Apple Inc. spices up its iMac and iPad lines with the company’s new M1 custom chip devices.
Apple AAPL,
launched a new iMac on Tuesday, which comes in a variety of bright colors and includes Apple’s custom chip, which Apple says will allow the computer to stay cool without loud fan noise. The computer also has a 1080p camera for FaceTime, a new power adapter designed to reduce office congestion and the first instance of the TouchID fingerprint sensor for connections and purchases from the iMac.
The device starts at $ 1,299 in four color options, and Apple will expand the line to include seven colors in its $ 1,499 model, which includes multiple ports and Ethernet connectivity. Both become available in the second half of May, with pre-orders starting April 30.
The company began launching Macs with its custom chips late last year. Although the Mac business saw essentially flat sales from 2017 to 2019, it witnessed a revival in 2020 during the pandemic, while people rushed to buy devices to facilitate distance work and school.
The electronics giant claims that the custom chip allows for performance and other benefits over Intel Corp. INTC,
chips that Apple has previously used in its Mac line, and CEO Tim Cook said in the company’s latest earnings call that the chip offers Apple “a new growth trajectory we haven’t had in the past.” .
Apple will also begin incorporating the M1 chip into its new version of the iPad Pro. The chip allows up to 50% faster processor performance compared to the A12Z Bionic chip, as well as up to 40% better graphics performance, according to the company. IPad Pro cellular models will have 5G connectivity.
Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro will have what the company calls a Liquid Retina XDR display, which uses more than 10,000 light-emitting diodes to display better detail even on darker images. The 12.9-inch model starts at $ 1,099 for the Wi-Fi version and $ 1,299 for the cellular version, while the 11-inch model starts at $ 799 for Wi-Fi and $ 999 for the cell phone. Both become available in the second half of May, with Apple opening pre-orders on April 30.
The iPad has been another hot category recently, given the boom in remote work. Revenue for this segment has risen by at least 31% in each of the last three quarters of 2020, and analysts estimate a 29% increase for the March quarter, which Apple is expected to report next week.
For more: the pandemic may have permanently changed Apple’s path
Apple also launched new iPads in September, introducing an eighth-generation iPad, which was the first of its entry-level tablets to feature the company’s neural engine. The company introduced, at that time, a new iPad Air with improvements in the sound and quality of the camera, the financial director Luca Maestri shouting the “great” reception of the device at Apple’s last earnings call in January.
Tuesday’s event at Apple brought the long-awaited announcement of AirTag trackers, a new product category. Tags use Apple’s FindMy network to keep track of things, providing visual, haptic, and other feedback to help people locate their AirTag tags and attached items. The device will cost $ 29 or $ 99 for a pack of four. Availability starts on April 30, although people can pre-order starting Friday.
Apple usually saves its iPhone ads for the fall, although it announced a new purple option for the iPhone at Tuesday’s event. The company will also update the Apple TV streaming device, adding an A12 chip and a newly designed remote control.
The company also plans to make it easier for family members to use the Apple card together. Spouses and partners will be able to create loans equally, which Cook said will make the credit management process more equitable. The company will also allow people to obtain Apple cards for family members who are 13 years of age or older, with the option of spending limits.
Apple is redesigning its podcasts to make it easier for people to access shows from their favorite creators and to sign up for paid subscriptions that could unlock benefits such as early access or an ad-free experience. Podcast creators face a payment schedule similar to app developers, with Apple cutting 30% in the first year and 15% in the following years, with an annual fee of $ 19.99. The new version of the application will be released in May.
Apple’s spring event precedes the annual WWDC developers’ reunion, which is set to begin on June 7. The event will feature updates to various Apple operating systems and probably some additional product announcements.
Apple shares have gained about 1% in the last three months as DJIA Dow Jones Industrial Media,
which considers Apple as a component, increased by 8%.