Apple has scheduled a product launch occasion, dubbed an “Apple Expertise”, for March 4 at 9AM ET. The corporate is reportedly holding this occasion in NYC, London and Shanghai.
Everybody loves shiny new merchandise, so what can we count on to see at Apple’s first launch occasion of 2026? We do not know something for sure, however we’ve loads of educated guesses which have been sourced from trade reviews and hypothesis from analysts.
Editor’s Word (on March 2 at 9:45AM ET): Apple has formally introduced the iPhone 17e and iPad Air (M4). It is anticipated to proceed to unveil new {hardware} within the following days, per the remainder of this text.
Price range-friendly MacBook
There have been rumors swirling that Apple is getting ready to launch a less expensive different to the MacBook Air. Bloomberg reported on this all the best way again in November. Trade rumors point out that Apple might be stuffing this laptop computer with an iPhone processor, the A18 Professional, to maintain the value down.
It is also been instructed that this laptop computer will solely embody 8GB of RAM, which form of flies in opposition to the corporate’s current stance to outfit all Macs with a minimum of 16GB of RAM. Nonetheless, that would definitely assist with the fee. You might need heard about just a little factor known as AI that chomp chomps on all RAM it will possibly discover.
TechRadar has reported that this may very well be Apple’s greatest laptop computer launch in years, with potential preliminary shipments hitting 8 million items. The worth is prone to be someplace within the $699 to $799 vary, which is fairly nifty. Nonetheless, I would nonetheless go for an Air at $999. They’re absolute workhorses.
MacBook Professional with M5 Professional and Max chips
It is probably that Apple will launch extra highly effective MacBook Professional fashions this 12 months and the timing appears to match up. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has instructed a March launch and the occasion is on March 4.
The corporate has already launched a MacBook Professional with an M5 chip, however each the M5 Professional and Max are probably on the horizon. We may very well be getting new laptops outfitted with these chips in varied show sizes.
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget
There have additionally been reviews that each of the higher-end M5 chips are getting a redesign to assist enhance warmth dissipation and scale back faulty chip charges. Moreover, the brand new chiplet design would permit the M5 Professional and Max to lift the entire variety of CPU and GPU cores. The Max is anticipated to have extra cores than the Professional.
This concept is helped alongside by the truth that MacBook Professional M4 Max orders are at the moment delayed. That is usually the case with an outgoing mannequin as inventory dries as much as make room for brand new releases. Additionally, the Professional and Max variants usually get introduced within the Fall, so we’re due.
New iPads
Rumors have been circulating that we’re about to get new iPads, together with an replace to the bottom mannequin and the Air. The usual mannequin, which might be the Twelfth-gen launch, is anticipated to improve the A16 chip to an A18. This also needs to permit for the mixing of Apple Intelligence instruments, if that is your bag.
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
As for that iPad Air, rumors counsel an improve to the M4 chip from the M3. A particularly mild pill with an M4 can be pretty notable in my estimation, as solely the latest iPad Professional has that chip.
iPhone 17e
It was nearly precisely a 12 months in the past that Apple introduced the iPhone 16e, so you recognize what which means. It is time for a refresh. Current reviews have instructed that an announcement concerning the iPhone 17e is imminent, so this launch occasion looks as if nearly as good a spot as any to disclose the most recent “budget-friendly” smartphone.
As for specs, Mark Gurman has instructed that it will be getting an improve to the A19 chip, which is good. Additionally, it may very well be getting MagSafe help. That seems like an iterative improve, however the value is anticipated to stay regular at $599.
Different Potentialities
The next stuff is much less probably, although definitely potential. There have been rumors that Apple is at the moment getting ready a revamped Studio Show and Mac Studio desktop. The reviews counsel a launch someday within the first half of the 12 months, and March is true in the course of that timeframe.
It is also potential that the corporate will reveal an improve to the MacBook Air with the M5 chip. Experiences point out that that is unlikely to occur throughout this occasion, however it’s value noting that the M4 Air got here out in March of final 12 months. In different phrases, it is a toss up.
What’s not a toss up? You should not count on something concerning the long-anticipated Siri refresh. This seems to be to be a {hardware} occasion, so any software program updates will probably have to attend till WWDC this summer time. In any occasion, Engadget might be available to report on all of Apple’s new merchandise.
Replace, March 2 2026, 9:45AM ET: This story has been up to date so as to add an Editor’s Word with the most recent information from Apple this week.
