Apple’s new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR have a lot of differences, but we can now add one more to the list: they come with different A19 chips.

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The Titanic and Twin Peaks actor will join Stick as a recurring cast member for season 2. Here are the details.

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It’s only March, but Apple has already launched eight new products this year, including seven just this week. And the most exciting of the bunch is the MacBook Neo.

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Apple's press release and marketing materials for the new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR models do not mention which chips are inside the monitors, but MacRumors has confirmed this information in the latest Studio Display firmware.


The firmware reveals that the second-generation Studio Display is equipped with an A19 chip, while the Studio Display XDR has an A19 Pro chip, according to code reviewed by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. Rumors had mentioned either the A19 chip or the A19 Pro chip, and it turns out that the two chips are split across the two models.

The original Studio Display from 2022 is equipped with an A13 Bionic chip, which is something that Apple advertised. Apple said the chip enables features such as Center Stage camera framing, Spatial Audio, and "Siri" and "Hey Siri" voice activation for Siri. Apple introduced the A13 Bionic chip in the iPhone 11 series in 2019.

Introduced across the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models last year, the A19 and A19 Pro chips are much newer. These chips likely help to drive the improved speakers in both new Studio Display models, and they likely enable the camera's Desk View feature, which can show your face and an overhead view of your desk at the same time.

In both new Studio Displays, Apple says the six-speaker sound system delivers 30% deeper bass compared to the previous generation.

It is unclear exactly why the Studio Display XDR has a higher-end A19 Pro chip, but it certainly tracks with this model having more powerful features, such as a 120Hz refresh rate, mini-LED backlighting, and increased brightness.

We will learn more about the new Studio Displays and the hardware inside of them through upcoming reviews and teardowns.

Both new models can be pre-ordered now and launch on Wednesday, March 11.
This article, "Apple's Two New Studio Display Models Feature Different Chips" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps 2026 report shows a widening gap between top-performing apps and the rest of the market. Here are the details.

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Apple today released iOS 18.7.6 for older devices, addressing an issue that caused some older iPhones in Australia to be unable to connect to emergency services.


According to Apple's release notes, the update fixes an issue that was preventing the iPhone XS and ‌iPhone‌ XR from properly connecting to emergency networks in Australia.

• This update addresses a mobile network issue for ‌iPhone‌ XS models and ‌iPhone‌ XR when establishing a connection to emergency services in Australia.

Australian mobile network operators have been improving support for emergency calling on their networks, which has led to a host of problems with older iPhones connecting to emergency situations in some situations. Apple has released several updates to address the problem, including iOS 16.7.4 and iOS 26.2.1.

Some of Apple's updates exacerbated the issue, and Apple ended up temporarily pulling iOS 18.7.4, iOS 16.7.13, iOS 15.8.6, and iOS 12.5.8 back in December. Since then, additional updates have been released to further fix the emergency calling bugs, including the new iOS 18.7.6. update.
This article, "Apple Releases iOS 18.7.6 to Address Australia Emergency Call Issue" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has added a lot of new ways to customize your iPhone in recent years. One of my favorites is a Home Screen setting in iOS 26 for your app icons that tints the icon color to match that of your iPhone or its case. Here’s how to use it.

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The new MacBook Neo is officially here, and it gives MacBook Air a run for its money when it comes to casual usage. So what exactly is the $500 difference between Apple’s two 13-inch laptops? Let’s dig in to every difference.

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Earlier today we began tracking the first pre-order offers on the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, and now the MacBook Neo has joined in at Best Buy. If you pre-order the new low-cost MacBook Neo at Best Buy, you'll get a free $25 Best Buy gift card after purchase.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

In order to get the deal, you need to pre-order any MacBook Neo model at Best Buy with a valid e-mail address. The e-gift card will be sent out after you receive the MacBook Neo, or after you pick it up in a Best Buy store.



Apple announced the MacBook Neo today, and it's now the cheapest MacBook in the lineup starting at $599 and powered by the A18 Pro chip. Apple says it is up to 50% faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5, up to 3x faster for on-device AI workloads, and up to 2x faster for tasks like photo editing.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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This article, "MacBook Neo Pre-Orders at Best Buy Include Free $25 Gift Card" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.3.1, a minor update to the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ operating system that came out last September. ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3.1 comes three weeks after Apple launched macOS Tahoe 26.3.


