Apple’s Early 2026 Hardware Push: What to Expect

Apple is preparing for a significant hardware launch event, potentially as early as the week of March 2, 2026, with in-person events planned in New York, London, and Shanghai on March 4th at 9 a.m. ET. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the company is gearing up to unveil a range of new products, signaling what could be Apple’s most hardware-heavy early-year event in recent years.

iPhone 17e: An Affordable Upgrade

Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 17e, a successor to last year’s iPhone 16e, maintaining the $599 price point. The new model will feature the A19 chip and MagSafe compatibility. However, Macworld suggests the A19 chip may be a “binned” version, potentially with slightly fewer GPU cores than the flagship iPhone 17, alongside 8GB of RAM and possible storage upgrades. Macworld

Entry-Level iPad (12th Generation): Apple Intelligence Comes to the Base Model

The base iPad is slated to receive an upgrade to the A18 chip, enabling Apple Intelligence features on Apple’s most affordable tablet. Design changes are not anticipated.

iPad Air (8th Generation): Closing the Performance Gap

Gurman reports the iPad Air will be equipped with the M4 chip, narrowing the performance difference between the iPad Air and iPad Pro models. This move aligns with Apple’s strategy of standardizing its silicon lineup. Bloomberg

MacBook Pro (M5): Power and Performance Updates

Updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models powered by M5-class chips are also on the horizon. Tightened supply of current models often indicates impending refreshes. Bloomberg

A Sub-$1,000 MacBook: A New Entry Point

Perhaps the most intriguing potential launch is a new MacBook priced under $1,000. This model will be powered by an iPhone-class chip, rather than an M-series processor, and will feature an aluminum chassis—a departure from typical plastic construction at this price point. This is made possible by a new manufacturing process that reduces production costs. Bloomberg

The display is expected to be slightly under 13 inches, with Apple testing color options geared towards students and enterprise buyers. Mashable

Mark Gurman: Apple’s Reliable Source

The information regarding these upcoming products comes primarily from Mark Gurman, a tech reporter for Bloomberg. Gurman has a long-standing reputation for accurate reporting on Apple’s product plans, with his claims frequently setting expectations for upcoming releases. MacRumors He began his career writing for 9to5Mac while in high school and joined Bloomberg News in 2016 after graduating from the University of Michigan School of Information. Wikipedia

Even if not all of these products are unveiled on March 4th, the event promises to be a significant one for Apple, showcasing a diverse range of hardware updates and potentially introducing a new, more affordable MacBook option.