MacRumors

Repair site iFixit did its traditional teardown on the MacBook Neo, and was pleasantly surprised with the laptop's repairability. "We haven't been as happy about a MacBook since 2012," says iFixit.

iFixit took apart the more expensive $699 version of the ‌MacBook Neo‌ that comes with a Touch ID keyboard, but both models are "suspiciously easy" to get into. The lower case is still held together with pentalobe screws, which are less common than standard screws and require a special screwdriver. The cover can be unclipped by hand, and inside, there's a "shockingly sensible" internal layout.

The battery, speakers, ports, and trackpad are easy to get to and not buried under another component like most Apple laptops. Rather than being attached with adhesive, the battery is screwed in, so it's simple to remove it for repair or replacement. There are 18 screws to undo, but iFixit says the lack of battery adhesive is the biggest ‌MacBook Neo‌ repair win.

iFixit believes Apple is preparing for an upcoming EU law that will require many portable devices to have user replaceable batteries by early 2027. Because of the regulation, we could see similar setups for batteries in future MacBook Air and Pro models.

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There are a lot of cables to unplug to get to other components like the logic board, but it's all "pretty accessible" and not buried "just for the sake of being buried." RAM and storage are soldered to the A18 Pro chip, which is expected, but not a repairability win because it diminishes repairability and upgradeability. RAM and the SSD cannot be upgraded after purchase.

The USB-C ports are their own module instead of connected to the logic board, so damaged ports are able to be replaced without logic board repairs, and the same goes for the headphone jack. Antenna assembly removal is straightforward, which iFixit says will make screen replacements "significantly easier." With the antenna removed and the hinge screws off, the display "pops away as if it were a Framework laptop."

Apple used side-firing speakers in the ‌MacBook Neo‌, which is a simplified setup with less chassis machining that probably let it save money, and a mechanical trackpad. It's the first MacBook to have a mechanical trackpad since 2015 because the mechanical setup is cheaper to produce. The keyboard was the last piece to come out in iFixit's teardown, and it was held in with 41 screws. It is possible to remove the keyboard separately from the top case by undoing all of those screws, which makes for more affordable repairs.

iFixit said that while the ‌MacBook Neo‌ isn't perfect because of the soldered storage and RAM, there's a "lot to like." It has the most accessible battery in a Mac since 2012, a display that's easy to swap out, and modular components like the USB-C ports and headphone jack. iFixit gave the ‌MacBook Neo‌ a repairability score of 6 out of 10. For comparison, the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro earned a 4/10 and the M4 ‌MacBook Air‌ got a 5/10.

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Lululook to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an iPhone 17 Pro and a 25W Qi2.2 3-in-1 Charger from Lululook to go along with it.

Priced at $79, Lululook's 3-in-1 Charging Station is able to charge an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch at the same time. It features Qi 2.2 support and certification, so it is able to charge the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models at up to 25W, the same as Apple's latest MagSafe specification. With 25W Qi charging, an ‌iPhone 17‌ can wirelessly charge to 50 percent battery in 30 minutes.

The stand can be used in either portrait or landscape mode, with the iPhone charging platform located at the top, plus the viewing angle can be adjusted thanks to several included hinges. The Apple Watch charger folds out from the middle, and the AirPods charge at the bottom. The whole 3-in-1 charger collapses down into a square puck when not in use, making it ideal for travel. The charger weighs just 6.2 ounces and it's less than an inch thick when folded up.

Lululook made the stand out of aluminum that matches Apple's ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models, and it comes in orange, desert gold, or titanium. The orange shade is the same color as the orange ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max. The aluminum resists fingerprints and smudges, and there are soft silicone pads on the bottom and the charging area to keep the charger stable and devices scratch free.

In addition to charging an iPhone at 25W, the charger provides 5W for the Apple Watch and 5W for the AirPods. The 3-in-1 Charging Station is powered via USB-C, and Lululook includes a 45W power adapter and a 3.28-foot USB cable. There's also a portable organizer to hold the cables and the charger during travel.

We have a Lululook 3-in-1 Charging Station and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ to give away to one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (March 13) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on March 20. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after March 20 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss first impressions of the MacBook Neo, Studio Display XDR, and iPhone 17e.

Following its announcement last week, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ arrived this week. Unlike every other Apple silicon Mac, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ is powered by the A18 Pro chip originally developed for the iPhone 16 Pro, making it the first Mac to use an iPhone-class processor instead of an M-series chip.

