Apple has announced a slew of hardware products at its Spring Loaded event. These include new iMac all-in-one computers and iPad Pro tablets. The Apple TV 4K gets an upgrade too, and there's a new iPhone 12 color.
The revamped iMac computer is perhaps the biggest hardware news here. It now comes fitted with Apple’s M1 chip and is just 11.5 millimeters thin.
Despite that ultra-thin profile, Apple is promising superior performance – up to an 85 percent gain in CPU performance and up to a 200 percent gain in GPU performance compared with the previous 21.5-inch iMac.
Apple has also increased the iMac screen size from 21.5 inches to 24.5 inches. The display boasts a 4,480 x 2,520-pixel resolution, with 500 nits of brightness, True Tone technology, and a P3 wide color gamut.
The new iMac is available from US$1,299 and comes in seven eye-catching colors too: green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver. Preorders will open from April 30, with shipping plans expected in the second half of May.
The event also saw the new unveiling of the iPad Pro. The new iPad Pro boasts 5G connectivity. The 12.9-inch Pro also includes a Liquid Retina XDR display. Thunderbolt support is also now included, as is the new Center Stage feature that automatically keeps users perfectly framed during video calls. The 12.9-inch model starts at US$1,099, with orders launching on April 30.
The Apple TV 4K set-top box has been treated to a refresh too. There's a new chip inside that enables support for HDR and Dolby Vision video at 60 frames per second. There’s a redesigned Siri Remote, as well, with a new directional click pad. Pricing starts at US$179, with preorders opening on April 30 and shipping due in the second half of May.
Other takeaways from the event include the Apple Card, a new Apple Podcasts Subscriptions service, and a new light purple color that has been introduced to the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini ranges.