All the shiny new colours revealed for iPhone 13, iPhone SE and iPad Air

Apple’s Peek Performance event may have primarly focused on hardware we’ll never be able to afford (like the Mac Studio and Studio Display) but at least there was a vivid array of new device colours to keep the peons in the audience like us distracted. 

We could talk all day about the 5G-connectivity of the new iPhone SE, or the computational power of the M1 iPad Air but more important than all of that technical flapdoodle is the aesthetics of the new devices.

After all, what’s the point in upgrading if the average Joe on the street doesn’t know you’ve got the latest and greatest gadget from Apple?

Thankfully, there is a decent range of colourways to discuss from the three mobile devices showcased: the new iPhone SE, M1 iPad Air and iPhone 13.

Here are the two new colour options for the iPhone 13 range:

• Green: Apple iPhone 13 and 13 mini
• Alpine Green: Apple iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max

To date, the iPhone 11 Pro’s Midnight Green is still my favourite flagship colourway Apple has ever offered. Switching to the iPhone 12 Pro Pacific Blue (a fine colour in its own right) honestly felt like a downgrade. Furthermore, the lighter Sierra Blue of the iPhone 13 Pro just didn’t do it for me.

So I’m thrilled for the people that now get to go Green with the iPhone 13 (or Alpine Green with the 13 Pro) but it’s an option reserved for late-adopters only. Just like the folks who forked out for the purple iPhone 12 last year, you’re spending full price on a new iPhone that’s already six months through its lifecycle.

Pre-orders for the Green and Alpine Green iPhone models begin from midnight AEDT on Saturday, the 12th of March with units officially available from Friday the 18th of March.

Here are the three colours the new iPhone SE (2022) is available in:

• Midnight (Black)
• Starlight (White)
• (PRODUCT)RED

For those on a tight budget, Apple doesn’t give the privilege of new and interesting finishes. Like many releases before it, the new iPhone SE is only available in Midnight (Black), Starlight (White) and the charitable (PRODUCT)RED (Red). This year, every (PRODUCT)RED iPhone SE purchase directly contributes to the Global Fund to combat COVID-19 in African communities, in addition to the usual support given to combat HIV/AIDS. You can read more about Apple’s partnership with the Global Fund and (RED) here.

Don’t get me wrong, the classic trio of iPhone colours are a stunning staple. Even when given the option, I’ll often opt for whatever Space Grey or Midnight Black variant is available at the time. It’d just be nice if Apple spruced up its budget line a little like it used to do with its C releases.

Pre-orders for the iPhone SE begin from 12:00am AEDT on Saturday, the 12th of March with units officially available from Friday the 18th of March.

Here are the five colours the new iPad Air (2022) is available in:

• Space Grey
• Starlight (White)
• Blue
• Pink
• Purple

Those holding their breath for a fun new range of colours at this year’s Apple Event would have been relieved to finally see a splash of vibrancy when the M1 iPad Air was announced.

The refreshed iPad Air is available in not two, not three but FIVE colour options. What a treat. Among those five you’ll still find the vanilla Space Grey/Starlight options but for the poppier crowd, there are pastel Purple and Pink options and a lovely little Blue number that seems to sit somewhere between Sierra and Midnight (going off the promotional photos.)

This is the exact kind of treatment iPhone SE users should get; plenty of pretty colours to marvel at in lieu of higher performance. Even though– just quietly– the iPad Air’s M1 chip is quite powerful. Just don’t tell Apple that or it’ll be back to black-and-white for the budget-minded users among us.

All five colour options for the new iPad Air are available for preorder from the 12th of March 2022, with units officially available from Friday the 18th of March.