To reach its substantially lower price point, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ makes some compromises. Unlike the MacBook Air, it does not feature keyboard backlighting, a haptic trackpad, P3 wide color, True Tone, ambient light sensing, a camera indicator LED, MagSafe charging, Thunderbolt connectivity, or a 12-megapixel camera with Center Stage, nor does it come with Touch ID as standard. It is also thicker with a slightly reduced battery life, and has larger borders around the slightly smaller display.

• MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air Buyer's Guide: 40 Differences Compared

That being said, it is $500 cheaper than a ‌MacBook Air‌ and is designed to compete with lower-cost Windows laptops and Chromebooks, while expanding the Mac lineup with a substantially more affordable option. We talk through the real-world impact of some of these compromises, including performance with the A18 Pro chip and 8GB of memory.

The ‌iPhone 17e‌ retains the same design and price as the iPhone 16e but adds the A19 chip, ‌MagSafe‌ support, Apple's second-generation C1X modem, and 256GB of base storage. Apple also introduced a new ‌Studio Display‌ XDR model, replacing the Pro Display XDR. The new model offers a 27-inch 5K mini-LED panel with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR brightness up to 2,000 nits, and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. We compare both of these new products to their predecessors, as well as the ‌iPhone 17e‌ and the ‌iPhone 16‌ as the two lowest-cost iPhones on sale today.

• iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 16 Buyer's Guide: Which Low-Cost iPhone Should You Choose?

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about Apple's concentrated week of announcements that saw the introduction of 10 new products.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

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Apple this week saw an unusual surge of Mac trade-ins amid the launch of the MacBook Neo.

A reliable source speaking to MacRumors revealed that the quantity of Macs traded in at Apple retail stores this week increased over 100% compared to previous weeks, likely driven by demand for the ‌MacBook Neo‌ and M5 MacBook Air.

Older, low-end models dominated this week's trade-ins, suggesting that customers are upgrading to the ‌MacBook Neo‌ and the M5 ‌MacBook Air‌, rather than the new MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.

The scale of increase is noticeably different from most previous Mac launches. While the launches of new Macs understandably cause a slight surge of trade-ins, the increase is typically much smaller than the one seen this week, suggesting heightened consumer enthusiasm for the new models. Evidence suggests that this is the biggest surge in Mac trade-ins since the launch of the first Apple silicon Macs between 2020 and 2021.

Back in September, the Apple TV streaming service's broadcast of the pivotal Boston Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers game at Fenway Park incorporated live footage captured with the iPhone 17 Pro, and now the device has been enshrined in MLB history.

Apple this week announced that the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has added one of the four iPhone 17 Pro devices that captured the Red Sox clinching a postseason berth with a thrilling walk-off win over the Tigers to its permanent collection in Cooperstown, New York. More details are available on the Hall of Fame's website.

A weekly "Friday Night Baseball" doubleheader of MLB games returns to Apple TV for the 2026 season starting Friday, March 27. The games are included with an Apple TV subscription, at no additional cost. In the U.S., Apple TV costs $12.99 per month.

Throughout the 2026 season, Apple said iPhones will be further integrated into the lineup of cameras used for select "Friday Night Baseball" broadcasts.

Advanced display panels destined for Apple's first foldable iPhone are reportedly nearing mass production.

The Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital" today said that Samsung Display is set to begin mass production of OLED panels for the first foldable iPhone in May 2026. Meanwhile, the user "Fixed Focus Digital" claims that the foldable iPhone's screen may be flatter than many of the existing foldable devices currently on sale, suggesting that Apple has largely solved the crease problem.

Previous reports have variously described the Samsung panel as as being "virtually crease free" and having "no crease at all." Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims that the new display technology Apple is using reduces the crease without eliminating it entirely, but the result is "not perfect."

Rumors suggest that Apple's first foldable iPhone will feature a 7.8-inch crease-free inner display, a 5.5-inch cover display, ‌Touch ID‌, two rear cameras, the A20 chip, and the "C2" modem. It is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and ‌‌iPhone 18‌‌ Pro Max in the fall. Production will almost certainly ramp up as we approach that time of year.

This week was Apple launch week, and we're already seeing solid markdowns on the new M4 iPad Air, M5 MacBook Air, and more. Additionally, below you'll find deals on AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and Apple Watch Series 11.

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.