Mac users can download the new software by opening up the System Settings app and navigating to the Software Update section.

According to Apple's release notes for the update, it adds support for the new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR. Apple has also released a firmware update for the new displays.

The new monitors are available for pre-order and will launch on Wednesday, March 11.
This article, "Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.3.1 With Support for Studio Display and Studio Display XDR" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released a new firmware update for the Studio Display and Studio Display XDR, two products that aren't set to launch until March 11.


The Studio Display Firmware 26.3 update is only for the new Studio Display options, and it is not available on the older model.

Studio Display firmware can be updated by connecting the display to a Mac and going to System Settings > Software Update.

Pre-orders are available for the Studio Display and Studio Display XDR as of today. Prices start at $1,599.
This article, "New Studio Display and Studio Display XDR Will Have Day One Firmware Update" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today provided public beta testers with the third release of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.4 update for testing purposes. The public beta comes a week after Apple seeded the second beta.


After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section in the settings app for each update.

‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4 includes several new features. The Compact tab layout has been reimplemented in Safari for those who missed having the option in earlier versions of ‌macOS Tahoe‌, and there is a new Charge Limit feature that lets Mac users select a maximum charge level that ranges from 80 percent to 100 percent.

Apple silicon Mac users will see now see warnings about apps that are still using Rosetta 2, because Apple is phasing out Rosetta after macOS 27. ‌macOS Tahoe‌ is also the final version of macOS that will run on Intel-based Macs, and Apple is working to remove all lingering Intel features.

We could see additional features in upcoming versions of ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4, such as new emoji characters. Apple is expected to test the update for the next several weeks, with a launch planned for the spring.
This article, "Apple Releases Third macOS Tahoe 26.4 Public Beta" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has just released a new Mac software update: macOS 26.3.1. Here’s what’s new in the latest software version.

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Following today’s announcement of the new MacBook Neo, and yesterday’s release of the developer version of macOS 26.4 beta 3, the public beta is rolling out now. Here’s what’s coming.

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Apple today released iOS 26.3.1 and iPadOS 26.3.1, minor updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems. The software comes three weeks after Apple released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3.


The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

According to Apple's release notes, the update adds support for the new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR, and it includes unspecified bug fixes.

Apple is also beta testing iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, major updates that are set to come out this spring.
This article, "Apple Releases iOS 26.3.1 and iPadOS 26.3.1 With Bug Fixes and Studio Display Support" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has released iOS 26.3.1 for iPhone users today. The update likely includes bug fixes and performance improvements.

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I recently got my hands on the Blackmagic Camera ProDock and used it to build out a production-ready iPhone camera rig. With a single USB-C cable, I was able to connect an external SSD, wireless microphone, HDMI monitor, and an Ethernet adapter to my iPhone 16 Pro Max.

It all comes together courtesy of the Blackmagic Camera ProDock, a $295 iPhone accessory announced alongside the iPhone 17 Pro last September. It, coupled with a few spare parts I had lying around, allowed me to turn last generation’s flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max into a powerful ProRes-shooting and live-streaming camera rig.

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Apple introduced an all-new affordable Mac today, the MacBook Neo. Members of the media were invited to try the new device and other Apple products at events in New York, Shanghai, and London, and MacRumors' videographer Dan Barbera was in attendance. Dan was able to see the MacBook Neo in person, as well as other devices like the new Studio Display XDR.


The MacBook Neo looks and feels a lot like the MacBook Air, because it's almost the same size and has an aluminum chassis. It's thicker than the ‌MacBook Air‌, but it has a 13-inch display, and it also weighs 2.7 pounds.

Apple designed the MacBook Neo from the ground up, and it comes in some fun colors like Silver, Indigo, Blush, and Citrus. Each of the notebooks has a color matched keyboard and trackpad, but the keyboard has no backlighting and the trackpad isn't the higher-end Force Touch trackpad Apple uses in its other Macs. It's a physical trackpad with an actual click rather than haptic feedback for presses.

There is no notch, with Apple instead adopting an iPad-style design with thicker bezels that house the front-facing camera. Speakers are located on the exterior sides of the device, which is new, and Spatial Audio is supported. The MacBook Neo has a bit of a cheaper feel compared to the ‌MacBook Air‌ or MacBook Pro because of the thicker bezels and the changes to the trackpad, but it is still an excellent machine for the price.

