In its second fall event this year on Monday, 18 October, Apple unveiled a completely reimagined MacBook Pro powered by the all-new M1 Pro and M1 Max – the first pro chips designed for the Mac – in 14 and 16-inch models.
These devices come with homegrown M1 Pro and M1 Max ARM-based systems-on-chip (SoCs).
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro model starts at Rs 194,900 and the 16-inch MacBook Pro model starts at Rs 239,900.
They are available for preorder on Apple's online store and will begin arriving to customers starting 26 October.
Watch the launch event here:
Apple Listening to the Pros?
The new MacBook Pros, in addition to their improved processing, graphics, and machine learning (ML) performance, as well as enhanced battery life, is being seen as Apple's nod to the pros. The laptop has been filled with ports, including HDMI, SD card slot, and now even features the much-liked MagSafe charging cable – something that many professionals complained about over the last three years.
"The all-new MacBook Pro adds a breathtaking XDR display, more ports like MagSafe 3, an advanced 1080p camera, and a sensational six-speaker sound system, all in a stunning new design. The new MacBook Pro simply has no equal and is by far the best pro notebook we've ever built," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
Combined with macOS Monterey, which is engineered down to its core to take full advantage of M1 Pro and M1 Max, the user experience is simply unrivaled, the company said.
The new MacBook Pro joins the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 to form the strongest lineup of pro notebooks ever.
M1 Pro and M1 Max are the next breakthrough chips for the Mac.
The CPU in M1 Pro and M1 Max delivers up to 70 percent faster CPU performance than M1, so tasks like compiling projects in Xcode are faster than ever.
The GPU in M1 Pro is up to 2x faster than M1, while M1 Max is up to an astonishing 4x faster than M1, allowing pro users to fly through the most demanding graphics workflows.
Next-Gen AirPods, Revamped HomePod Mini Also Launched
Apple also announced the third generation of AirPods featuring spatial audio that start from Rs 18,900 in India.
AirPods (3rd generation) will be available to order from Apple's Online Store starting Monday, with availability in stores beginning 26 October.
By combining the power of the H1 chip with an Apple-designed acoustic system, the new AirPods use computational audio to deliver breakthrough sound with Adaptive EQ.
Users can enjoy spatial audio featuring Dolby Atmos in Apple Music, movies, and tv shows, along with dynamic head tracking, across Apple devices.
The extended battery life enables up to six hours of listening time and up to 30 hours of total listening time with the convenient charging case.
"We are excited to introduce the next generation of AirPods, featuring unrivalled sound through Adaptive EQ and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, along with seamless interaction between Apple devices – making the world's best-selling headphones even better," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
Apple also introduced HomePod mini in three new colours – yellow, orange, and blue – for just Rs 9,900.
At just 3.3 inches tall, HomePod mini offers a great music-listening experience, the intelligence of Siri, and smart home capabilities, with privacy and security built in.
"HomePod mini sounds incredible, and with access to more than 90 million songs in the global Apple Music catalog and deep integration with your Apple devices, it's the must-have smart speaker for iPhone users," said Bob Borchers, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.
The company also announced Apple Music Voice Plan, a new subscription tier for Apple Music designed around the power of Siri, for just Rs 49 per month.
"With Siri actively used on hundreds of millions of devices worldwide, we are thrilled to add this new plan that delivers an effortless music experience just by using your voice and makes Apple Music accessible to even more people around the world," said Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Apple Music and Beats.
(With inputs from IANS)
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