Apple’s March Launch Wave: MacBook Neo, AirPods Max 2, M5 Chips

Apple has debuted a broad range of hardware throughout March, spanning from entry-level computing to professional-grade power. The releases include a new budget laptop, updated headphones, and the next iteration of its custom silicon.

The rollout began on March 2 with the iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air, followed by the M5-powered MacBook Pro and MacBook Air on March 3. The following day, the company introduced the MacBook Neo, a lower-cost laptop, before surprising the market with the AirPods Max 2.

MacBook Neo: A New Entry-Level Contender

Targeting the educational market and casual users, the $599 MacBook Neo serves as Apple’s direct competitor to Chromebooks. It utilizes the A18 Pro chip, the same silicon found in iPhone 16 Pro models, rather than the M-series chips used in the MacBook Air.

• Base Specs: 256GB storage, 13-inch display.
• Performance: Features a five-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine for on-device AI.
• Battery: Up to 16 hours of usage.
• Design: Available in silver, blush, citrus, and indigo.

According to a teardown by iFixit, the device is the most repairable MacBook released in over a decade.

AirPods Max 2

The $549 AirPods Max 2 arrive with the H2 chip, bringing significant audio improvements. Apple claims active noise cancellation is 1.5x more effective than the original model. New features include adaptive audio, which adjusts transparency and noise cancellation based on the environment, and a “Loud Sound Reduction” tool for hearing protection.

M5 Pro and M5 Max: Powering the Pro Line

The new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips focus heavily on AI performance. Both chips utilize an 18-core CPU, featuring six “super cores” and 12 performance cores, resulting in a 30% performance boost for professional workflows. The M5 Max supports up to 128GB of unified memory with 614GB/s bandwidth, while the M5 Pro supports up to 64GB.

iPhone 17e and Other Updates

The iPhone 17e, priced at $599, launches March 11. It includes the A19 chip, MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging support, and a 48-megapixel camera. The device also debuts the C1X cellular modem, which Apple says is twice as fast as the C1 modem used in the previous generation.

Rounding out the month’s announcements are the new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models starting at $599 and $799, updated MacBook Air models with 18-hour battery life, and refreshed Studio Display and Studio Display XDR monitors with Thunderbolt 5 connectivity.