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As it happenedended

Apple event: New MacBook Air, iPad Pro and Mac Mini unveiled – everything you need to know

Andrew Griffin
Tuesday 30 October 2018 11:29 EDT
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Apple announces new Macbook Air made from 100 per cent recycled aluminium

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Apple has unveiled a huge suite of new products, including a brand new MacBook Air, Mac Mini and completely re-designed iPad Pro.

The launch comes just weeks after the release of the iPhone XS and XR, where the Apple Watch was also updated, and serves to tweak all of the products that got left out of that event.

The MacBook Air brought a completely new look to Apple's most popular – and until now roundly neglected – laptop. It finally added the long-requested Retina Display, but also changed up the computer's look and brought entirely new features like its Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

Apple repeatedly referred to the laptop as its "greenest ever computer", because of a new process that allows it to be made using a new process that allows it to use completely recycled aluminium.

As well as its broad redesign, vastly improved screen and new features, the internal components of the computer were vastly improved to make it far quicker than the computer it replaces.

It starts at $1199 in the US, or the same number of pounds. It is available to order now ahead of a release date on 7 November.

Alongside the MacBook Air came a new Mac Pro, which benefits from the same recycled metals, a new look, and vastly upgraded internals. Both the Mac Mini and the MacBook Air have been neglected for years, with so little attention that some feared it was more likely they would be killed off than refreshed.

The iPad Pro came with a similarly radical redesign, which removes the home button from the bottom and almost entirely gets rid of the bezel that has traditionally wrapped around the sides of the screen. That also meant Apple brought a new way of unlocking it, with the introduction of Apple's Face ID facial recognition technology into the tablet for the first time ever.

Apple removed the Lightning port on the bottom of the iPad, and swapped it for USB-C. That has been used on some of Apple's laptops, but will mean that owners will no longer be able to charge their iPad and iPhone with the same cable.

Introducing the new iPad Pro

Apple also introduced an upgraded version of the Apple Pencil, which was first introduced with the first iPad Pro. It now charges by clicking onto the top of the tablet, and features a button on the side that can be press for extra controls.

Alongside that came a new look for the Smart Keyboard that is sold alongside the iPad Pro.

The new iPad Pro comes in two sizes: an 11-inch version, which because of the smaller bezel takes up the same space as the previous 10.5-inch one, and a bigger 12.9-inch size.

The smaller one starts at $769 and the bigger at $969. Both are available to order now and will also go on sale on 7 November.

Below is our live blog from the event, detailing Apple's announcements as they happened.

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load.

Now onto the Apple Pencil.

With the new iPad Pro we have a second generation Pencil. It attaches magnetically to the top of the iPad Pro, pairing and charging wirelessly.

You can also press a little button on the Pencil itself, and that can change modes and stuff.

Andrew Griffin30 October 2018 14:57

There's also a new Smart Keyboard, which has had less of a redesign but looks nice.

Andrew Griffin30 October 2018 14:57

Here's your big rundown of everything that's new.

Andrew Griffin30 October 2018 14:59

We're into the use of that iPad. And with that, the NBA 2K series.

Andrew Griffin30 October 2018 15:02

The man from NBA is claiming that this iPad Pro performance is comparable to a console. (It does look good, though probably not as good as the latest console generation.)

Andrew Griffin30 October 2018 15:04

Now we're onto Photoshop on iPad. Just like when this was revealed at Adobe Max a couple of weeks ago, Adobe is being very clear that this is the full version of Photoshop, not a special version made for iPad or anything like that.

Andrew Griffin30 October 2018 15:06

Andrew Griffin30 October 2018 15:08

"This is Photoshop on iPad, just like you've always wanted." And it looks very nice!

Andrew Griffin30 October 2018 15:09

Adobe also shows a cool little tool called "Project Arrow", which allows people to design augmented reality stuff. Both of them will arrive in the App Store "in 2019".

Andrew Griffin30 October 2018 15:11

An iPad Pro video. Which means, for you, plenty of pictures incoming!

Andrew Griffin30 October 2018 15:13

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