Apple began sending out invites last week for its first “Apple Experience” event of the year on March 4, where the Cupertino-based company is widely expected to unveil a range of new products. Now, thanks to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a reliable source for Apple leaks, we have a much clearer picture of what this experience could look like and what Apple might announce.
According to Gurman, the Apple Experience in early March will be a “three-day blitz” of announcements. In other words, Apple isn’t expected to drop everything at once. Instead, the company will likely start unveiling new products on March 2 (Monday), continue with more announcements on March 3 (Tuesday), and wrap things up on March 4 (Wednesday). That final day is when the Apple Experience event itself takes place in London, New York, and Shanghai, giving media a chance to go hands-on with all the newly announced devices.
So with that in mind, what exactly is Apple revealing next week? Gurman reports that Apple could reveal “at least five products” during its three-day fiesta, ranging from Macs and iPads to an iPhone.
Low-cost MacBook
Apple is taking an even bigger aim at Windows
The low-cost MacBook is expected to be one of the stars of Apple’s wave of product reveals next week, with Gurman saying it’s “very likely” to be announced.
If you haven’t been following the rumors, this is essentially a new entry-level MacBook that Apple has reportedly been working on to compete more directly with Windows laptops in the sub-$1,000 market.
The low-cost MacBook is rumored to feature a 12.9-inch display and run on a version of Apple’s A18 Pro chip instead of an M-series chip, which would almost certainly be a cost-saving move. It’s also expected to launch in several fun color options, including light green, blue, and yellow.
As for pricing, that’s where things get especially interesting. There’s been plenty of speculation, but one thing seems clear: it’ll significantly undercut the $999 MacBook Air. Rumored price points like $699 or $799 would make a lot of sense, keeping it comfortably below the more premium MacBook Air while still slightly above the iPad Air.
iPhone 17e
A big step up from the 16e
Another product Gurman reports Apple could reveal next week is the iPhone 17e. Given that the iPhone 16e debuted in mid-February 2025, its successor feels a little overdue. There’s been no shortage of rumors about what the iPhone 17e could look like, but three potential upgrades stand out as especially important for Apple’s new mid-range iPhone.
First, according to a report from The Information, Apple is expected to add MagSafe support to the iPhone 17e. That would be a big deal. The iPhone 16e lacked MagSafe entirely, which made it feel oddly disconnected from the rest of Apple’s ecosystem. With MagSafe, the 17e would work seamlessly with Apple’s lineup of magnetic accessories, including cases, wallets, and chargers.
The iPhone 17e’s display is also rumored to adopt Dynamic Island, replacing the notch found on the iPhone 16e and bringing it more in line with the rest of Apple’s current iPhone lineup. If this turns out to be true, I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple borrows the panel from the iPhone 15, which was the first base-level iPhone to feature Dynamic Island.
Finally, there’s the chipset. Gurman reported last summer that the iPhone 17e could use the A19 chip, the same chipset the iPhone 17 has. That would put the two devices on a similar performance footing, though it’s entirely possible Apple will use a slightly lower-powered binned version of the A19 in the 17e to keep costs in check.
Speaking of cost, the iPhone 17e is rumored to keep its $599 starting price. I really hope that’s true. With upgrades like MagSafe and Dynamic Island potentially on board, $599 would feel a lot more justified than it did with last year’s 16e.
MacBook Pro and MacBook Air refreshes
More M5 versions are rumored
Next up are refreshes for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. In October, Apple introduced the M5 MacBook Pro, but one of the big things missing from that launch was the M5 Pro and M5 Max versions. Given it’s been over four months since the M5 MacBook Pro came out, the M5 Pro and M5 Max seem long overdue at this point. Gurman believes these will be revealed at the Apple event next week, but if they don’t, they’ll definitely come sometime this spring.
Additionally, the M5 MacBook Air could be revealed next week. Apple last updated the MacBook Air in March last year with the M4 version, so it would make sense to unveil an M5 refresh really soon. The design of the MacBook Air won’t change at all, so again, this is just a straightforward refresh and nothing too exciting.
iPad Air and iPad refreshes
More chipset changes
There’s also a chance of seeing new iPads next week, with Apple possibly refreshing the iPad Air and the entry-level iPad.
Both refreshes are expected to be straightforward, with the iPad Air moving to the M4 chipset and the entry-level iPad to the A18 chipset.
Apple refreshed the iPad Air with an M3 chip and the entry-level iPad with an A16 chip last March, so a simple iPad refresh again this March would make sense.
If the entry-level iPad does get an A18 chipset upgrade, it would make it compatible with Apple Intelligence for the first time, just in time for the launch of the new Siri later this year.
Other potential reveals and my thoughts
A new Mac Studio Display could be coming
There are a couple of other products that could be revealed at Apple’s event next week, but the chances are much slimmer, according to Gurman, who says they might be “overkill” for this event.
These products include a refreshed Mac Studio desktop and new Mac Studio Displays. Gurman says the new Studio Displays are “ready to ship,” and the Mac Studio is also close to being ready, which is why they could be revealed next week. However, given how many other products Apple has to launch, there’s a strong possibility these could be delayed until later.
It’s worth noting that Gurman also reports that stock of the iPhone 16e, M4 iPad Air, M4 MacBook Air, and the M4 Pro/M4 Max MacBook is running low at Apple retail stores, which is usually a telltale sign that they’ll soon be replaced with newer versions.
Overall, I’m quite excited to see everything Apple has in store next week. While many of its reveals could be simple refreshes, like the iPad Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air, I think the low-cost MacBook and iPhone 17e will be enough to make the event much more interesting. In particular, I’m excited to see exactly what the new low-cost MacBook will look like and how much it will cost, as it could upend the laptop market. I also have my fingers crossed that some of the rumors about the iPhone 17e turn out to be true, as I think MagSafe and Dynamic Island would be two huge upgrades for the phone and make it a lot more appealing to those on a budget.
