Apple today announced a revamped MacBook Air laptop with an improved scissor-switch keyboard, branded as the "Magic Keyboard," that ditches the controversial butterfly mechanism of the previous-generation model.
The device becomes the latest MacBook that comes with a scissor-switch keyboard after the 16-inch MacBook Pro released late last year.
The new MacBook Air also offers double the performance and comes with twice the storage as the prior device and starts with 256GB of storage. Cuscomers can choose up to 2 TB of storage.
The 2020 MacBook Air comes with a new $999 price point for all customers, and a discounted $899 price for the education market.
The new MacBook Air features the latest 10th-generation Intel CPUs, up to 1.2GHz quad core i7.
Customers can order the new MacBook Air starting today and it will be available in Apple retail stores starting next week.
In addition to the new MacBook Air, Apple also announced a new iPad Pro, available online for $799 and $949.
The new iPad Pro is powered by the A12Z processor and features a new camera setup on the back. Apple has also unveiled a new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro.
The keyboard unfold and elevates the iPad to a more comfortable viewing position. It also has a trackpad on it.
Apple says "Rather than copying the experience from macOS, trackpad support has been completely reimagined for iPad. As users move their finger across the trackpad, the pointer elegantly transforms to highlight user interface elements."
Apple describes the new Magic Keyboard as having a "floating design with smooth angle adjustment." It attaches magnetically to the iPad Pro and features "unique cantilevered hinges" that allow it to adjust up to 130 degrees. The keyboard uses Apple’s scissor switch mechanism and is backlit as well.
The iPadOS 13.4, which will be released on March 24, includes full trackpad support for the first time. Apple says that it hasn’t simply copied the trackpad experience from macOS, but rather completely “reimagined” it for iPad:
With iPadOS 13.4, Apple brings trackpad support to iPad, giving customers an all-new way to interact with their iPad. Rather than copying the experience from macOS, trackpad support has been completely reimagined for iPad.
The new camera setup on the iPad Pro has a 12MP Wide camera and a 10MP Ultra Wide camera. Apple has upgraded the microphone system. The iPad Pro now features five “studio-quality” microphones that capture “super clean audio.”
The new iPad Pro models are available to order today from Apple.com and the new Magic Keyboard will be available in May. The Magic Keyboard will cost $299 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $349 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
The new iPad Pro is highly expected as cnTechPost reported on Tuesday that four new iPad Pro models appear on Apple China's website, hinting the new devices are coming.
The models were A2228, A2231, A2229, and A2233 in the "iPad User Manual-Important Safety Information for iPad-Radio Frequency Exposure" list on Apple's China website.
New iPad Pro coming? Four new models appear on Apple China website
In addition to the new MacBook Air and iPad Pro, Apple today also brings the new Mac mini.
The storage space of the new Mac mini has doubled. The Mac mini with 256GB of solid-state hard disk storage sells for $799 and the 512GB version is for $1,099.