AirPods 4

• What's the deal? Take $59 off AirPods 4 with ANC
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week came back with a notable discount on the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, available for $119.99, down from $179.00. This is a solid second-best price on the AirPods 4.

M4 iPad Air

• What's the deal? Take up to $100 off M4 iPad Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

This week was the launch week for all of Apple's new products, and Amazon is already offering solid discounts on many models of the M4 iPad Air. This includes up to $80 off the 11-inch model and up to $100 off the 13-inch model.

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

• What's the deal? Take $49 off M5 MacBook Air and M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Similar to the M4 iPad Air, Amazon is offering multiple discounts across the new M5 MacBook Air and M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro this week. You'll find $49 off select models right now, without the need of a coupon code.

Apple: The First 50 Years

• What's the deal? Take $10 off the new book Apple: The First 50 Years
• Where can I get it? Amazon

Tech columnist David Pogue released a new book Apple: The First 50 Years earlier this week, and Amazon has it for 21 percent off right now. The 608-page book explores the first five decades of the company's history.

Samsung Monitors

• What's the deal? Save on Samsung monitors
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

This week, there were two sales on Samsung monitors, split between Amazon and Samsung's own website. On Amazon, there was a big accessory sale this week, and the highlights of the event included big savings on monitors from Samsung, LG, Dell, and more. Samsung's newest Smart Monitor M9 hit the all-time low price of $1,299.99 during the sale, and it's still available now.

On Samsung, you can get a free copy of Resident Evil Requiem with the purchase of select monitors. You'll also find big discounts on TVs and Galaxy products this week.

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 last month, but this sale has now expanded with many more options on both 42mm and 46mm GPS models.

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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Apple's retail store at the Grand Central Terminal in New York is temporarily closed, but the reason why remains a mystery.

As seen in photos shared by Parker Ortolani, Apple's space on the Main Concourse's East Balcony is covered up with temporary walls and curtains. There is also temporary lighting and audio equipment set up, and a video shared on social media appears to show that Apple is or was recording some sort of production.

Apple is clearly up to something, but exactly what remains anyone's guess. It could be recording a special video that will be part of its 50th-anniversary celebrations, or an upcoming product launch, but there are many possibilities.

Apple Grand Central reopens this Saturday, March 14, at 10 a.m. local time, and it remains to be seen if there will be any visible changes.

Apple's iconic Fifth Avenue store in New York will also be temporarily closed on Monday, March 23, from midnight until 3 a.m. local time, according to a source familiar with the matter. The reason for this closure is also unknown, but past closures have sometimes just been for maintenance on the store's glass cube entrance.

Apple Fifth Avenue is typically open 24/7.

Apple turns 50 on April 1, so we may learn what it was up to in New York over the coming weeks.

Update: According to a photo shared by Merrick Brown, Apple has put up stanchions for people to queue, and a sign says "Guest Check In," so it appears that Apple may be hosting an experience of some kind. However, the temporary walls are still up.

Update 2: MacRumors ended up receiving an invite to Apple's experience at the Grand Central Terminal today. Stay tuned!

It's been a big week for foldable iPhone rumors. In case you missed any of them, here are five developments that we've covered over the last few days.

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone Fold this September. For everything else we know, be sure to check out our dedicated roundup.

Display Crease

Early reports suggested Apple had solved the crease problem that has plagued many foldables on the market, thanks to a new Samsung-supplied panel that has been described variously as being "virtually crease free" and having "no crease at all." However, the latest report suggests things may have been overstated. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the new display technology Apple is using reduces the crease without eliminating it entirely, and that the result is "not perfect," suggesting it may be wise to temper expectations.

Outer Display Camera

Earlier rumors indicated that Apple has opted to use a hole-punch for the front-facing camera on the 5.5-inch outer display. There are no Face ID components under the display (Touch ID is integrated into the side button instead), but whether it will be encased in a familiar pill-shaped cutout was unclear. Gurman has now confirmed that the small hole-punch cutout replaces the pill-shaped notch that appears on today's iPhones, but that the design will still include a surrounding Dynamic Island interface for system alerts and Live Activities.

Inner Display Camera

Early reports suggested Apple intended to adopt under-screen camera technology in the iPhone Fold's 7.8-inch inner display, making it the first all-screen iPhone. Those rumors may have been true at the time, but it looks like Apple has since dropped the idea. Per Gurman's latest report, Apple apparently determined that the under-display approach "produced worse image quality," and it has now decided instead to use a hole-punch cutout, similar to the one on the outer display.

iOS or iPadOS?

