When Apple’s Spring Event was announced, we had a lot of expectations for potential products – and they really haven’t failed to deliver.
From devices we thought were guaranteed to be unveiled, to out-of-this-world machines we just didn’t see coming, read on to discover all the revelations from the latest Apple Special Event.
M1 Ultra chip
We were expecting a new chip – potentially the M2 chip processor. Whilst this didn’t come to fruition, we were pleased with the announcement of the M1 Ultra, which tops the M1 Max.
It’s long been rumoured that Apple would be joining two M1 Max processors together – and that’s exactly what they’ve done here. Boasting 2.4TB/s interprocessor bandwidth, 800Gb/s memory, along with a 64-core GPU, and up to 128GB of unified memory, it’s easy to see why the M1 Ultra steals the show.
Apple Mac Studio
One of the biggest announcements for Apple was that the new M1 Ultra chip is available in the Mac Studio. With a similar design to the Mac mini, it has incredible performance. Through the M1 Ultra, it’s 80% faster than the Mac Pro, which is really saying something! If that wasn’t enough, it’s also the first to be able to handle up to 18 streams of 8K ProRes video.
As for other features, it can hold four Thunderbolt 4 ports, 10Gb ethernet, two USB-A, two USB-C, a HDMI, and an SD card reader. Plus, it has the option to connect as many as four pro XDR displays and a 4K TV. There’s a double-sided blower cooling system that makes minimum sound too. The whole device has been specifically designed to sit under a screen – and in true Apple fashion, they’ve brought out a fresh one with this in mind…
Apple Studio Display
The Apple Studio Display can neatly fit the Mac Studio underneath it. It’s 27 inches and has a 5K Retina resolution, with 14.7 million pixels, True Tone technology, an anti-reflective coating, and 600 nits brightness.
Then there’s the stand’s tilt, which goes up to 30 degrees. The monitor hosts a 12MP webcam and Centre Stage support too. Not only that, it has a six-speaker audio system which is really something to talk about – coming with Spatial Audio support and three studio-quality mics.
Does this mean the rumours about a 27” iMac Pro are no more?
Our prediction was that Apple would release a 27-inch iMac Pro, yet we got the 27-inch Studio Display and Apple Mac Studio instead. Considering that these work in conjunction with each other, it looks like this might be the future of desktop for the Mac.
So, it’s potentially the case that Apple is moving away from the all-in-one design for pro users and bringing greater connectivity to its devices.
Extras
When it comes to the smaller, but just as important, Mac-related announcements, it’s worth noting that the cables and accessories are now black. Given that they’ve been white for a while now, it looks like this is a new era for these Apple devices.
There were also optional extras with the Studio Display. For example, you can select a height-adjustable stand with a counterweight, plus nano-texture glass to reduce reflections.
iPad Air 5
Just like we anticipated, there’s a fresh iPad Air on the way: the iPad Air 5. It holds an M1 chip which has an eight-core CPU, boosting 60% in speed compared to its predecessor’s A14 processor.
This device boasts a remarkable display, complete with True Tone technology and 500 nits brightness. What’s more, it has a 12MP ultra-wide lens with support for Centre Stage. There’s also 5G connectivity, plus some colour options: space grey, starlight, pink, purple, and a different blue.
Leasing support for Mac devices
We were completely wowed by all the new announcements at the Apple Special Event. However, these fresh machines obviously come at a premium price, which can be a struggle for a small business that has to watch its cash flow. That’s why leasing is such a great idea.
You’ll be able to spread the cost over time, and focus on your growth. What’s more, with Lease Loop by your side, you’ll have a leasing provider who genuinely cares about your SME achieving its ambitions.
Want to discuss your plans for evolution and the role leasing could play? Speak to our friendly team today.