Singapore

Be ready for school with these free Apple Singapore workshops

Happening throughout August

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Apple Singapore has launched a new collection of workshops in time for the new academic year. The University. Ready. series features four talent-led sessions throughout August, focused on how users can utilize their Mac and iPad’s capabilities.

These sessions compliment Apple’s Back to School offer, which runs until September 30. The offer allows students and even teachers and staff at all levels to enjoy 20% off AppleCare, as well as discounted education pricing on Mac and iPad.

Here’s a quick overview of all four Apple Singapore workshops happening throughout this month. Take note, these sessions are offered for free, so it’s an opportune time to skill up and be well-equipped for your next class.

Creative Note-Taking in Freeform

Content creator Arielle Tsai will spearhead this session wherein she’ll share her study routine and creative ways to explore and connect ideas. Participants will learn how to write, sketch, and organize notes using iPad, Apple Pencil, and the Freeform app.

  • Date and time: August 10, 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
  • Venue: Apple Orchard Road
  • Sign-up link: apple.co/arielle-tsai

Make Your Own Positivity Poster

Meanwhile, illustrator SADSHRIMPS will take part in a session that will inspire students to create their own motivational posters. This session will highlight Procreate, one of the popular creative apps on the App Store.

  • Date and time: August 17, 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
  • Venue: Apple Orchard Road
  • Sign-up link: apple.co/sadshrimps

Journaling for Success

Moreover, the third weekend will spotlight content creator Sleepy Tofu. She’ll share journaling tips and tricks to enrich learning, visualize thoughts, retain information, and plan success. The process involves the iPad, Apple Pencil, and Freeform as well.

  • Date and time: August 24, 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
  • Venue: Apple Orchard Road
  • Sign-up link: apple.co/sleepy-tofu

Study Smarter in Notion

Lastly, the University. Ready. series will conclude with productivity expert Easlo. He’ll share how Notion transformed his learning and creativity, allowing him to take better notes, stay organized, and connect ideas. Participants will likewise experiment with the app on iPad to create their own personalized workspaces.

  • Date and time: August 31, 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
  • Venue: Apple Orchard Road
  • Sign-up link: apple.co/easlo

What’s great about these sessions is that aside from being free, devices will be provided each weekend.

News

POCO X8 Pro Series launches in Singapore with early bird prices

Starts at SGD 439

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POCO X8 Pro Max

POCO has announced the Singapore pricing and availability of the newly launched POCO X8 Pro Series. It includes the POCO X8 Pro Max and POCO X8 Pro.

In Singapore, the lineup will be available with early bird pricing from March 17 to April 5. They offer discounts across all configurations.

Price and availability

The POCO X8 Pro Max (12GB + 256GB) carries a recommended retail price of SGD 589. However, will be available at an early bird price of SGD 559 during the promotional period. Meanwhile, the 12GB + 512GB variant is priced at SGD 619, discounted to SGD 599 for early buyers.

For the standard model, the POCO X8 Pro (8GB + 256GB) is priced at SGD 469, with an early bird price of SGD 439. The 12GB + 512GB configuration retails for SGD 519 and will be available at SGD 489 during the launch promo.

The POCO X8 Pro Max will be available in Black, Blue, and White, while the POCO X8 Pro comes in Black, Mint Green, and White.

Performance-focused X Pro series

The POCO X8 Pro Series marks the brand’s shift from the traditional X Series to the new X Pro Series, positioning the lineup around stronger performance and improved endurance.

Leading the series is the POCO X8 Pro Max, which debuts globally with the Dimensity 9500s flagship chipset. Built on a 3nm process, the chip uses a 4+4 all-big-core CPU design with clock speeds of up to 3.73GHz.

POCO says the device can achieve an AnTuTu score of over 3 million, positioning it among the most powerful smartphones in its segment.

Meanwhile, the POCO X8 Pro is powered by the Dimensity 8500-Ultra platform, delivering improved GPU performance and better power efficiency compared to the previous generation.

Both devices also support hardware-level ray tracing and POCO’s WildBoost Optimization, which helps stabilize frame rates during demanding gameplay.

Large batteries and fast charging

Battery capacity is another highlight of the lineup.

The POCO X8 Pro Max packs an 8,500mAh battery, which the company says can deliver up to two days of battery life on a single charge.