Since the iPhone Fold's inner display will be close to an iPad mini in size with a 4:3 aspect ratio, there had been lingering questions about whether it will work like a standard iPhone when closed and an iPad when open, and which OS it will use. This week, Gurman provided an answer. When the device is opened up, the UI will have an iPad-like layout that supports multitasking with two apps side-by-side. Many apps will feature sidebars on the left of the display, and developers will be given tools to adapt their existing apps for the new interface. However, the device will run iOS, not iPadOS. Gurman said it won't support the full range of multitasking features that are available on the ‌iPad‌, and it won't run existing iPadOS apps.

Storage and RAM

Like the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro/Max, Apple's first foldable iPhone will feature 12GB of RAM, with Samsung set to begin DRAM shipments in the second quarter of this year in line with Apple's production schedule. Korea-based media outlet The Bell reports that Samsung was able to negotiate a substantially higher price than previous memory contracts with Apple. The higher cost is attributed to tightening global memory supply amid the AI server build-out. As for storage options, Apple will offer the device in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities, claims reputable leaker Instant Digital, suggesting the top 1TB option could cost nearly $3,000. For a little perspective, a maxed out iPhone Fold could approach the cost of two 1TB iPhone 17 Pro devices.

Parallels Desktop virtualization software is compatible with the new MacBook Neo, according to an update from the company – but Windows VM performance will depend on your intended use case.

From Parallels' updated knowledge base article:

Parallels Desktop runs on MacBook Neo in basic usability testing. The Parallels Engineering team has completed initial testing and confirmed that Parallels Desktop installs and virtual machines operate stably on MacBook Neo. Full validation and performance testing is ongoing, and additional compatibility statement will follow if required.

When Apple launched the $599 MacBook Neo this week, some asked whether its A18 Pro chip – which first debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro – would be capable of running Windows via Parallels Desktop. Fortunately, the A18 Pro is based on the same ARM architecture as Apple's M-series chips, which are made specifically for Macs, so the processor isn't an issue.

What could be an issue is what you intend to do inside the virtual machine. The MacBook Neo comes with 8GB of RAM (Apple doesn't offer a memory upgrade option) and a Windows 11 VM requires a minimum of 4GB of RAM to function, which leaves only 4GB for macOS and Mac apps simultaneously.

Parallels states the context plainly: "For light, occasional Windows use, like a legacy business tool, or a Windows-only utility, MacBook Neo may provide an acceptable experience. For CPU- or GPU-intensive Windows applications, this computer is not the right choice."

The "right choice" comes down to personal preference, but for those looking for a new machine, the next step up would be Apple's $1,099 MacBook Air with M5 chip, which comes with a minimum of 16GB RAM, with memory upgrade options available. Or for a cheaper option, refurbished base M4 MacBook Air models also come with 16GB RAM as standard.

Apple TV aired the first Formula 1 race of the 2026 season last weekend following an exclusive streaming rights partnership for five years, and Apple senior VP of services Eddy Cue is already calling it a win for the company.

Cue told The Hollywood Reporter that viewership for last week's Australian Grand Prix was up year over year compared to the 2025 race, which aired on ESPN.

"The 2026 Formula 1 season on Apple TV is off to a strong start, with fans responding positively and viewership up year over year for the first weekend, exceeding both F1 and Apple expectations," Cue said.

As is typical for Apple TV, Cue declined to offer specific viewing figures, but we do know that last year's Australian GP garnered an averaged 1.1 million viewers for ESPN on its late-night time slot.

Any increase in viewership over ESPN is a victory for Apple, and with U.S. races like Miami and Las Vegas coming up, the company is likely betting on more ratings improvements over the previous rights holder.

F1 season access is included with every Apple TV subscription ($12.99 per month) in the United States. The partnership allows ‌Apple TV‌ to provide comprehensive coverage of Formula 1, including all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix.

The Hollywood Reporter's full coverage of Apple TV and F1 is available to read online.

Apple has announced it is lowering App Store developer fees in China from March 15, with commission rates for standard in-app purchases (IAPs) set to change to 25%, down from 30%.

In an update on its Developer blog, Apple also said the commission rate for qualifying IAPs under the App Store Small Business Program and Mini Apps Partner Program (and auto-renewals of IAP subscriptions after the first year) will be 12%, down from the current 15%.

