Macworld Podcast: MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e, M5 Pro and M5 Max, and more new Apple products

Are you experienced? This past week, Apple released the new iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Pro, new MacBooks, and more, and held its Apple Experience event. We’re covering it all on this episode of the Macworld Podcast. 

This is episode 973 with Michael Simon, Jason Cross,  and Roman Loyola.

New Apple products 

Click the links below for more information on the new products. 

• Apple March event live blog
• I met MacBook Neo. Everything I know is a lie
• Apple’s MacBook Neo is $599? Whoa.
• The MacBook Air has a new chip and a lower price (sort of)
• The M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros are a bigger upgrade than we thought
• Apple’s MacBook pricing explained
• Apple’s first mini-LED ProMotion monitor has a nice price
• Your Mac might not work with the new Studio Displays 
• The new iPad Air is basically the old iPad Air
• Apple’s iPhone 17e gets MagSafe and A19, but it’s not all good news
• OS 26.3.1 is here

This Week in Apple History 

The very first Apple Studio Display was introduced on March 17, 1998, at the Seybold Seminars keynote in New York City. It was Apple’s first flat panel display, and Steve Jobs called it “very hot.” It was a 15-inch LCD with a maximum 1024 by 768 resolution, a 200 to 1 contrast ratio, and 180 nits of brightness. It came in a translucent blue case. Watch the introduction of the display below. 

Comment Corner 

It will be interesting to see what external display support is available with the new cheap MacBook with the “iPhone chip” and ports. I’m not expecting it to be good but am willing to be surprised. 

Neil M. via email

I could give a rats ass about anything to do with the new [entry-level] ipad EXCEPT if it has to use the dongle to charge the pencil. I have been on the verge of snapping that bastard in half many times over the pencil and that stupid, stupid dongle. I’m mad just typing this. 

Phil V. via email

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Apple iPhone 17e

Price When Reviewed: £599

Best Prices Today: £599 at Apple

Apple MacBook Neo

Price When Reviewed: £599

Best Prices Today: £599 at Apple

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4, 2026)

Price When Reviewed: £599

Best Prices Today: £599 at Apple

Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M4, 2026)

Price When Reviewed: £799 (128GB)

Best Prices Today: £799 at Apple

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M5, 2026)

Price When Reviewed: £1099 (8-core GPU; 512GB)

Best Prices Today: £1099 at Apple

Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M5, 2026)

Price When Reviewed: £1299

Best Prices Today: £1299 at Apple

Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, 2026)

Price When Reviewed: £1,699

Best Prices Today: £1699 at Apple

Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max, 2026)

Price When Reviewed: £2799

Best Prices Today: £2799 at Apple

Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max, 2026)

Price When Reviewed: £3599

Best Prices Today: £3599 at Apple

Apple Studio Display (2026)

Price When Reviewed: £1499

Best Prices Today: £1499 at Apple

Apple Studio Display XDR

Price When Reviewed: £2999

Best Prices Today: £2999 at Apple