Apple used the A18 Pro chip in the MacBook Neo, which is technically an iPhone chip. It was first introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro, and while it's a powerful chip, it doesn't match the performance of Apple's newer M-series chips. There's only 8GB RAM included, and 60GB/s memory bandwidth, half that of the ‌MacBook Air‌.

Apple says the MacBook Neo is up to 50 percent faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with an Intel Core Ultra 5 chip, which is an apt comparison because this is aimed at people who might instead buy a lower-cost Windows laptop or Chromebook. The MacBook Neo is up to two times faster at photo editing, and three times faster when it comes to on-device AI workloads, according to Apple.

You get a Retina quality display, but only 500 nits brightness and no add-on features like True Tone or P3 Wide color. There are two USB-C ports, but only one is USB3 with DisplayPort 1.4 support. You can connect a single 4K 60Hz display to the MacBook Neo.

Battery life is a little low for a device the size of a ‌MacBook Air‌ with an A-series chip, and it lasts for up to 16 hours. Bluetooth 6 and Wi-Fi 6E are supported, so it is compatible with 6GHz networks.

We'll have more in-depth hands-on coverage of the MacBook Neo and Apple's other new products next week.
This article, "Hands-On With the New MacBook Neo" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple just kicked off pre-orders for the new M5 MacBook Air and M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro, and Best Buy already has a few offers on these notebooks. You can get a $50 Best Buy gift card when pre-ordering the MacBook Air and a $100 gift card when pre-ordering the MacBook Pro.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

In order to get these deals, you need to pre-order one of the newest MacBooks at Best Buy with a valid e-mail address. The e-gift card will be sent out after you receive the eligible MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, or after you pick it up in a Best Buy store.




In regards to the upgrades, the MacBook Air features performance improvements thanks to the newest M5 chip, as well as Apple's custom N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity.

The new MacBook Pro includes M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which are up to 30 percent faster when compared to the M4 generation, and up to 2.5x faster than M1 Pro and M1 Max. In terms of design, both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro keep the same overall designs as previous generations.

M5 MacBook Air

• 13-inch M5 MacBook Air (512GB) - $1,099.00 + $50 gift card


• 13-inch M5 MacBook Air (16GB/1TB) - $1,299.00 + $50 gift card


• 15-inch M5 MacBook Air (512GB) - $1,299.00 + $50 gift card


• 15-inch M5 MacBook Air (24GB/1TB) - $1,699.00 + $50 gift card

M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro

• 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/1TB) - $2,199.00 + $100 gift card


• 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/2TB) - $2,799.00 + $100 gift card


• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/1TB) - $2,699.00 + $100 gift card


• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max/2TB) - $3,899.00 + $100 gift card

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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This article, "New M5 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Get First Pre-Order Offers From Best Buy" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The MacBook Neo is now Apple's entry-level MacBook, undercutting the MacBook Air by $500. To deliver such a dramatically lower price, the MacBook Neo has a significant number of tradeoffs. Here's everything that's different between the two devices.


Apple's introduction of the MacBook Neo expands the company's laptop lineup with a far more affordable entry point, sitting well below the ‌MacBook Air‌ in both price and capability. While the two machines share a similar size and lightweight design, they are aimed at very different types of users. The MacBook Neo focuses on delivering the essentials of the Mac experience at the lowest possible cost, while the ‌MacBook Air‌ offers significantly more performance, features, and flexibility.

Design

The MacBook Neo and the 13-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ have similar dimensions. The ‌MacBook Air‌ remains thinner, but the MacBook Neo has a slightly smaller overall footprint owing to its smaller display. Both machines weigh 2.7 pounds (1.23 kg).

	MacBook Neo	‌MacBook Air‌
Height	0.50 inch (1.27 cm)	0.44 inch (1.13 cm)
Width	11.71 inches (29.75 cm)	11.97 inches (30.41 cm)
Depth	8.12 inches (20.64 cm)	8.46 inches (21.5 cm)

There are still some notable design differences. The MacBook Neo does not have a backlit keyboard or a haptic trackpad, and only has Touch ID when configured with 512GB of storage for an extra $100. They are also available in different selections of color options, with the MacBook Neo's color extending to the Magic Keyboard in a lighter shade.