Apple said the changes are a result of "discussions with the Chinese regulator," indicating the move is to avoid regulatory intervention. A report last year revealed that China's antitrust watchdog, the State Administration for Market Regulation, was investigating Apple's app fees in the region.

A similar change was recently made in Japan, where Apple lowered its commission to 21% on some third-party in-app payments, among other major changes, due to regulatory pressure.

In its update today, Apple said that signing the updated terms by March 15 is not required "to receive the benefit of these commission rate changes starting that date."

"We are committed to terms that remain fair and transparent to all developers, and to always offering competitive App Store rates to developers distributing apps in China that are no higher than overall rates in other markets," added Apple.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Anthropic's Claude chatbot has been updated with support for inline visual content that will help it provide clearer answers.

Claude can now create custom visuals like charts, graphs, and diagrams. Visual content will be used when it better conveys an answer than plain text, and visual aids can also include real-world data like weather and recipes as long as web search is enabled. The visuals that Claude creates are distinct from Artifacts, and use HTML and SVG rather than image generation.

Claude is able to display current weather conditions and forecasts when users ask about the weather in specific locations, and it can provide formatted recipe cards that are easier to follow than a block of text. Weather and recipe data are only available on the desktop for now, because those visuals do not render in the iOS app.

Anthropic says that Claude is also able to ask structured questions using interactive multiple choice inputs instead of requiring users to type a response. Claude will use visuals when an answer calls for it, but users can also ask Claude to create a visual aid.

Visual responses and interactive content are available to all Claude users.

Apple's latest low-cost iPhone launched yesterday, and we picked up the iPhone 17e to see how it compares to the iPhone 16e that came before it, and how it measures up to the iPhone 17 lineup.

Apple didn't update the design of the ‌iPhone 17e‌, so it still has the look of an iPhone 14, which is the iPhone that Apple used as a base for the iPhone 16e. There's a notch on the display with no Dynamic Island, but Apple did make a few changes to modernize the ‌iPhone 17e‌.

The iPhone 16e didn't have MagSafe, which was a major hassle, but the ‌iPhone 17e‌ does. ‌MagSafe‌ has been fully embraced by both Apple and accessory makers, so it's difficult to find accessories that don't use ‌MagSafe‌. Adding ‌MagSafe‌ opens up a whole new range of options for cases and chargers, plus it means wireless charging is now 15W instead of 7.5W.

There's still a limited color palette for the ‌iPhone 17e‌, but there is a light pink model in addition to the black and white options this year. The soft pink is a subtle shade that looks nice in person, and it's not too Barbie pink or too baby pink. Ceramic Shield 2 is new for the front glass this year, meaning the ‌iPhone 17e‌ should be more resistant to scratches.

Like the ‌iPhone 17‌, the ‌iPhone 17e‌ uses the A19 chip, which is the latest A-series chip, though the ‌iPhone 17e‌ version has one fewer GPU core. The A19 offers incredible performance for a low-cost iPhone, but you might not notice much in the way of day-to-day speed improvements coming from an iPhone 16e. If you're coming from an older iPhone like an iPhone 8, X, XR, XS, 11, or similar, the difference will be night and day.

Base storage has been upgraded to 256GB, and Apple doesn't offer a 128GB option anymore. There wasn't a change in starting price with the storage update, which is a major plus.

The ‌iPhone 17e‌ has many of the same compromises as the iPhone 16e. There's still a single-lens rear camera with no Telephoto or Ultra Wide lens, there's a notch on the display, and it now lacks the 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate Apple added to the rest of the ‌iPhone 17‌ lineup.

If you don't mind having one camera lens to work with and won't miss ProMotion, the ‌iPhone 17e‌ is an excellent deal. It's priced starting at $599, which makes it $200 cheaper than the ‌iPhone 17‌.

Google today added Gemini AI to Google Maps, enabling a new Ask Maps feature. Gemini in maps can answer complex, real-world questions that Google says "a map could never answer before."

There is a new Ask Maps button where Google Maps users can get answers to specific questions like "is there a public tennis court with lights on that I can play at tonight?" Google says that finding information like that would have taken a lot of sifting through reviews in the past, but now Google Maps can provide an answer with a custom map.

The feature can be used for trip planning, and it is able to provide tailored responses based on prior searches or saved information in the app. Google Maps can build a trip itinerary using information from more than 300 million places, including reviews from the Google community.

