It’s the Air apparent
Apple’s new laptop takes over from its predecessor... and pushes things further, as do the tech giant’s other revamped products
APPLE gathered the world’s press in New York this week to show off its latest work on tablets and computers... just in time for Christmas.
There were new – and very impressive – iPad Pros, with some great accessories, and a couple of new, and equally impressive, Mac computers.
Here’s what was revealed...
NEW MACBOOK AIR
THE MacBook Air is the most popular computer Apple makes, and not just because it’s the cheapest. It’s a very powerful machine in a small package – but it had been getting a little bit long in the tooth. The new version is a complete redesign and boasts one of the most-requested features – a 13.3in “retina display”. The new screen features four million pixels, so about four times the resolution of the old generation.
The new Air also does away with the wide aluminium bezel and replaces it with glass that goes all the way to the edge.
There’s also the welcome addition of TouchID – Apple’s fingerprint recognition system. There’s more to it than that, and it all adds up to one of the finest laptops you can buy. Its enclosure is even made from 100% recycled aluminium. The new MacBook Air starts at £1,199.
NEW IPAD PROS
APPLE revealed an all-new iPad Pro, which it says is better in every way. It does away with the home button on the front, to allow its fabulous screen to fill the front of the device – it’s an LCD display, using the same technology found in the new iPhone XR, and comes in two sizes – one with a new 11in screen, and one with a 12.9in screen, in an enclosure that is a lot smaller than the previous generation despite having the same-sized screen.
Without the home button, of course, the iPad Pro needs a new way of unlocking – and that’s why they’ve built in face recognition of the same kind you find in the iPhone X. And better still, unlike the iPhone, it’ll recognise your face whichever way you old the iPad.
The iPad Pro also features a new chip – the A12X – which
Apple says offers a massive jump in performance and energy efficiency. Gone is the lightning connector that featured on all iPhones and iPads up to now, to be replaced by a USB-C connector. This means the iPad Pro can now connect to a lot of external devices, like screens and storage, as well as allowing charging out (so you can charge your iPhone with your iPad Pro).
Some very impressive demos – of the NBA2K basketball games, and Adobe Photoshop – showed off just how powerful the new devices are.
The 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro will be available in silver and space grey in 64GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at £769 for the wi-fi model and £919 for the wi-fi plus cellular model and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at £969 for the wi-fi model and £1,119 for the wi-fi plus cellular model.
APPLE PENCIL & SMART KEYBOARD FOLIO
THE Apple Pencil has been upgraded, too – it now fixes magnetically to the iPad Pro, and will pair and charge when attached. There’s also a tappable area on the Pencil, which you can use to switch the on-screen tools you use in apps.
The new keyboard features wrap-around protection for the front and back of the iPad Pro, and attaches using the Smart Connector on the devices, so no need for pairing or charging. The second generation Apple Pencil will be available for £119. The new Smart Keyboard Folio costs from £179. A new polyurethane Smart Folio for iPad Pro will be available in a variety of colours from £85.
IOS 12.1
ALSO out this week was a brand new version of iOS for iPhone and iPad which brought some features promised earlier in the year.
There is a host new emojis, 70 in all, including new characters with red hair, grey hair and curly hair, a new emoji for bald people. The highly-anticipated update to Facetime, which allows users to video call with up to 32 people at once, is also included.
And the third headline feature is the ability to control the iPhone camera’s depth feature – which artistically blurs backgrounds – live in preview. iOS 12.1 is a free update and is available now.
NEW MAC MINI
APPLE’S Mac Mini was so long in the tooth, most people had forgotten about it. But not Apple, it seems. The Mini is Apple’s consumer desktop computer that comes, unlike the iMac, without a screen, keyboard, or mouse.
The new Mini is a bit of a beast, with upgrades to every element of the machine, including faster processors and more memory. It comes in a space grey finish. The new Mac Mini starts at £799.
■ All the new devices are available to order now, with availability beginning on Wednesday, November 7.