Apple news: New MacBooks, Mac Mini, with M1 silicon

This week, on the Apple news, we saw the company launch two new MacBooks as well as a new Mac Mini. The computers are operated with the new M1 chip, a specially developed arm-based processor. This is the biggest change for Apple’s PC division in many years.

In other Apple news, the iPhone 12 Studio service was launched, iPhone 12 Mini reviews criticized battery life, Apple shut down with a company that allegedly violates labor laws, and more.

Please see the Apple News summary below for the latest information.

Last week’s top Apple news:

• New MacBooks Announced: On Tuesday, Apple launched two new MacBooks: the new MacBook Air and a new 13-inch MacBook Pro. Both laptops run on the new M1 chipset, which is based on Arm technology (our own Gary Sims explain what this means for you). This is a dramatic departure by Apple from x86-based systems and represents the biggest shift in the PC business in years.
• New Mac Mini also lands: In addition to the two new MacBooks, Apple has also launched a new Mac Mini. With an introductory price of $ 699, this is now the cheapest way to get into the macOS ecosystem. As with the new MacBooks, it is also powered by the arm-based M1 chip.
• AirTags and AirPods Studio MIA: Many analysts expected Apple to launch other products this week too, notably the AirTags GPS trackers and AirPods Studio over-ear headphones. However, this did not happen. It is now unlikely that we will see any of these products in 2020.
• AirPods Studio revealed: A new icon in the beta version of iOS 14.3 suggests the design elements of the rumored AirPods Studio over-ear headphones. The design is in line with leaked renders we’ve seen over the past year or so. Check it out here.
• Apple is launching and pulling tons of software due to server issues: This week, Apple launched a ton of new software, including betas for iOS, tvOS, and more. It also launched macOS Big Sur. However, some serious server problems have devastated several Apple services. In response, Apple temporarily stopped all updates until things were under control. It wasn’t a good start to Big Sur’s start.
• The iPhone 12 Studio service will start: Last weekend, Apple launched a new service called iPhone 12 Studio. The service is an extension of the Apple Store that allows shoppers to customize MagSafe cases and wallets to see how different color combinations look on their phones.
• Critics criticize poor battery life of the iPhone 12 Mini: Lots of people are excited to get their iPhone 12 Mini, but early reviews soften expectations. While early reviews praised the device overall, the small form factor appears to result in poor battery life.
• Apple discontinues business with Pegatron: Long-time Apple supplier Pegatron is in hot water this week after Apple discovered that it has repeatedly violated Apple’s work ethic rules. The Taiwanese supplier went to great lengths to cover up the violations. It’s good that Apple is taking a stand on this.

Are you thinking of making the switch?

If you are reading this Apple article on an iOS device and considering switching to Android, there are several articles and guides that can help you with this process. Regardless of what it may seem, moving from iOS to Android is easier than ever, and many of the services and systems on iOS have similar or even the same counterparts on Android.

The best place to start would be our iPhone to Android Moving Guide, which covers all of the basics. We also have more specific guides on how to transfer your calendar from iPhone to Android. We also have app guides that will give you the best alternatives to iOS staples such as: For example, our list of the best alternatives to FaceTime for Android.

If you’re looking for a great Android device to replace your iPhone, check out our list of the best Android smartphones currently available.