MacBook Neo	‌MacBook Air‌
Available in Silver, Blush, Indigo, and Citrus	Available in Silver, Sky Blue, Midnight, and Starlight
‌Touch ID‌ on 512GB models only	‌Touch ID‌
Magic Keyboard or Magic Keyboard with ‌Touch ID‌	Backlit Magic Keyboard with ‌Touch ID‌
Color-matched Magic Keyboard	Black Magic Keyboard
Mechanical Multi-Touch trackpad	Haptic Force Touch trackpad with pressure-sensing capabilities
	Display "notch"

Display

The ‌MacBook Air‌'s display is slightly larger and supports True Tone and P3 wide color. Both are Liquid Retina displays with 500 nits of brightness.

MacBook Neo	‌MacBook Air‌
13-inch Liquid Retina display	13.6-inch Liquid Retina display (15-inch model also available)
2408 by 1506 pixel resolution	2560 by 1664 pixel resolution
sRGB	Wide color (P3)
	True Tone technology
Thicker display borders	Slimmer display borders

Performance

The MacBook Neo is Apple's first Mac to contain an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro is still a capable chip, but the M5 is around 20% faster for single-core tasks and 80% faster for multi-core tasks. The M5 chip also has more than double the GPU throughput of the A18 Pro and features Neural Accelerators.

MacBook Neo	‌MacBook Air‌
Apple A18 Pro chip	Apple M5 chip
Made with TSMC's second-generation 3nm process (N3E)	Made with TSMC's third-generation ‌3nm‌ process (N3P)
6-core CPU	10-core CPU
5-core GPU	8-core GPU
	Neural Accelerators
8GB unified memory	16GB, 24GB, or 32GB unified memory
60GB/s memory bandwidth	153GB/s memory bandwidth

Battery and Charging

The ‌MacBook Air‌ has up to two hours of extra battery life over the MacBook Neo, along with support for charging via MagSafe 3 and fast charging.

MacBook Neo	‌MacBook Air‌
Integrated 36.5-watt-hour lithium-ion battery	Integrated 53.8-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
16-hour battery life	18-hour battery life
	‌MagSafe‌ 3 charging
	Fast-charge capable with 70W USB-C Power Adapter or higher
Comes with 20W USB-C Power Adapter	Comes with 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max

Cameras, Speakers, and Microphones

The ‌MacBook Air‌ has a superior array of camera and audio hardware, resulting in a slightly better experience with video calls, listening to music, and recording audio.

MacBook Neo	‌MacBook Air‌
1080p FaceTime HD camera	12MP Center Stage camera
	LED webcam indicator light
	Desk View support
Dual-speaker sound system	Four-speaker sound system
	Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking when using supported AirPods
Dual-mic array with directional beamforming	Three-mic array with directional beamforming

Connectivity

The MacBook Neo's connectivity is more limited than that of the ‌MacBook Air‌. While both have two USB-C ports, the ‌MacBook Air‌'s are considerably more capable in terms of data transfer and external display support.

MacBook Neo	‌MacBook Air‌
Wi-Fi 6E connectivity	Wi-Fi 7 connectivity
One USB 3 (10 Gb/s) port and one USB 2 port (480 Mb/s)	Two Thunderbolt 4 ports (40 Gb/s)
Support for one 4K external display at 60Hz	Support for two 6K external displays up 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz
3.5mm headphone jack	3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones
	Magnetic ‌MagSafe‌ 3 charging port

Other Differences

The most significant difference between the MacBook Neo and the ‌MacBook Air‌ is price: The ‌MacBook Air‌ costs $500 more. It is also much more configurable, with higher amounts of memory and storage available.

MacBook Neo	‌MacBook Air‌
	Ambient light sensor
256GB or 512GB storage	512GB, 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB storage
Starts at $599	Starts at $1,099

Which to Choose?

Choosing between the MacBook Neo and the ‌MacBook Air‌ primarily comes down to how demanding your needs are and how much you want to spend. The MacBook Neo is clearly positioned as Apple's most accessible notebook, delivering the core Mac experience at the lowest possible price. For users who primarily need a reliable computer for basic everyday tasks, the Neo provides enough performance. Its lower cost also makes it an appealing option for households purchasing multiple computers, such as for kids or family use.