Along with Ask Maps, Google also introduced Immersive Navigation, which Google says is the biggest update to driving in Google Maps in over a decade. There is a 3D view that displays buildings, overpasses, and terrain, and Google Maps will highlight important road details like lanes, crosswalks, traffic lights, and stop signs when providing directions.

Google says that the app will have a new spatial understanding of the route that it's providing, which is made possible with Gemini models. Gemini analyzes real-world imagery from Street View and aerial photos to provide new details.

The updated navigation provides a broader route view with more information about what's coming ahead, more details about tradeoffs with alternate routes, and route previews for planning parking and other actions.

Ask Maps is rolling out in the U.S. and India on iOS and Android, with the feature set to expand to the desktop version of Google Maps soon. Immersive Navigation is rolling out in the U.S. today, though not all users will see it at first. Google says availability will expand over the coming months to eligible iOS and Android devices, plus CarPlay and Android Auto.

The iPhone 17e just joined the iPhone lineup. Apple continues to sell the iPhone 16 as an alternative low-cost option, and while the two devices share many core features, there are still more than 25 differences between them to be aware of.

Following the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup and the iPhone Air, Apple discontinued the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, and reduced the price of the ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus by $100.

The ‌iPhone 17e‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ now represent the two least expensive iPhone models available directly from Apple, with just $100 between them. To justify this price gap, the ‌iPhone 17e‌ misses out on features such as the Dynamic Island, an Ultra Wide camera, and several newer connectivity technologies. However, it still offers strong performance thanks to the newer A19 chip, the same main rear camera, and long battery life. Here's everything that's different:

‌iPhone 17e‌ (2026)	‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus (2024)
"Notch"	‌Dynamic Island‌
6.1-inch display	6.1- or 6.7-inch display
800 nits max brightness (typical)	1,000 nits max brightness (typical)
1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR)	1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR)
	2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor)
	1 nit minimum brightness
Glass back	Color-infused glass back
Available in White, Black, and Soft Pink	Available in White, Black, Ultramarine, Teal, and Pink
	Camera Control
	12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera
1x or 2x optical zoom options	0.5x, 1x, or 2x optical zoom options
Optical image stabilization	Sensor-shift optical image stabilization
Photographic Styles	Latest-generation Photographic Styles
	Macro photography
	Spatial photos and videos
	Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field (up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps)
	Action mode
A19 chip (N3P)	A18 chip (N3E)
4.26 GHz CPU clock speed	4.04 GHz CPU clock speed
68.2 GB/s memory bandwidth	60 GB/s memory bandwidth
4-core GPU with Neural Accelerators	4-core GPU
Apple C1X modem	Qualcomm Snapdragon X75 modem
	mmWave 5G connectivity
Wi‑Fi 6 connectivity	Wi-Fi 7 connectivity
	Thread connectivity
	Ultra Wideband chip for Precision Finding
26-hour battery life	22 or 27-hour battery life
256GB or 512GB storage	iPhone 16: 128GB iPhone 16 Plus: 128GB or 256GB
Starts at $599	Starts at $699

At a markedly more accessible price point, the ‌iPhone 17e‌ will likely be the go-to iPhone for many customers, particularly those buying on a budget. Like its predecessor, it makes relatively few compromises compared to the standard model and still delivers most of the features that matter for everyday use. In fact, the ‌iPhone 17e‌ now offers noticeably better performance than the ‌iPhone 16‌ thanks to its newer A19 chip, as well as strong battery life aided by Apple's efficient C1X modem.

For many customers, the absence of an Ultra Wide camera, Camera Control, additional color options, and newer connectivity technologies such as Wi-Fi 7, Thread, and Ultra Wideband may not matter. The ‌iPhone 17e‌ also starts with more storage and costs $100 less than the ‌iPhone 16‌, making it a compelling option for buyers who primarily care about performance, battery life, and overall value.

However, the ‌iPhone 16‌ still offers several advantages. Features like the ‌Dynamic Island‌, a brighter display with higher peak brightness outdoors, an Ultra Wide camera with macro photography, Spatial photo and video capture, and a wider range of video features give it a significantly more capable camera system. Additional hardware such as the Ultra Wideband chip, Thread connectivity, mmWave 5G, and Wi-Fi 7 may also be important for users who want the most complete feature set.

As a result, the decision between the two models is now less straightforward. Customers who want the best overall feature set, particularly when it comes to the camera and display, should consider the ‌iPhone 16‌. On the other hand, those who prioritize performance, storage, battery life, and price will likely find the ‌iPhone 17e‌ to be the better value.

