Apple is finally kicking off 2026 with what looks like a deluge of announcements. Eschewing the traditional, high-theatricality keynote at Apple Park, the tech giant is reportedly moving toward a staggered rollout starting March 2nd, culminating in a “Special Apple Experience” across New York, London, and Shanghai on March 4th.
The Budget MacBook and the iPhone 17e
The most talked-about rumor is the arrival of a truly affordable MacBook. Positioned to compete with Chromebooks and Windows laptops, this new entry-point Mac is rumored to feature a 12.9-inch LCD and, interestingly, an iPhone-class A18 Pro chip rather than an M-series silicon. If the rumored $500–$600 price point holds, it could be a massive play for the education and student market.
Accompanying it will likely be the iPhone 17e. Following last year’s successful e series launch, this model is expected to pack the latest A19 chip and finally bring MagSafe to the entry-level lineup.
Power User Refreshes: Pro and Air
For those who need more muscle, the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are both slated for updates. The Pros are expected to move to the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, while the Air will jump to the M5. While we aren’t expecting major design overhauls, the performance gains in neural processing will be the key selling point as iOS 26.4 and new Siri features loom.
iPads and the AI Factor
The iPad lineup isn’t being ignored either. We expect to see an M4-powered iPad Air and a 12th-gen entry-level iPad with an A18 chip. However, the real hero of the event might be software. iOS 26.4 is rumored to debut with a significantly smarter Siri, reportedly bolstered by a billion-dollar deal to integrate Google Gemini.
We will report on all these over the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned.