For first-time Mac owners, the MacBook Neo is also likely to be the most sensible starting point. It offers the same software experience as Apple's more expensive laptops, allowing new users to explore the platform without a large financial commitment. In many cases, buyers moving from inexpensive Windows laptops or Chromebooks will find the Neo significantly faster and better built than devices in the same price range.

The ‌MacBook Air‌, by contrast, is aimed at users who expect higher performance, greater longevity, and a more feature-rich, premium experience. Its more powerful M5 chip, memory options, larger display, and significantly more capable connectivity make it far better suited to multitasking, professional workloads, and creative applications. Users who regularly work with large files, run demanding software, connect multiple external displays, or want a machine that will remain comfortable to use for many years will benefit from choosing the Air.

In practical terms, the MacBook Neo is best viewed as a budget entry point into the Mac lineup, while the ‌MacBook Air‌ remains Apple's mainstream ultraportable for most people. Buyers who simply want a dependable Mac for everyday computing can save money with the Neo, but those who want stronger performance, better hardware features, and a laptop that will scale to more demanding tasks over time should consider spending the extra money on the ‌MacBook Air‌.
This article, "MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air Buyer's Guide: 40 Differences Compared" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple made some compromises to sell a Mac notebook at $599, including cutting back on RAM. While all other Macs start at 16GB RAM, the MacBook Neo is equipped with 8GB RAM and no option to upgrade to more memory.


With the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro models and 8GB RAM, the MacBook Neo is able to run all Apple Intelligence features, but as AI gets more advanced and Apple adds new capabilities, there's a chance it could fall behind.

8GB RAM ensures the MacBook Neo is affordable, especially with the current memory shortages that are causing prices to soar. It's also the RAM in the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro.

Apple's MacBook Air used to have an 8GB option, but in October 2024, Apple updated it to add 16GB RAM to the entry level machine. Since then, no Mac has shipped with less than 16GB.

Though it only has 8GB RAM, the MacBook Neo is a powerful machine for everyday tasks like writing, web browsing, and schoolwork, and it's more than capable of light photo and video editing.

Pricing on the MacBook Neo starts at $599, and it is available for pre-order.
This article, "MacBook Neo Has Just 8GB RAM With No Upgrade Option" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's new low-cost MacBook Neo is equipped with the A18 Pro chip that Apple first used in the iPhone 16 Pro, and it's the first Mac that has an A-series chip.


Using an iPhone chip in a Mac comes with some downsides, like external display support. The MacBook Neo supports a single external display with a 4K resolution and 60Hz refresh rate.

The MacBook Neo will not work with the new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR that Apple announced yesterday because both of those are 5K displays, but it will work with affordable USB-C 4K display options from companies like LG, Dell, and Samsung.

There are two USB-C ports in the MacBook Neo, but only one supports DisplayPort 1.4 for an external display. An external monitor will need to be plugged into the appropriate port, which is the USB 3 port closest to the rear of the device. There is no Thunderbolt support, which is what other Macs use for multiple displays, and how the Studio Display options connect.

Adding a second display might be possible using a third-party DisplayLink adapter, as has been the case with other Macs with display limitations, but this has not been tested yet.

While there's official support for just one external display, the MacBook Neo can at least drive the extra display and its own built-in display at full native resolution. The MacBook Neo has a 13-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2408 x 1506 at 219 pixels per inch.

The MacBook Neo is priced starting at $599, and it is available for pre-order today from Apple's website. The new Mac will launch on March 11.
This article, "MacBook Neo Can Only Drive One External Display at 4K 60Hz" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple’s new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR are now available for pre-order, but if you want to connect a MacBook Neo or Intel Mac, you may need to look elsewhere.

Update: Apple has confirmed to 9to5Mac that the MacBook Neo is compatible with the new Studio Displays, but will be scaled to 4K 60Hz.

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Apple has now unleashed the all-new MacBook Neo as pre-orders for the new M5 MacBook Air, M5 Pro MacBook Pro, and M4 iPad Air go live at retail. We have uncovered some notable pre-order deals on all of it, including FREE $50 gift cards on the M5 MacBook Air, $100 gift cards on the M5 Pro MacBook Pro, and even a chance to save $50 on the new M4 iPad Air – you can score one as low as $249 with trade-ins.  Those offers also join deals on a 1TB Mac mini, Apple Watch Ultra bands, and more down below. 

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