Samsung introduced the newest line of Galaxy products last month, including the S26 smartphones and Galaxy Buds4. Today, you can find a few discounts on some of these products, plus savings on Samsung's most popular monitors and TVs, with notable markdowns on products like The Frame TVs.

Monitors

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

Samsung has a few unique monitor deals this week, offering a free copy of Resident Evil Requiem at no cost when purchasing select monitors. This includes select monitors on this landing page, with up to $1,000 in savings on these displays. When you register these monitors after purchasing them, you'll get a download code for Resident Evil Requiem, which is a $70 value.

• 32-inch ViewFinity S70A UHD Monitor - $299.99, down from $459.99
• 32-inch Odyssey G70D Monitor - $599.99, down from $799.99 (free game code)
• 27-inch Odyssey OLED G60SD Monitor - $699.99, down from $899.99 (free game code)
• 49-inch Odyssey G91F Monitor - $779.99, down from $999.99 (free game code)
• 49-inch Odyssey OLED G95SD Monitor - $1,199.99, down from $2039.98 (free game code)
• 55-inch Odyssey Ark 2nd Gen - $1,699.99, down from $2,699.99 (free game code)

TVs

In regards to TVs, there are quite a few models of The Frame TV on sale, including all-time low prices on The Frame models from 2025. You can get the 2025 65-inch The Frame TV for $1,199.99 ($600 off), as well as the 75-inch Frame Pro for $1,999.99 ($1,200 off), a match of the all-time low price.

• 55-inch QLED QEF1 Smart TV - $379.99, down from $599.99
• 55-inch QLED Q7F Smart TV - $379.99, down from $529.99
• 55-inch QLED Q8F Smart TV - $599.99, down from $749.99
• 75-inch Vision AI Smart TV - $599.99, down from $1,199.99
• 50-inch The Frame - $799.99, down from $1,099.99
• 75-inch Neo QLED QN70F Smart TV - $1,199.99, down from $1,599.99
• 65-inch The Frame - $1,199.99, down from $1,799.99
• 55-inch OLED S95F Smart TV - $1,899.99, down from $2,299.99
  

• 75-inch The Frame Pro - $1,999.99, down from $3,199.99
• 85-inch The Frame Pro - $2,999.99, down from $4,299.99
• 85-inch Neo QLED QN90F Smart TV - $2,299.99, down from $4,499.99

Galaxy Products

You can get up to $380 instant trade-in credit when pre-ordering the Galaxy S26, up to $480 credit for the Galaxy S26+, and up to $720 credit for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. If not trading in an older device, Samsung is still offering $150 in Samsung credit when ordering each smartphone.

• Galaxy S26 - Up to $380 trade-in credit
• Galaxy S26+ - Up to $480 trade-in credit
• Galaxy S26 Ultra - Up to $720 trade-in credit
• Galaxy Buds4 - Get $30 Samsung credit
• Galaxy Buds4 Pro - Get $30 Samsung credit
• Galaxy XR - Save up to $1,140 with the Explorer Pack

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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Apple is already on Instagram, where it primarily shares photos and videos for its Shot on iPhone campaign, but the company is expanding its horizons.

Apple today launched another Instagram account called Hello Apple (@helloapple), where it will share company news, stories, product marketing, and more. The account will showcase how Apple products inspire creativity and help to make a difference in everyday lives, and it will highlight work from Apple's creator community.

Apple said the account will occasionally provide behind-the-scenes peeks too, so fans will want to follow along to learn something new.

"Our stories, and yours," the account's bio says.

Apple has already started sharing some content, including a video that says "Hello" and a post that shares Apple CEO Tim Cook's new "50 Years of Thinking Different" letter. Apple turns 50 on April 1, and it plans to celebrate over the coming weeks.

There are also posts related to the MacBook Neo, Apple TV being the exclusive place to stream F1 races in the United States, and more.

Apple continues to have special Instagram accounts for Apple Music, Apple News, Apple Books, Apple TV, Apple Fitness+, Apple Creator Studio, and more.

Apple has also been active on TikTok, and it recently began allowing users to comment on the videos that it shares on that platform. Altogether, it amounts to Apple expanding its social media presence to reach even more people.

Apple has more than 36 million followers on its main Instagram account, and the new account is quickly amassing tens of thousands of followers.