(Credit: Eric Zeman/PCMag)
Apple today announced it will hold an event on March 4, where we might see Apple’s newest budget iPhone, refreshed iPads, and a possible low-cost MacBook.
"Please join us in person for a special Apple Experience in New York," the invitation says alongside the Apple logo in yellow, green, and blue. It starts at 9 a.m. ET, but Apple doesn't mention a livestream or include a tagline with any additional clues. PCMag will be there to bring you all the details; until then, here's what might be on tap from Cupertino.
(Credit: Apple)iPhone 17e
Devices on tap likely include the iPhone 17e. Rumors suggest it will retain the iPhone 16e’s design, but get a few internal spec bumps. That includes the A19 chip from iPhone 17, Apple’s C1X modem for 5G and LTE connectivity, and the N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity.
Apple says C1X is two times faster than the C1, and the N1 chip “improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop.” Phones with the C1X (and C1) and iOS 26.3 also support “Limit Precise Location,” a setting that lets you restrict the location data your iPhone shares with your cellular network.
In PCMag's review, we found that the iPhone 16e “gracefully fulfills its role as the most affordable member of Apple's iPhone family without compromising the core experience.” It starts at $599 for 128GB, 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 maintain that $599 price for the 17e, or if the memory crunch will affect Cupertino’s lineup.
The 17e is probably the only new iPhone on the schedule for March 4; the iPhone 16e also debuted in late February last year. Last year, rumors said we’ll get four smartphones at Apple’s usual September event—iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, second-gen iPhone Air, and a foldable. The standard iPhone 18, however, as well as the 18e, isn’t expected until early 2027.
Whatever Apple has up its sleeve, it's scheduled for one week after Samsung's next Unpacked event on Feb. 25, where it will unveil the next-gen Galaxy S26 series.
Apple Intelligence for the 12th-Gen iPad
If your iPad is in need of an update, meanwhile, Apple will reportedly refresh its iPad Air lineup with an M4, while the entry-level iPad will get an A18. The 11- and 13-inch iPad Airs currently run the M3, while last year’s 11th-Gen iPad has an A16. The bump to the A18 means the iPad will support Apple Intelligence; the iPad Airs already support it since they have 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, instead of the more powerful and pricey M-series. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says it will be the A18 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 tipped a MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro and M5 Max. Signs of an "imminent" launch there include reduced supply and delayed shipping of existing top-end MacBook Pros.
Stay tuned to PCMag.com for all the details.