Apple has announced an event for March 4, where we could see a new budget iPhone, updated iPads, and maybe even a more affordable MacBook.
Please join us in person for a special Apple experience in New York. The invitation needs to be next to the Apple logo in yellow, green, and blue. The event begins at 9 am ET, but Apple hasn’t said if there will be a live stream or shared any extra hints. PCMag will cover the event and share all details. In the meantime, here’s what we expect from Cupertino.
iPhone 17E
The iPhone 17E is likely to be one of the new devices. Rumors say it will keep the iPhone 16E’s design but get some upgrades inside. These include:
- The A19 chip from the iPhone 17
- Apple’s C1X modem for 5G and LG E
- The N1 chip for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6
Apple says the C1X is twice as fast as the C1 and N1 chips, improving the overall efficiency and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. iPhones with the C1X (and C1) and iOS 26.3 also support Limit Precise Location, a setting that lets you control how much location data your iPhone shares with your cellular network.
In PCMag’s review, we found that the iPhone 16e gracefully fills the role as the most affordable member of Apple’s iPhone family without damaging the core experience. It starts at $599 for the 128 GB, which is $100 less than the base iPhone 16 and $200 less than the standard iPhone 17. We’ll have to see if Apple can afford that $599 price for the 17E, or if the memory crunch will affect Cupertino’s lineup.
The 17e is likely the only new iPhone to be announced on March 4. The iPhone 16e also launched in late February last year. Rumors last year suggested we’ll see four smartphones at Apple’s usual September event. The iPhone 18 Pro, plus the second-generation iPhone Air, and a foldable, the standard iPhone 18, and the 18e are not expected until early 2027.
No matter what Apple announces, the event is set for one week after Samsung’s next unpacked event on February 25, where Samsung will reveal the new Galaxy S26 series.
Apple Intelligence for the 12th Gen iPad
If you are looking to update your iPad, Apple is expected to refresh the iPad Air lineup with an M4 chip, while the entry-level iPad will get an A18 chip. The current 11- and 13-inch iPad Airs use the M3, and last year’s 11th-gen iPad has an A16. Upgrading to the A18 means the iPad will support Apple intelligence, which the iPad Airs already have thanks to their M series chips.
Low-cost MacBook and new MacBook Pros
Rumors have been swirling about a possible cheap MacBook. The 12-inch device could run an Apple A-series processor, usually found in iPhones and iPads, rather than the more powerful and expensive M-series. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says it will be the Apple 18 Pro found in the iPhone 16 Pros. He also predicts some new color options.
In October, we explored how a budget A19 MacBook might perform and found it would fit nicely among today’s budget laptops. Is that why the M1 MacBook Air is MIA at Walmart? Earlier this month, Gurman also mentioned a MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. Signs that a launch is coming might soon include fewer units in stock and shipping delays for the current top-end MacBook Pros.
Source: New iPhone, iPads, and Macs? Apple Announces March 4 Event
