Apple March event 2026: Budget MacBook, iPhone 17e, new iPad Air and more expected

Apple last week announced its first big "event" of 2026 in early March and now reports suggest that it maybe more than just the usual keynote address for product launches.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the iPhone maker is planning a flurry of announcements from March 2 to March 4 where it will roll out products across Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with the final day reserved for what it is calling a "special Apple Experience".

Also Read: Apple’s global 'special Apple experience' signals a new launch strategy


Invites are already out for the on-ground event in New York, London and Shanghai on March 4, which can possibly be hands-on sessions. Notably, Apple hasn’t announced a livestream and the invite carefully refers to an "experience," not an "event."

At least five products in the pipeline

Gurman says Apple is preparing to introduce at least five products spanning hardware, software and chips.

A new low-cost MacBook is widely expected to be one of the headline announcements. The invite reportedly hints at the colours the device will ship in and Apple is unlikely to host hands-on demos unless there’s something visually new to show.

"A new low-cost MacBook will very likely be one of the introductions. After all, the invitation includes the colors the device will launch in. Apple also wouldn’t offer hands-on time unless there was a new design to show off. And this laptop is the only thing in Apple’s imminent pipeline that actually looks new," Gurman wrote.

The iPhone 17e is also tipped for launch during this window, if it doesn’t arrive slightly earlier. Its predecessor, the iPhone 16e, debuted in February 2025, and Gurman describes the 17e as a near certainty for spring.

Also Read: iPhone rumors: Apple’s low-cost iPhone 17e expected any day now after breakout success of last version

Other devices expected in the coming weeks include:

• An iPad Air powered by the M4 chip
• An entry-level iPad with the A18 processor
• Refreshed MacBook Pro models
• A new MacBook Air

The MacBook Pro refresh is considered overdue, while new MacBook Air models typically land around this time of year. The iPads, meanwhile, are said to be ready from a manufacturing standpoint.

Mac Studio and Studio Display refresh coming soon

Two more Mac-related products — updated Mac Studio desktops and a new Apple Studio Display — are also expected in the first half of 2026.

The Studio Display is reportedly ready to ship, and Mac Studio updates are not far behind. Apple retail stores globally are already facing noticeable shortages of the current external monitor, often a sign that a replacement is imminent. That said, it’s unclear whether Apple will bundle these into the early-March announcements or stagger them slightly.

Also Read: Apple’s rumoured budget MacBook to feature aluminium body, fun colours: Report

Retail inventory points to imminent updates

Adding to the speculation, inventory of several Apple products has thinned out across retail stores, including the iPhone 16e, iPad Air, 13-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air models, and 14-inch and 16-inch M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pros.

Several Apple Watch bands are also running low, something that typically happens ahead of a spring colour refresh.

If all of these products don’t land between March 2 and March 4, Gurman suggests they’re unlikely to be far behind. Either way, Apple appears to be gearing up for one of its busiest spring refresh cycles in recent years just without the usual keynote spotlight.