New MacBook Air, iPad Air, and Mac Studio launches

Benjamin and Chance recap the newly announced lineup of iPads and Macs. The new iPad Air and base iPad offer even better value for money, while Apple pushes the performance edge with the surprising launch of the M3 Ultra in the Mac Studio, and makes the best MacBook yet with the new M4 MacBook Air. Also, iOS 18.4 beta 2 brings even more new features to discuss.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Apple takes a swing at a home run with a trio of baseball content announcements. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

• Sponsored by Oracle: Learn how to cut your cloud bill in half at oracle.com/HAPPYHOUR.
• Sponsored by Stash: With Stash, there’s no more confusing, frustrating gatekeeping to keep you from investing. Go to get.stash.com/HAPPYHOUR to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase and to view important disclosures.
• Sponsored by ChargeASAP: Check out the Flash Pro Ultra, featuring a new 275W power bank with an OLED screen that can charge up to 6 devices simultaneously, including your MacBook, phone, smartwatch, and more!
• Sponsored by Indeed: Get a $75 sponsored job credit and give your jobs more visibility at indeed.com/9to5mac.

Hosts

Chance Miller

• @chancemiller.me on Bluesky
• @[email protected]
• @ChanceHMiller on Instagram
• @ChanceHMiller on Threads

Benjamin Mayo

• @bzamayo on Twitter
• @[email protected]
• @bzamayo on Threads

Subscribe, Rate, and Review

• Apple Podcasts
• Overcast
• Spotify

9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus

Subscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes: 

• Ad-free versions of every episode 
• Pre- and post-show content
• Bonus episodes

Join for $5 per month or $50 a year at 9to5mac.com/join. 

Feedback

• Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or Threads
• Email us feedback and questions to [email protected]

Links

• Apple challenging legality of UK’s secret demand to globally compromise iCloud encryption
• iOS 18.4 beta 2: Here's everything new
• iOS 18.4 adds tons of new Shortcuts actions, hints at Siri’s future upgrades
• iOS 18.4 beta 2 includes seven new emoji
• iOS 18.4 brings RCS messaging to some of the last big carrier holdouts
• iOS 18.4 will address a frustrating CarPlay limitation
• iOS 18.4 upgrades the App Store with these two new features
• Apple unveils new iPad Air, here's what you need to know
• New Magic Keyboard launches for iPad Air with lower price, feature upgrades
• Apple updates base iPad with A16 chip and twice the storage
• Apple unveils M4 MacBook Air in new color and cheaper starting price
• Apple launches M3 Ultra chip with support for up to 512GB memory
• Apple launches new Mac Studio, here's everything new
• With M4 chips, Apple hints at making a key change for the first time