Meanwhile, the POCO X8 Pro features a 6,500mAh silicon-carbon battery, designed to provide strong endurance while maintaining a relatively compact device size.

Both phones support 100W HyperCharge as well as 27W reverse charging, allowing them to charge other devices when needed.

Displays and cameras

The POCO X8 Pro Max features a 6.83-inch display, while the POCO X8 Pro uses a 6.59-inch panel.

Both displays can reach 3,500 nits peak brightness across 25 percent of the screen, improving visibility outdoors.

On the camera side, both devices feature a 50MP main camera and a 20MP front camera. The Pro Max uses a Light Fusion 600 sensor, while the X8 Pro uses a Sony IMX882 sensor.

Additional features include UltraSnap, Dynamic shots, and AI-powered editing tools designed to simplify image enhancement.

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Computers

Apple unveils Studio Display and all-new Studio Display XDR

Powering up the desk.

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Apple Studio Display

After taking the MacBook Pro to Super Saiyan levels, Apple is now doing the same for the display it pairs with.

With its latest Studio Display family, Apple is splitting the lineup into two clear tiers. The regular Studio Display already feels powered up. The all-new Studio Display XDR transforms.

If this were Dragon Ball Z logic, the Studio Display is Super Saiyan. The Studio Display XDR is Super Saiyan Blue — calmer, more controlled, and operating on an entirely different plane.

A strong base form

The new Studio Display sticks to what already worked: a 27-inch 5K Retina panel with over 14 million pixels, 600 nits of brightness, and P3 wide color. It’s sharp, bright, and more than capable for photo editing, design work, music production, and daily tasks.

Apple upgrades the experience around the screen, too. There’s now a 12MP Center Stage camera with improved image quality and Desk View support. The three-mic array and six-speaker system return, this time with deeper bass and Spatial Audio support.

Connectivity jumps to Thunderbolt 5, allowing users to daisy-chain up to four Studio Displays for nearly 60 million combined pixels. It also delivers up to 96W of charging power for a connected MacBook Pro.

It’s the dependable powered-up form. Strong. Confident. Already more than enough for most creators.

The controlled transformation

Then there’s Studio Display XDR.

This is where Apple goes full Super Saiyan Blue.

The 27-inch 5K Retina XDR panel uses a mini-LED backlight with over 2,000 local dimming zones. It pushes up to 1000 nits of SDR brightness and 2000 nits of peak HDR brightness, alongside a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Highlights hit harder. Blacks stay deep. Blooming stays minimal.

The display also adds Adobe RGB support on top of P3, covering more than 80 percent of Rec. 2020 for HDR workflows. For video editors, colorists, and print professionals, this shifts the XDR from “great display” to “reference-grade tool.”

Motion gets smoother, too. A 120Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync dynamically adjusts between 47Hz and 120Hz, reducing latency and making everything from scrubbing timelines to gaming feel more fluid.

Apple even introduces DICOM medical imaging presets and a Medical Imaging Calibrator for diagnostic radiology use in the U.S., pending FDA clearance. It’s a reminder that this panel isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about precision.

Built for the pro desk

Both displays share the same upgraded 12MP Center Stage camera, studio-quality microphones, six-speaker Spatial Audio system, and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. The XDR model goes further with up to 140W charging power and additional downstream ports, effectively acting as a high-speed hub.

Pricing and availability

In the U.S.

The new Studio Display starts at $1,599 (U.S.) and $1,499 for education, while the Studio Display XDR begins at $3,299 (U.S.) and $3,199 for education. Both models can be pre-ordered starting tomorrow, March 4, with availability beginning March 11 in select Apple Store locations and authorized resellers.

In Singapore

Pre-orders open on March 9 via apple.com/sg/store and the Apple Store app. Pricing starts at S$2,199 for the Studio Display (S$2,059 for education). The Studio Display XDR begins at S$4,499 (S$4,359 for education).

Optional accessories such as the Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse remain available in white and black color options. Apple also offers nano-texture glass and adjustable stand configurations for professional setups.

The message from Apple is consistent: the base Studio Display remains a strong professional companion, while the Studio Display XDR targets workflows demanding reference-grade performance and HDR capability. Pre-orders go live soon, with deliveries and in-store availability following in mid-March.

In the Philippines

Customers can pre-order starting March 4 at apple.com/ph/store.

