a 1080p camera, dual beamforming microphones, Spatial Audio speakers, and up to 16 hours of battery life.
The base model includes 256GB of storage and the Magic Keyboard for $599, while a $699 configuration adds 512GB of storage and Touch ID. Education pricing starts at $499.
On an earnings call today, an ASUS executive admitted that Apple's more affordable MacBook Neo is a "shock" to the PC industry (via PCMag). In the U.S., the MacBook Neo starts at just $599, or at an even lower $499 for college students.
"Given Apple's historically very premium pricing, launching such an affordable product is certainly a shock to the entire market," said ASUS's Chief Financial Officer Nick Wu, according to a transcript of the earnings call published by Seeking Alpha. His comment was translated to English by an interpreter who was present on the call.
Wu said the MacBook Neo has some limited specs, including only 8GB of RAM, and he believes this may impact the ability to use certain apps. However, MacBook Neo reviewer Patrick Tomasso played back 4K video in DaVinci Resolve and Final Cut Pro, edited a photo in Adobe Lightroom, and used many tabs in Google Chrome on the laptop, all without issue. In fact, most if not all reviews praised the MacBook Neo's performance.
Wu believes that Apple seems to be positioning the MacBook Neo as a device that is more for "content consumption," like a tablet.
"Of course, it's not that it cannot do all the work, but considering user experience and those hardware limitations, the experience, I think, differs significantly from mainstream products," he said, according to the transcript.
Nevertheless, Wu said the PC industry is taking the MacBook Neo's introduction "very seriously."
"I believe all PC vendors, including upstream vendors like Microsoft, Intel and AMD, they're all taking this very seriously, seriously discussing how to compete with this product in the entire PC ecosystem," said Wu, per the transcript. "The entire PC system will launch corresponding products to compete with Apple."
Ultimately, he said the MacBook Neo's actual impact on the PC market remains to be seen.
"The final market competition outcome is hard to predict," he said. "We just need more time."
With the MacBook Neo launch underway, the clock is officially ticking.
Apple considered but abandoned plans for a flip-style foldable iPhone because it didn't create compelling new use cases, according to Weibo leaker Instant Digital. Apple reportedly felt that it was an "unnecessary" design because the biggest selling point would have been its smaller size when folded.
The split at the middle also caused issues with internal space, limiting battery capacity and leaving less space for camera components. Apple would have had to compromise on the rear camera system. Instant Digital suggests that if Apple wanted a smaller iPhone, the company would introduce a smaller slab-style model instead.
There have been two distinct periods when rumors suggested Apple was considering an iPhone that folds in half like a clamshell. The first rumors surfaced years ago before reports shifted toward Apple's work on the larger book-style foldable iPhone that's coming in 2026, and the second came in February 2026 when rumors indicated Apple was once again evaluating the design.
It's not clear if Instant Digital is referring to the earlier rumors or the more recent rumors from February, but the wording suggests the latter.
Samsung has long had two foldable smartphone styles, offering both the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Flip, but smaller-sized iPhones have not done well. Apple had a 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini and an iPhone 13 mini, but the device was discontinued after two generations because it sold poorly.
Given Apple's struggle to sell more compact iPhones like the iPhone mini, it may not be surprising that a clamshell-style foldable has been shelved for now.
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