Apple hardware design lead Molly Anderson said that the company started from scratch when it came to the process for manufacturing the new MacBook Neo, resulting in far more efficient use of materials.

The company is also reportedly looking to adopt an extremely challenging manufacturing technique for the aluminum chassis of future iPhones and Apple Watch models …

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Apple said that it wanted the new MacBook Neo to be seen as a fun new addition to the Mac lineup, and this was reflected in the colors as well as the name.

The new machine comes in a choice of four colors, although admittedly these are less vivid in the aluminum than they appear in photos …

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The Cosmic Orange color Apple offered for the iPhone 17 Pro proved hugely popular, and was credited with helping the company hit record iPhone sales last year.

It seems the company’s competitors were paying close attention, several of them adopting a very similar color tone for their latest Android smartphones – with the above one of the more blatant clones …

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Apple is expected to announce an all-new iPhone with a foldable display later this year. Ahead of the unveil, Sonny Dickson has shared what looks like 3D CAD rendering files of the rumored iPhone Fold design.

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CBS Sunday Morning correspondent David Pogue interviewed Apple's CEO Tim Cook ahead of the company's 50th anniversary on April 1, 2026.


In the interview, Cook revealed the two things that are "essential" to Apple: people and culture.

"Yes, we have a lot of intellectual property and so forth, and that is important, but it's people that create that intellectual property," said Cook. "It's the culture that creates the innovation with the intellectual property."

"I think it's very difficult to replicate culture," added Cook. "It takes a long time, because you have to hire the right people. And then those people have to hire the right people, and you have to build a complete organization."


That culture then has to be sustained as life changes and technology evolves, he said.

Cook concluded that Apple is a "party of one."

"I think Apple is such a unique place, it's not possible to replicate it," he said. "I know a lot of different companies, and I think Apple is just in a party of one."

Pogue is the author of the new book Apple: The First 50 Years, set to be released this Tuesday.

From the book's official description:

In time for Apple's 50th anniversary, CBS Sunday Morning correspondent David Pogue tells the iconic company's entire life story: how it was born, nearly died, was born again under Steve Jobs, and became, under CEO Tim Cook, the most valuable company in the world. The book features full-color photos, new facts that correct the record and illuminate its subversive culture, and fresh interviews with the legendary figures who shaped Apple into what it is today.

An excerpt from the book, focused on Steve Jobs and Apple's "Think Different" campaign, is available on the CBS News website.
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David Pogue, author of the new book Apple: The First 50 Years, interviewed Apple CEO Tim Cook for CBS’s “Sunday Morning” program ahead of the company’s upcoming 50th anniversary.

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Apple is planning to launch an all-new "MacBook Ultra" model this year, featuring an OLED display, touchscreen, and a higher price point, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.


Gurman revealed the information in his latest "Power On" newsletter. While Apple has been widely expected to launch new M6-series MacBook Pro models with OLED displays, touchscreen functionality, and a new, thinner design in the fourth quarter of 2026 for some time, Gurman today turned that rumor on its head with the suggestion that this is an all-new kind of MacBook rather than a ‌MacBook Pro‌.

Instead of succeeding the newly announced M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, the "MacBook Ultra" will be a new, top-tier Apple laptop. Gurman added that the device is likely to sit above the current M5 MacBook Pros, rather than replace them, suggesting that they will remain on sale.

This would enable a markedly higher price point for the new machines. Gurman noted that when Apple brought OLED displays to the iPhone X in 2017 and the iPad Pro in 2024, it simultaneously raised price by around 20%. As a result, Gurman believes a similar price increase on account of the MacBook's first ever OLED display may be likely and help move the ‌MacBook Pro‌ further upmarket.

Gurman says that this fits into a broader trend at Apple, where the company is seeking to offer more models at more price points, such as the new MacBook Neo at an unprecedented $599 price point to rival low-cost Windows and Chromebook devices. The same is occurring at the high-end, with more premium options available than ever before.

That is set to continue this year with the first foldable ‌iPhone‌, featuring a ~$2,000 price tag, large inner display, and under-display sensors, and new AirPods priced above the current AirPods Pro at the top of the lineup with computer-vision cameras to feed Visual Intelligence data to Siri. Gurman even suggested that these products may be called the "iPhone Ultra" and "AirPods Ultra."

While the name "MacBook Ultra" is uncertain, Gurman is clearly no longer referring to the device as a ‌MacBook Pro‌, instead referring to it as "the touch-screen and OLED high-end MacBook." He cautioned that Apple "could keep the traditional ‌MacBook Pro‌ name," but a MacBook Ultra moniker would "more clearly signal their position at the top of the lineup." Gurman expects the device to launch around the end of the year.


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Apple's second-generation MacBook Neo will launch in 2027 and could feature a touchscreen, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.


