What to expect at Apple's product launch event on March 4

Source: Engadget

Apple has scheduled a product launch event, dubbed an “Apple Experience,” for March 4 at 9 AM ET. The company is reportedly holding the event in NYC, London, and Shanghai. While details are still under wraps, industry reports and analyst speculation provide several educated guesses about what could be announced.

Budget‑friendly MacBook

Rumors suggest Apple is preparing a cheaper alternative to the MacBook Air. Bloomberg reported the possibility as early as November, indicating the laptop could be powered by an iPhone‑class A18 Pro processor to keep costs down.

• Colors: The invite shows light green, blue, and yellow—colors Apple has reportedly tested for the low‑cost MacBook.
• Memory: Some reports say the device may ship with 8 GB of RAM, which would be a departure from Apple’s recent push for a minimum of 16 GB in Macs.
• Pricing & volume: TechRadar predicts an initial shipment of up to 8 million units, with a price range of $699–$799.

“It’s also been suggested that this laptop will only include 8 GB of RAM, which kind of flies against the company’s recent stance to outfit all Macs with at least 16 GB of RAM.” – Engadget

Source: Mark Gurman’s tweet (Feb 16, 2026)

MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips

Apple is expected to refresh its MacBook Pro lineup with more powerful models. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has hinted at a March launch, aligning with the March 4 event.

• Current status: Apple already offers a MacBook Pro with an M5 chip; the upcoming Pro and Max variants would likely feature higher core counts and a new chiplet design to improve heat dissipation and reduce defect rates.
• Supply context: Orders for the M4 Max are currently delayed, a typical sign of an upcoming model rollout.

Reported by Devindra Hardawar for Engadget.

New iPads

Rumors indicate updates to both the base iPad and the iPad Air.

• 12th‑gen iPad: Expected to upgrade from the A16 to an A18 chip, enabling deeper integration of Apple Intelligence features.
• iPad Air: Likely to receive an M4 chip upgrade (from the current M3), making it one of the lightest tablets with that level of performance.

Reported by Nathan Ingraham for Engadget.

iPhone 17e

A year after the iPhone 16e, Apple is anticipated to refresh its budget‑friendly line.

• Processor: Potential upgrade to the A19 chip.
• Features: Possible addition of MagSafe support.
• Pricing: Expected to stay around $599.

Other Possibilities

• Studio Display & Mac Studio: Rumors of a revamped Studio Display and a new Mac Studio desktop, possibly slated for release in the first half of the year.
• MacBook Air with M5: While unlikely for this event, a future MacBook Air upgrade to the M5 chip is being discussed.

“The inclusion of Shanghai essentially rules out Siri, as expected, given the delays.” – Mark Gurman

Source: Mark Gurman’s tweet (Feb 16, 2026)

Update (Mar 2, 2026, 9:45 AM ET)

An editor’s note has been added to reflect Apple’s official announcement of the iPhone 17e and iPad Air (M4).