Computers

Apple launches new iMacs, iPads, AirTag trackers and more

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Colorful new iMacs led Apple's latest hardware refresh
Apple
Colorful new iMacs led Apple's latest hardware refresh
Apple
The 24.5-inch iMacs are just 11.5 mm (0.45 inches) thick
Apple
The iPad Pro gets a faster processor and a 5G option
Apple
The bigger 12.9-inch iPad Pro model now comes with mini-LED display technology
Apple
The Apple TV 4K is more powerful than ever – and has a redesigned remote too
Apple
The AirTag is Apple's new tracking device, and you can customize them with text or emojis
Apple
Apple also introduced a redesigned Podcasts app, and premium podcast subscriptions
Apple
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Apple's hardware teams have been busy, with new iMac all-in-one computers, iPad Pro tablets, and AirTag trackers among the products revealed at its Spring Loaded event today. The Apple TV 4K gets an upgrade too, and there's a new iPhone 12 color.

The revamped iMac computer is perhaps the biggest hardware news here: it now comes fitted with Apple's own M1 chip, and that has allowed a dramatic redesign that sees the thickness of the all-in-one shrink to just 11.5 millimeters (0.45 inches). Despite that ultra-thin profile, Apple is promising superior performance – up to an 85 percent gain in CPU performance and up to a 200 percent gain in GPU performance compared with the previous 21.5-inch iMac.

It's no longer the 21.5-inch iMac, because Apple has increased the screen size to 24.5 inches. The display boasts a 4,480 x 2,520-pixel resolution, with 500 nits of brightness, True Tone technology, and a P3 wide color gamut. Up to 16 GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of storage can be configured.

The new iMac is available from US$1,299, and comes in seven eye-catching colors too: green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver. Pre-orders are open from April 30, with shipping in the second half of May.

The new and improved iPad Pro models get the M1 chip too, giving you a phenomenal amount of power inside a tablet. The cellular models get 5G this time around too, and in terms of the rest of the specs, you can get up to 16 GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of storage, up from 1 TB on the previous generation.

The 12.9-inch version gets one upgrade not available on the 11-inch model – a Liquid Retina XDR display that uses mini-LED technology for up to 1,600 nits of brightness and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. It's likely to appeal to serious creatives most of all, especially film-makers, because of its extra visual quality and accuracy.

If you're tempted into buying one, pricing starts at $799 for the 11-inch, Wi-Fi iPad Pro, though obviously prices start rising pretty steeply as you add more storage and upgrade to the larger screen size – a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 5G and 2 TB of storage is going to set you back a hefty $2,399. Silver and space gray are the color options, as usual, with pre-orders open on April 30 and shipping in the second half of May.

The Apple TV 4K set-top box has been treated to a refresh too. There's a new chip inside – not the M1 but the A12 Bionic that first appeared in the iPhone XS in 2018 – and that enables support for HDR and Dolby Vision video at 60 frames per second. There's a redesigned Siri Remote as well, with a new directional clickpad. Pricing starts at $179, with pre-orders open on April 30 and shipping in the second half of May.

Brand new is the Apple AirTag, which will be very familiar to anyone who has used a Tile tracker. You attach one to your keys, your laptop, or anything else you like, and you can then use the Find My app on Apple devices to track it down – you can get the tag to make a noise, and get directed to its location. One AirTag will set you back $29 – pre-orders open on April 23, and shipping starts on April 30.

There's still more to talk about from Apple's event today. A new light purple color has been added to the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini ranges, the Apple Card now has a family plan option, and Apple has also launched a new Apple Podcasts Subscriptions service: a way for podcast makers to offer premium content in return for a monthly fee.

Product pages: Apple

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5 comments
Daishi
So far the mobile M1 benchmarks have been pretty good but it remains to be seen how it will hold up against desktop class processors. I can see the appeal for the iMac but I also don't really see the need for it to be only 11.5mm especially when they did that Apple thing of removing all the ports. The $1200 base model comes with just 2 thunderbolt / USB ports and the upgraded $1500 and $1700 versions get you 2 additional USB-C ports. First they did away with USB-A now you need to drop an extra $300 for 2 extra USB-C ports but hey it's only 11.5 mm! I guess we should just be grateful they kept the 3.5mm audio jack. I guess at this point it's not like I should be surprised.
aki009
When Apple announces lots of colors, it's usually because they had not much else going on.
BlueOak
I happen to use and really like Apple mobile devices.

But this announcement cycle seems to be the “here are our questionable value devices” session. Come back in the fall for the good stuff.

Interior Designers have been thrown for a loop by Apple. What are they to do with this rainbow of colors for the iMac? Gone are the simple days of trophy silver iMacs that go with everything.

Seriously, there’s a newish contemporary home by us with floor to ceiling glass on a corner office. A big iMac sits prominently at an angle, on display for passers by to admire. After two years of walking, biking or driving by and all times of day, I’ve never seen it in use.

I get that the iPad Pro has some impressive important specific use cases, but remains a questionable value for mainstream users... who woulda thought we’d see a $2,400 iPad?!? Apple MacBook and iPad overlap is solidly upon us as Apple has hinted. And MacOS and iPadOS converge as well.
Daishi
Another challenge with the iMac is that they just aren't very good value. For starters the low end one ships with only a 256GB SSD which is only a $30 part at retail purchased at a volume of 1 and that includes shipping. Secondly the $700 Mac Mini ships with the same internal hardware (and more ports) and can be paired with a 3rd party monitor for cheaper than the price of the all-in-one iMac with the 23.5" monitor. Sure the iMac ships with a 4.5k display but it's honestly mostly wasteful on a lower end system with only a 23.5" display because offers no real benefit over 4k or in most cases even over 2560x1440 (1440p).
Derek cranage
I have been totally Apple for some years iMac, (desktop) iPads (2off) iPhones (2off) TV. but I am fed up with the alterations that keep coming through. the new calendar layout on the iPhones is absolutely dismal, why do they keep changing when they work well, they only make them worse. I am thinking of going back to microsoft and they are a lot cheaper