Apple this week announced the ‌MacBook Neo‌, an all-new entry-level Apple laptop that starts at $599, with education pricing at $499. The ‌‌MacBook Neo‌‌ is designed to compete with lower-cost Windows laptops and Chromebooks, while expanding the Mac lineup with a substantially more affordable option.

Unlike every other Apple silicon Mac, the ‌‌MacBook Neo‌‌ is powered by the A18 Pro chip originally developed for the iPhone 16 Pro. The machine features a colorful rounded design, a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with uniform iPad-style bezels rather than a notch, a color-matched Magic Keyboard, a mechanical trackpad, two USB-C ports, 8GB of memory, a headphone jack, a 1080p camera, dual mics, dual speakers with Spatial Audio, and a 16-hour battery life.

In a report shared last year, Apple analyst ‌Ming-Chi Kuo‌ correctly said that the ‌MacBook Neo‌ would enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2025, but would not feature a touchscreen. In the same report, he revealed some insights into the second-generation version of the device.

Crucially, Kuo said that the second-generation ‌MacBook Neo‌ may feature a touchscreen. Apple's first touchscreen Mac is expected to launch later this year in the form of a new, high-end MacBook Pro with an OLED display and a new design.

The device is specifically said to incorporate a touch panel that uses on-cell touch technology. On-cell touch technology integrates the touch sensors directly into the display panel's top layer (the "cell") rather than requiring a separate, dedicated touch layer, to reduce thickness.

Following the launch of this device and the adoption of touch support in macOS 27, it would make sense for other MacBooks with the feature to follow. Many other laptops from HP, Lenovo, Acer, and ASUS that now rival the ‌MacBook Neo‌ already feature touchscreens.

As of September 2025, specifications for the second-generation ‌MacBook Neo‌ were still under discussion, according to Kuo. A faster chip such as the A19 Pro with 12GB of memory is highly likely.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today suggested that Apple may expand "Neo" branding to other low-cost devices such as the Apple Watch SE, making it the "Apple Watch Neo."
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Apple is hoping to 3D-print aluminum device enclosures in the future, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman revealed that Apple is pushing to move to 3D-printed aluminum enclosures for for future devices. The MacBook Neo relies on a new aluminum manufacturing process that saves as much metal as possible to drive down costs and speed up production.

3D-printing aluminum enclosures would similarly enable Apple to save material and increase efficiency. The process is likely to come to the Apple Watch first, and potentially the iPhone at a later date.

The process is a follow-up to Apple's 3D-printed titanium technique, which debuted with the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Apple's manufacturing design and operations departments are collaborating on the project.

Gurman added suggested that Apple may expand its new "Neo" branding to the Apple Watch SE in the future, making it the "Apple Watch Neo."


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Amazon this weekend has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. We first started tracking the return of these deals last month, but this sale has now expanded with many more options on both 42mm and 46mm GPS models.

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

You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find four of the 42mm GPS models on sale at this all-time low price, and four of the 46mm GPS models on sale as well.




If you're shopping for cellular models, you can find record low prices on multiple models this week on Amazon. The 42mm cellular Apple Watch Series 11 has hit $399.00, down from $499.00, and the 46mm cellular model has hit $429.00, down from $529.00.




Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

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This article, "Apple Watch Series 11 Hits All-Time Low Prices on Amazon With $100 Off Nearly Every Aluminum Model" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's upcoming "HomePad" will offer a magnetic snap-to-wall feature and more, according to the leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami."


In a new post on X, Kosutami said that one of the HomePad prototypes features a MagSafe-like snap-to-wall capability, along with doorbell integration. It is said to be heavily reliant on Apple Intelligence. They apparently saw this prototype in person.

Apple has reportedly been working on the device for several years, with the aim for it to serve as a centralized location for controlling smart home products, listening to music and podcasts, making video calls, and getting glanceable information like the weather and calendar events. The device is expected to have a 7-inch square display and a front-facing camera.

Kosutami told MacRumors that while the name "HomePad" is being used internally, it is not clear if that is the product name that will actually be used upon launch.

Earlier this week, the leaker said that the HomePad is now set to arrive in the fall of 2026. The fall runs from September to December, and usually coincides with Apple's busiest release period of the year.

The device was originally rumored to launch in early 2025, but due to delays with ‌Apple Intelligence‌, its apparent release date moved to early 2026, and now to the fall. The rumored release timing means the HomePad could arrive alongside products like the iPhone 18 Pro in September or redesigned MacBook Pro models in October.
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Apple is planning more Mac refreshes for the rest of the year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman writes.


In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that, following the introduction of the M5 MacBook Air, M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro, and ‌MacBook Pro‌, Apple is preparing for further Mac refreshes to complete the 2026 lineup.

