Apple Inc. spice up its iMac and iPad lines with new devices with the company’s custom M1 chip.
Apple AAPL,
unveiled on Tuesday a new iMac that comes in a variety of bright colors and includes Apple’s custom chip, which according to Apple will allow the computer to stay cool without loud fan noises. The computer also features a 1080p camera for FaceTime, a new power adapter aimed at reducing desktop clutter and the iMac’s first instance of the TouchID fingerprint sensor for sign-in and shopping .
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 that includes more ports and Ethernet connectivity. Both will be available in the second half of May, and pre-orders will begin on April 30th.
The company began rolling out Macs with its custom chips late last year. Although the Mac business had recorded basically flat sales from 2017 to 2019, it witnessed a revival in 2020 during the pandemic, as people rushed to buy devices to help facilitate work and schooling. at a distance.
The electronics giant argues that the custom chip enables performance and other advantages over Intel Corp. INTC,
chips that Apple used previously in its Mac line and CEO Tim Cook said in the company’s latest earnings call that the chip gives 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 CPU performance compared to the A12Z Bionic chip, as well as up to 40% better graphics performance, according to the company. Mobile iPad models will have 5G connectivity.
Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro will have what the company calls the Retina XDR liquid display, which uses more than 10,000 light-emitting diodes to show better detail even in darker images. The 12.9-inch model starts at $ 1,099 for the Wi-Fi version and $ 1,299 for the mobile version, while the 11-inch model starts at $ 799 for Wi-Fi and $ 999 for mobile . Both will be available in the second half of May, and Apple will open its orders on April 30th.
The iPad has been another of the more recent categories, given the boom in remote work. Segment revenue grew at least 31% in each of the last three quarters of 2020 and analysts forecast 29% growth for the March quarter, which Apple is expected to report next week.
For more information: The pandemic may have permanently altered Apple’s path
Apple also launched new iPads in September, introducing an eighth-generation iPad that was the first of its entry-level tablets to feature the company’s neural engine. The company also introduced at the time a new iPad Air with improvements in sound and camera quality, with CFO Luca Maestri calling a “fantastic” reception on the device in Apple’s latest earnings call in January.
Apple’s Tuesday event brought the long-awaited announcement from AirTag fans, a new product category. Tags use Apple’s FindMy network to keep track of things, giving visual, tactile, and other feedback to help people locate their AirTags and attachments. The device will cost $ 29 or $ 99 for a pack of four. Availability starts on April 30, although people can make a reservation in advance from Friday.
Apple is usually saving iPhone announcements for the fall, though it announced a new purple color option for the iPhone at Tuesday’s event. The company will also update the Apple TV streaming device, adding an A12 chip and a redesigned remote control.
The company also plans to provide its Apple card to family members to use together. Spouses and partners will be able to generate credits equally, which Cook said would make the credit management process more equitable. The company will also allow people to get Apple cards for family members over the age of 13, with the option to limit spending.
Apple is redesigning its podcast app to make it easier for people to find programs from their favorite creators and sign up for paid subscriptions that can unlock benefits like early access or an ad-free experience. Podcast creators face a payment schedule similar to app developers, with a 30% reduction in Apple’s first year and a 15% reduction in subsequent years, with an annual fee of $ 19.99 . The new version of the app will be released in May.
Apple’s spring event precedes its annual WWDC developer gathering, which will begin on June 7th. This event will include updates to Apple’s various operating systems and perhaps some additional product announcements.
Apple shares have gained about 1% in the last three months as the DIA Jones Industrial Average DJIA,
which has Apple as a component, has increased by 8%.