Apple launch: new low-cost iPhone SE and Mac Studio desktop

Apple has announced a new version of its cheapest iPhone, an updated iPad Air tablet and a new powerful professional desktop computer called the Mac Studio.

During a livestreamed event on Tuesday, Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook also announced that the firm would begin showing Friday night Major League Baseball games on its Apple TV+ service in the US, UK, Australia and other markets.

iPhone SE 2022

The new cut-price iPhone brings the “SE” model more up to date with Apple’s latest A15 processor, longer battery life and 5G connectivity

The new SE keeps the same look as its 2020 predecessor with Touch ID home button and a 4.7in LCD screen with large bezels top and bottom – a body design first introduced with the iPhone 8 in 2017. The updated phone has an improved 12-megapixel rear camera, but lacks the multiple lenses available on Apple’s more expensive models.

 Apple launch: new low-cost iPhone SE and Mac Studio desktop -0
Apple unveils new smartphone, tablet, powerful Mac desktop computer and external 27in monitor. Photograph: Brooks Kraft/

What the iPhone SE lacks in modern design it makes up for in value, likely to be supported with software for up to seven years, which is as much as five years longer than similarly priced rivals.

Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, said: “Apple’s ability to offer devices with a longer life span, and in some cases with multiple owners over a lifetime, makes its devices more sustainable than those that become obsolete after as little as two years when software and security updates end.”

iPad Air 2022

Apple also updated its mid-range tablet, the iPad Air. It was last updated in 2020 with slimmed-down design, 10.9in screen and Touch ID fingerprint scanner in the power button.

The new 2022 model is made from recycled aluminium and is up to 60% faster than its predecessor, equipped with the M1 chip from the iPad Pro and the MacBook Air laptop as well as optional 5G.

The front-facing video call camera now has Apple’s “centre stage” technology, which automatically pans and scans to keep video call participants in-shot without having to move the iPad about.

Mac Studio and Studio Display

 Apple launch: new low-cost iPhone SE and Mac Studio desktop -0
The Mac Studio is a taller, much more powerful version of the Mac mini desktop computer. Photograph: Brooks Kraft/

The new Mac Studio is a small but powerful desktop computer, aimed at developers, videographers and creative professionals who do not want a built-in screen.

The new machine is still compact, like the Mac mini, but is now taller with a body made of 80% recycled aluminium.

It has Apple’s new M1 Ultra processor, which is essentially two of the previous top M1 Max chips bolted together, making it 60% faster than the Mac Pro.

It supports up to 256GB of unified memory and has up to six Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports, two traditional USB ports and an HDMI for connecting displays.

To go with it, Apple also announced a new 27in 5K external monitor made of recycled aluminium. The Studio Display has an embedded A13 chip, previously used in iPhones, a 12-megapixel Centre Stage camera and three mics for video calls, plus a six-speaker sound system.

The Guardian

Other News

Vietnam targets at least 10 large strategic technology firms by 2030

Vietnam targets at least 10 large strategic technology firms by 2030

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung has signed a decision approving a plan to develop large domestic strategic technology enterprises in the 2026–2030 period, aimed at advancing digital infrastructure, digital human resources, digital data, strategic technologies and cybersecurity.

Protecting users crucial in building digital trust: Experts

Protecting users crucial in building digital trust: Experts

In Vietnam, digital transformation in the finance and banking sector is accelerating cashless payments, expanding access to financial services, improving market transparency and supporting economic growth and macroeconomic management.

Fostering skilled workforce for innovation era: experts

Fostering skilled workforce for innovation era: experts

Experts said close coordination among State management agencies, research institutes, universities, and businesses will improve training quality and serve the dual goals of quality education and practical research application.

Startup forum bridges Silicon Valley and local innovation ecosystem

Startup forum bridges Silicon Valley and local innovation ecosystem

The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), Saigon Asset Management (SAM), and Plug and Play Tech Centre co-hosted the “From Vietnam to Silicon Valley” forum, exploring AI innovation, venture capital, and pathways to integrate Vietnam’s startup ecosystem with Silicon Valley and global markets.

Experts call for stronger action against fake news online

Experts call for stronger action against fake news online

Experts have warned that fake news, misinformation and harmful online content are increasingly shaping public perceptions, particularly among young people, and stressed the need for stronger legal safeguards, technology tools and wider dissemination of credible information to tackle the problem effectively.

Protecting digital future in post-quantum, AI era

Protecting digital future in post-quantum, AI era

Participants highlighted the importance of building a proactive, synchronised and sustainable national cybersecurity ecosystem through closer cooperation among regulators, technology firms, research institutions and cybersecurity experts.

Vietnam attends SAHA 2026 defence, aerospace exhibition in Türkiye

Vietnam attends SAHA 2026 defence, aerospace exhibition in Türkiye

Vietnam’s participation in SAHA 2026 International Defence & Aerospace Exhibition in Istanbul reflects the country’s consistent policy of enhancing international defence integration and promoting defence industry cooperation towards self-reliance, self-strengthening, modernisation and dual-use development.

SK Group partners to build AI ecosystem in Vietnam

SK Group partners to build AI ecosystem in Vietnam

SK Innovation and SK Telecom signed MoUs with Nghe An province and the National Innovation Centre of Vietnam to advance AI ecosystem development and support the country’s long-term growth strategy.

Vietnam Research Excellence Fellowship for 2026-2030 approved

Vietnam Research Excellence Fellowship for 2026-2030 approved

Under the Vietnam Research Excellence Fellowship (VREF) for the 2026–2030 period, PhD students are identified as a core research force directly contributing to breakthroughs in sci-tech and innovation. Investing in top-tier doctoral candidates is more than workforce development, but a high-stakes strategic bet to forge a cohort of world-class scientists and technologists who can power Vietnam’s long-term economic ambitions.