These include an upgraded Mac Studio, which Gurman expects to arrive in the middle of 2026, followed by new iMac and Mac mini models. While the new ‌Mac Studio‌ and ‌Mac mini‌ "will look identical to the current iterations," the 2026 ‌iMac‌ will feature a "refreshed color palette."

A new, high-end MacBook, potentially called the "MacBook Ultra," is expected to arrive around the end of the year. It will feature the Mac's first touchscreen and an OLED display.

Although Gurman did not mention chips, the new ‌Mac Studio‌ is likely to feature the M5 Max chip and either an M4 or M5 Ultra chip, the ‌Mac mini‌ will probably offer M5 and M5 Pro variants, and the ‌iMac‌ is almost certain to get the M5 chip.


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Apple is planning to launch at least three new "Ultra"-class devices this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Writing in this weekend's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that while the low-end of Apple's product lineups are now well-served by the Apple Watch SE, iPad 11, and MacBook Neo, there is "a more significant shift underway" toward higher-end, "Ultra" devices. Apple is planning to launch at least three such devices this year:

• iPhone Ultra: With a ~$2,000 price tag, large inner display, and under-display sensors, the first foldable iPhone will "cast a shadow over the rest of the lineup."


• AirPods Ultra: Priced above the current AirPods Pro at the top of the lineup, the new AirPods will feature computer-vision cameras to feed Visual Intelligence data to Siri.


• MacBook Ultra: With a touch-enabled OLED display that will raise the overall price by up to 20%, the new machine will likely sit above the current M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, rather than replace them.

Gurman said that Apple "may not use the Ultra branding for all of them," despite the name's increasing prevalence across Apple's product lines. Gurman noted that Apple did not adopt the Ultra name for the new Studio Display XDR. Apple already offers M-series Ultra chips, the Apple Watch Ultra, and CarPlay Ultra.

Further in the future, Gurman expects other product lines to expand into this "superpremium tier," including the ‌iPad‌ and Mac. Such devices could include a high-end ‌iPad‌ with a foldable OLED display and a more powerful iMac with a larger display.


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This week, Apple unveiled MacBook Pro models that run on the newly announced M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. The new Macs are available for pre-order now and hit stores on Wednesday, March 11. For that reason, it may come as a surprise that Apple is still expected to release an even bigger MacBook Pro update — possibly a MacBook Ultra — in 2026.

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With the Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple introduced a new 3D-printing manufacturing process for the titanium shell – allowing the company to save on raw materials, improve on cost, and use 100% recycled titanium powder. The company also uses 3D printing for the titanium version of the Apple Watch Series 11, as well as the USB-C port on iPhone Air.

Now, the company is looking to expand that process to aluminum – allowing most Apple Watch shells to be 3D printed. Further ahead, it may even come to the iPhone, per Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter.

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Apple's upcoming 2026 iMac will be available in a refreshed selection of colors, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.


In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the next ‌iMac‌ will feature a new selection of colors. This could be the first true refresh of the device's color options in five years.

The ‌iMac‌ redesign introduced in 2021 uses a distinctive two-tone color design, where the color appears differently on the front and back of the machine. The rear aluminum enclosure and stand use a bold, saturated version of the chosen color, making the machine visually striking when seen from behind. By contrast, the front chin below the display features a much lighter, pastel version of the same color, intended to reduce distraction while using the screen. The display bezel itself remains white on all models.

The M1 ‌iMac‌ was available in seven colors: Blue, Green, Pink, Yellow, Orange, Purple, and Silver. These were unchanged with the M3 version of the device in 2023.

In 2024, Apple refreshed the look of the colors slightly. While the same overall selection of colors remained the same, the tones shifted slightly, with a more saturated blue, a brighter green, a more vivid pink, a warmer yellow, a richer orange, and a darker purple.

Gurman believes that the new ‌iMac‌ will arrive after refreshed Mac Studio models, which are expected around the middle of 2026.


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Since introducing the current iMac design in 2021, Apple has upgraded the chip inside twice while refreshing the colors just once. It sounds like that will change later this year.

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This week, Apple unveiled a plethora of new Macs with M5 chips – and it revealed an interesting new trend. More base storage, but at slightly higher prices. This impacted the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

At the moment, M4 versions of the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and iMac still remain with their old pricing lineup – but that’s likely to change with the M5 lineup.

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Apple on Friday added three new executive profiles to its leadership page for Jennifer Newstead, Molly Anderson, and Steve Lemay.

• Jennifer Newstead, Senior Vice President and General Counsel: Newstead is Apple's top lawyer, overseeing all legal matters. She assumed the position on March 1, succeeding Katherine Adams, who had held the position since 2017. Prior to joining Apple, Newstead served as Meta's chief legal officer for six years.


