Apple kicked off a week of product announcements on Monday with the release of a new, more affordable iPhone and an updated iPad Air featuring its latest M4 chip. The move underscores Apple’s strategy to cater to a wider range of consumers while continuing to push the boundaries of mobile technology.
The new iPhone 17e, starting at $599, aims to compete in the mid-tier smartphone market, offering a balance of features, and price. According to Apple, the 17e boasts the same 6.1-inch display as its predecessor but includes enhanced durability with tougher glass, the A19 chip, the newer C1X modem, and MagSafe charging capabilities. It also doubles the base storage to 256GB and supports Apple Intelligence.
Despite the added features and increased storage, the iPhone 17e maintains the same starting price as the previous model. This pricing strategy suggests Apple is focused on making its entry-level iPhone more competitive without impacting the pricing of its flagship devices, particularly as rising memory costs impact the broader smartphone market.
The iPhone 17e will be available in pink, black, and white, with pre-orders beginning on Wednesday, March 4, and in-store availability starting on Wednesday, March 11.
Alongside the new iPhone, Apple also unveiled an updated iPad Air powered by the M4 chip. The iPad Air retains its existing design and price point but delivers a significant performance boost with the new chip. Apple states the iPad Air with M4 is up to 30 percent faster than the previous generation with M3, and up to 2.3 times faster than the iPad Air with M1.
The updated iPad Air also features Apple’s latest connectivity chips, N1 and C1X, offering faster wireless and cellular connections, including support for Wi-Fi 7. It will be available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with four finish options. The 11-inch model starts at $599, while the 13-inch model begins at $799. For education, the 11-inch iPad Air starts at $549, and the 13-inch model at $749.
Pre-orders for the new iPad Air begin on Wednesday, March 4, with availability starting on Wednesday, March 11. The company highlighted the iPad Air’s compatibility with accessories like Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard, emphasizing its versatility for students, creators, business users, and gamers.
The launch of the iPhone 17e and the updated iPad Air are the first in a series of announcements Apple plans to make this week, including updates to its MacBook Air and Pro lines with M5 chips. PCMag reports that an in-person experience for the tech press is scheduled in London, New York, and Shanghai.
Apple’s press release details the enhanced capabilities of the new devices, emphasizing their performance, connectivity, and integration with iPadOS 26.
