Apple event announced in New York for March 4 — iPhone 17e, first cheap MacBook and more

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Here's what to expect

apple event march 4 2026 invitation
(Image credit: Apple)

Apple just announced that another Apple event will be happening on March 4, and it'll no doubt be where Apple lifts the lid on all the products we've been hearing rumors about over the past few weeks. Including the likes of the iPhone 17e, a bunch of new MacBook models, new iPads and possibly even some new Mac displays.

As is typical for Apple, the company hasn't given us any official information on what to expect. All we have to go from is an invitation for the event, featuring a stylized version of Apple's logo.

iPhone 17e

iPhone 17e concept render by AorS Mobile

(Image credit: AorS Mobile / YouTube)

Apple's "cheap" iPhone was initially rumored to arrive before the end of February, but it's far more likely Apple will unveil everything during the March 4 event instead. The main thing to remember about the phone is that it's expected to look more or less the same as the iPhone 16e — which itself looks like an iPhone 14.

The changes sound like they're on the inside, with reports suggesting that the phone will come with the same A19 chipset as the iPhone 17 alongside the new C1X modem and N1 wireless chip. These are all expected to offer better performance and energy efficiency, which likely means superior battery life. MagSafe is also expected to debut, offering a major boost to the phone's wireless charging capabilities with reported speeds of 25W.

Pricing is expected to stay the same as the iPhone 16e, though, so be prepared to pay up at last $599.

A cheap A18 MacBook

Two people standing around a MacBook. The person on the right of the image is holding an iPhone in their left hand

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

"Cheap" isn't exactly something we'd associate with the MacBook range, but rumors insist Apple is working on a lower cost MacBook model powered by the A18 Pro chipset. That's the same chip as the iPhone 16 Pro, and will reportedly help to keep the starting price as low as $599.

Other rumored specs include a 12.9-inch display, while the ability to run Apple intelligence suggests we may see as much as 16GB of RAM included. There's still a lot we don't actually know, but we suspect the laptop will be rather stripped down compared to typical Mac hardware.

Though, it should still be a good daily-use machine for people who don't need super-process-heavy software that would be better suited with an M5-powered machine.

More M5 MacBooks

MacBook Pro 2021

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The A18 MacBook probably won't be alone, and this event is the perfect time for Apple to do its usual early-year Mac refresh. That means seeing the MacBook Air M5 the M4 chip for a shiny new chip, while a bunch of new MacBook Pros will arrive sporting the still-unannounced M5 Pro and M5 Max chipsets. For those of you who need more power and performance than the regular M5 can actually offer.

We're not expecting any major design refreshes this year, so expect this update to be all about internals and performance. However, we've also heard reports that Apple could unveil a new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, alongside a Studio Display 2, at some point in the near future. But there have been reports from Mark Gurman that these may launch shortly after the new MacBook line-up.

New iPads

Person holding the iPad 11 with the home screen on display outside in front of a bush

(Image credit: Future / Tom's Guide)

Also rumored to be on the agenda are the next wave of iPads, notably the iPad 12 and the M4 iPad Air. Speculation suggests that the iPad 12 will finally see Apple Intelligence come to the low-cost tablet, though rumors seem undecided about whether it will be powered by the A19 chipset or the older A18.

The M4 iPad Air will likely, unsurprisingly, come with the M4 chipset, and possibly the new N1 wireless chip too. That means better connectivity and improved performance — alongside whatever other upgrades Apple throws into the mix.

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Tom Pritchard
Tom Pritchard
UK Phones Editor

Tom is the Tom's Guide's UK Phones Editor, tackling the latest smartphone news and vocally expressing his opinions about upcoming features or changes. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining about how terrible his Smart TV is.

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