• Molly Anderson, Vice President of Industrial Design: Anderson and her team are responsible for the design of all Apple products, accessories, and their packaging. Anderson joined Apple in 2014, and she has led the Industrial Design team since 2024, although it is unclear when she officially became a VP. Anderson succeeds Jony Ive and Evans Hankey, among others.


• Steve Lemay, Vice President of Human Interface Design: Lemay joined Apple in 1999, and he now leads the team responsible for software design across Apple's platforms. Lemay succeeded Alan Dye, who left Apple at the end of last year to lead design for Meta's Reality Labs division.

Apple also updated Eddy Cue's title to Senior Vice President of Services and Health on the page, and he received a new headshot alongside this change. Cue gained oversight of Apple's health and fitness teams at some point after Jeff Williams retired last year. Cue is an Apple veteran, having joined the company in 1989.
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Apple is promoting the MacBook Neo with a series of intentionally strange TikTok videos that are successfully capturing Gen Z's attention.


Since Thursday, Apple has been posting the videos in sets of three, with each video corresponding to one of the MacBook Neo's Blush, Citrus, and Indigo color options. The laptop also comes in Silver, so there may be a final set of videos tomorrow.

Some of the videos show a lemon receiving a FaceTime call from a lime, the Mac's Finder app icon blushing, and iconic footage from the original Macintosh's introduction in 1984. Other videos are more abstract, with one showing citrus fruit in fizzy water and another showing a pink-hued sunrise, set to the Mac's startup chime.

@apple

hello?

♬ original sound - apple

@apple
@malatalia
♬ original sound - apple

Many comments on the videos have expressed confusion, and some people have asked if Apple's TikTok account has been hacked. Others have caught on to and applauded Apple's absurdist marketing, and the fact that it is allowing comments on these videos to begin with, which is something the company previously shied away from.

Apple also showed off a mini 3D figure modeled after the Finder app icon during a so-called "Matcha Break with MacBook Neo" live stream on TikTok on Wednesday, according to the well-known Apple fan account "Basic Apple Guy."



The tiny Finder "mascot" appeared in an image that Apple posted on TikTok as well.

The figure has been dubbed "Little Finder Guy" or "Lil' Finder Guy" on social media.


With the MacBook Neo priced as low as $499 in the U.S., it is likely to appeal to young people, and Apple's marketing strategy clearly reflects that.
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Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact.

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Weather mini is a nicely designed weather app for the entire Apple ecosystem that adds a couple key features that Apple Weather misses. You can plan out trips, chat with the on-device Apple Intelligence model for forecasts, and it even includes a fully featured Apple Watch app.

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Apple just wrapped up a very exciting week of announcements – starting off with iPhone 17e, and ending with MacBook Neo. While we did get 7 new products this week, theres still a fair bit in the pipeline for the near future. We’ll be delving into those.

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It's Apple pre-order week, and we're already tracking solid discounts across every new product that was announced this week. This includes free Best Buy gift cards when ordering the new MacBook Neo, Air, and Pro, plus the first cash discounts on M4 iPad Air on Amazon.

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

Pre-Order Discounts

• What's the deal? Save on pre-orders for iPhone 17e, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, MacBook Neo, and iPad Air


• Where can I get it? Amazon, Best Buy, and more


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Pre-orders are live on all of Apple's newest products, including the MacBook Neo, M5 MacBook Air, M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro, iPhone 17e, and M4 iPad Air. You'll find free gift cards when pre-ordering select products at Best Buy, while Amazon has straight cash discounts on numerous M4 iPad Air tablets.

AirPods

• What's the deal? Take $60 off AirPods 4 with ANC


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week is back with a notable discount on the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, available for $119.00, down from $179.00.

Apple Watch Series 11

• What's the deal? Take $100 off Apple Watch Series 11


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. We first started tracking the return of these deals about a week ago, but this sale has now expanded with many more options on both 42mm and 46mm GPS models.

AirTag

• What's the deal? Take $35 off AirTag gen 1


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Apple's first-generation AirTag 4-Pack has dropped to $64.00 this week on Amazon, down from the original price of $99.00. Free shipping options have a delivery estimate around March 11, while Prime members should be able to get it delivered a few days sooner.


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, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: First Discounts Hit All of Apple's New Products, Including MacBook Neo and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Episode 062: First thoughts on MacBook Neo, including advantages, compromises, and how it fits into the Apple ecosystem. Fernando and Jeff argue that the MacBook Neo could be the best budget laptop of all time.

9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-first podcast exploring fun and interesting observations in the Apple ecosystem, featuring 9to5Mac’s Fernando Silva & Jeff Benjamin. Subscribe to Overtime via Apple Podcasts and our YouTube channel for more.

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