Studio Display starts at ₱104,999, and ₱97,990 for education. Studio Display XDR replaces Pro Display XDR and starts at ₱219,999, and ₱212,990 for education.

Additional technical specifications, including nano-texture glass and a choice of stand options, are available at apple.com/ph/store.

Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad (from ₱10,490), Magic Trackpad (₱6,990), and Magic Mouse (₱5,490) in black or white color options are available at apple.com/ph/store.

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Laptops

Apple unveils MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max

Up to 8x AI gains, faster SSD, Wi-Fi 7, and bigger starting storage

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M5 Pro M5 Max

Apple has introduced the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro powered by the all-new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips — bringing what feels like a full Super Saiyan moment to its pro lineup.

If M5 Pro is Super Saiyan, then M5 Max is Super Saiyan 2.

Both chips are built using Apple’s new Fusion Architecture, combining two dies into a single system on a chip. The result: massive gains in CPU, GPU, memory bandwidth, and on-device AI performance.

Apple says the new CPU includes the world’s fastest CPU core, with up to 18 cores total — 6 “super cores” and 12 performance cores — delivering up to 30% faster performance. The next-generation GPU now includes a Neural Accelerator in every core, pushing AI workloads significantly further.

Compared to M1 models, the new MacBook Pro delivers:

  • Up to 8x faster AI image generation
  • Up to 6.9x faster LLM prompt processing
  • Up to 5.4x faster video effects rendering

Compared to the previous M4 Pro and M4 Max generation, AI workloads see up to 4x gains, while graphics performance improves by as much as 50%.

This isn’t just about benchmarks. Apple is positioning this as a serious local AI machine. Developers can run advanced LLMs directly on device. Creators can train models, render 3D scenes, process massive photo libraries, and edit complex 8K timelines without leaning on the cloud.

And unlike many performance laptops, it does this with up to 24 hours of battery life.

Storage, bandwidth, and wireless get upgrades too

The performance bump isn’t limited to silicon.

The new MacBook Pro delivers up to 2x faster SSD speeds, reaching up to 14.5GB/s read and write performance. Starting storage also gets a major upgrade:

  • M5 Pro models now start at 1TB
  • M5 Max models now start at 2TB
  • The base 14-inch M5 model also now starts at 1TB

Memory bandwidth scales aggressively depending on configuration:

  • M5 Pro supports up to 64GB unified memory and 307GB/s bandwidth
  • M5 Max supports up to 128GB unified memory and 614GB/s bandwidth

Connectivity gets a boost as well. Apple introduces its new N1 wireless chip with support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Thunderbolt 5 ports come standard, alongside HDMI with up to 8K support, SDXC, and MagSafe 3 with fast charging.

The laptop retains its Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak HDR brightness, now with a nano-texture option. It also features a 12MP Center Stage camera, studio-quality microphones, and a six-speaker system with Spatial Audio support.

All models run on macOS Tahoe, which deepens integration with Apple Intelligence and introduces updated Spotlight, Live Translation, and more customizable UI elements.

Pricing and availability

In the U.S., pre-orders begin March 4, with availability starting March 11.

U.S. pricing starts at:

  • 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro: US$2,199 (US$2,049 education)
  • 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro: US$2,699 (US$2,499 education)
  • 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max: US$3,599 (US$3,299 education)
  • 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max: US$3,899 (US$3,599 education)

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with base M5 starts at US$1,699 (US$1,599 education), now with 1TB standard storage.

In Singapore, pre-orders also begin March 4 via apple.com/sg/store, with availability starting March 11.

Singapore pricing starts at:

  • 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro: S$2,999 (S$2,789 education)
  • 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro: S$3,649 (S$3,379 education)
  • 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max: S$5,099 (S$4,669 education)
  • 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max: S$5,449 (S$5,029 education)

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with base M5 starts at S$2,299 (S$2,159 education).

In the Philippines, customers can order the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max soon on apple.com/ph/store and Apple Authorized Resellers.

Philippine pricing starts at: 

  • 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at ₱149,990 (₱139,990 for education)
  • 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at ₱179,990 (₱166,990 for education)
  • 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max starts at ₱239,990 (₱219,990 for education)
  • 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max starts at ₱259,990 (₱239,990 for education)

All models are available in space black and silver.

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