All articles tagged with #macbook
The article argues that four brands—HP (EliteBook) for business laptops, Apple (MacBook Pro/Air) for durable productivity, Acer (Nitro) for budget gaming, and Razer (Blade) for high-performance gaming—can compete with Lenovo’s ThinkPad and Legion lines, offering strong longevity, robust warranties, and good value through sales and updates.
Apple has extended its 2026 Back-to-School promotion, running now through September 24, with education discounts on eligible Macs and iPads plus a Gift Card worth up to $150 with qualifying purchases; the deal previously ran July 16–August 27 and covers K–12 and higher-education students, faculty, staff, and parents, with additional savings available via Apple’s Amazon store or Certified Refurbished offerings if not eligible.
Mashable’s 2026 guide tests 80+ laptops and highlights six top college picks—MacBook Air 13" with M5 for portability, Acer Swift Edge 14 AI as a slim Windows option, Dell 14S for battery life, budget-friendly MacBook Neo, Acer Swift X 14 for engineering/gaming, and MacBook Pro 14" for graphics work—covering performance, battery life, and value while advising on RAM/storage, major-specific needs, and avoiding older ARM Windows laptops.
9to5Mac reports Apple has a slate of new Macs in the works for later this year, including the first touchscreen MacBook (likely the MacBook Ultra) with OLED and a Dynamic Island-style redesign, powered by M5 Pro/Max chips; an M6 MacBook is also in the works, along with an updated iMac rumored to use the upcoming M6 and possibly debut in new colors. Updates to Mac mini and Mac Studio are expected as well, featuring M5 Pro/M6/M5 Max/M5 Ultra configurations. Launch is anticipated late this year with macOS 27.1 around October, though memory-chip supply constraints could affect timing and pricing remains undisclosed.
9to5Mac reports Apple is developing a next-generation MacBook Neo (Neo 2) with an A19 Pro chip (likely a binned variant) that could push CPU speeds by ~10–15% and GPU gains up to ~40%, paired with 12GB of RAM (up from 8GB). It’s expected to unlock on-device AI features and periodic color refreshes, with a planned 2027 release. The current Neo uses the A18 Pro and 8GB RAM, so the upgrade focuses on performance, AI capabilities, and customization, per Bloomberg’s Tim Culpan.
Bloomberg outlines a two-year Mac plan including an entry-level MacBook Pro with an M6 this year, updated iMacs, a 14"/16" MacBook Ultra with OLED and M5 Pro/Max, an early-2027 MacBook Air refresh, a redesigned M7-based entry-level MacBook Pro, a Neo with A19 Pro, new Mac mini and Mac Studio variants, and possible OLED MacBook Air and OLED iMac by 2028, with timing depending on software readiness and memory-chip supply.
Apple is planning a comprehensive overhaul of its Mac lineup, including refreshed MacBook Pro models with a new M6 chip, updated iMacs, a redesigned high-end MacBook with OLED display, and updated Mac mini and Mac Studio machines, all aimed at riding the AI surge with releases expected this fall and into 2027.
Apple's 2026 Back-to-School promotion is live in select Asian countries (China, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam), offering students and educators a free gift with the purchase of a qualifying Mac or iPad. Gift options vary by country and include a four-pack of AirTags, AirPods 4, an Apple Pencil Pro, or an Apple Gift Card; some countries also offer discounts on higher-value accessories. Exclusions apply (MacBook Neo, iPad mini, entry-level iPad, desktop Macs). The offer runs through August 27, with rollout in the U.S., Canada, and Europe expected soon.
Amazon’s weekend sale extends Prime Day discounts on Apple gear, with up to $650 off Macs (including 16-inch MacBook Pro M5 Max), up to $350 off iPads, AirPods Pro 3 at $179, AirTag discounts, and notable Apple Watch deals like Ultra 3, plus Pencil markdowns, as post‑Prime Day prices linger.
Amazon is reportedly moving to raise prices on many Apple products, with notable increases across MacBook models (including the Neo) and iPads. Some discounts remain on Amazon for now, but those deals may disappear as prices align with Apple's, so shoppers should act quickly to save while deals last and check Prime Day listings for ongoing offers.
Bloomberg reports two high-end Macs launching this fall: a touchscreen MacBook Ultra with OLED, a new design, and M5 Pro/Max chips, plus a refreshed MacBook Pro with an M6 chip; Apple is also reportedly skipping M6 Pro/Max in favor of moving quickly to an M7 lineup.
Mashable’s Prime Day Apple deals roundup notes big discounts across AirPods Max 2, Apple Watch Series 11, iPad models, and MacBook Air, despite Apple’s RAM-related price hikes that left MacBooks and iPads at least $100 higher; with stock fluctuating and deals ending tonight, the guide continues live updates across Amazon and other retailers.
Prime Day laptop deals offer up to $850 off across MacBooks, Windows laptops, and gaming laptops. Highlights include the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB) for $1,149 (save $350) and the Acer Aspire 14 AI for $479.99 (save $400); a gaming option like the Acer Nitro V 16S AI for $1,099.99 (save $300). RAM shortages have pushed prices higher, but Prime Day offers relief; the sale ends tonight and Amazon’s selection is smaller than rivals, though Costco is matching many MacBook deals.
Apple shares fell about 6% after the company raised prices on several MacBook and iPad models to offset soaring memory and storage costs driven by a global memory shortage. Entry-level MacBook Neo rose from $599 to $699, MacBook Air from $1,099 to $1,299, MacBook Pro 14” from $1,699 to $1,999 and 16” from $2,699 to $2,999; iPad Air moved from $599 to $749, and iPad Pro 11” and 13” both increased (to $1,199 and $1,499, respectively). CEO Tim Cook called price increases “unavoidable” amid margin pressure, and analysts warn higher costs could dampen demand as the memory shortage could last for years. The move mirrors broader industry price bumps as chip costs rise.
Apple’s price hikes on Macs and iPads make current Prime Day discounts across MacBook Neo, Air, and Pro models much more compelling (Neo 256GB at $589.99; 13‑inch Air M5 at $949, vs higher MSRPs), and with retailers still showing old prices for now, shoppers should act quickly before prices reset.