Following last week's Apple event, this week has been dominated by the release of all of the hardware announced at the event, as well as the next wave of operating system upgrades.
We saw early media evaluations of the Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPad Air 5, iPhone SE 3, and even some hands-on looks at the new green iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro hues ahead of Friday's hardware reveal.
We also witnessed the public release of iOS 15.4 and accompanying upgrades with a slew of new features, including the long-awaited Universal Control, so keep reading for more information on these and other topics!
Mac Studio Reviews: Faster Than a $13,000 Mac Pro
The first Mac Studio reviews have appeared little over a week after Apple announced the desktop computer.
The initial Mac Studio reviews were extremely favourable, with reviewers complimenting the computer's excellent performance. When equipped with Apple's new M1 Ultra chip, the Mac Studio outperforms a $12,999 Mac Pro with a 28-core Intel CPU.
Apple began taking pre-orders for the Mac Studio last week, ahead of its March 18 debut. The Mac Studio starts at $1,999 with an M1 Max chip and goes up to $3,999 with an M1 Ultra chip.
Apple to Improve Studio Display's Camera in Software Update After Several Poor Reviews
The first reviews of Apple's Studio Display have arrived, and one prevalent complaint among reviewers is that the webcam's image quality ranges from "ancient BlackBerry" to "terrible."
In response, an Apple spokeswoman stated that the firm "found an issue where the system is not performing as planned" and will be "improving in a software update," without going into further detail.
iPhone SE 3 Reviews: Impressive Performance in a 'Tired Design'
While the addition of a speedier A15 CPU and 5G capability at a budget-friendly $429 price point was lauded in reviews of the third-generation iPhone SE, the gadget has the same look as the iPhone 8 from 2017.
The new iPhone SE also has a longer battery life, more robust glass, additional camera functions, the reintroduction of a 256GB storage option, and an upgraded 4GB of RAM.
iPad Air 5 Reviews: Great Value With M1 Chip From $599
Customers began receiving the new fifth-generation iPad Air on Friday, and ahead of the launch, the first evaluations of the gadget were posted online, while we've already begun to go hands-on with our own model.
Overall, the new iPad Air is still a fantastic value, with performance now on pace with the iPad Pro owing to the addition of the M1 processor. The new iPad Air also has 5G connection on cellular variants, an enhanced 12-megapixel front camera with Center Stage support, up to a 2x quicker USB-C data transfer connector, new colour options, and more.
iOS 15.4 Released: Here is Everything New
Following nearly two months of beta testing, Apple released iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4 to the public this week, including numerous new features for iPhone and iPad owners to check out.
Notably, iOS 15.4 allows you to unlock an iPhone with Face ID while wearing a mask, without the need for an Apple Watch. This is just one of many new features in iOS 15.4, so be sure to check out our full list of what's new in iOS 15.4.
This week also saw the release of macOS 12.3, watchOS 8.5, tvOS 15.4, and HomePod software version 15.4.
Kuo: Only iPhone 14 Pro Models to Get A16 Chip, Standard Models to Retain A15
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, only the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will receive Apple's newer A16 Bionic CPU later this year, while the two lower-end iPhone 14 models will continue to use the A15 chip.
If this information is correct, it is possible that Apple will only provide a new CPU with the "Pro" versions, with the chip subsequently trickling down to the two lower iPhone models the following year.
