Beginning Monday, significant product announcements from Apple are anticipated. CEO Tim Cook has hinted at an exciting week, tagging it with “Apple Launch.” Media events have been arranged for March 4 in New York, Shanghai, and London. Products expected to be revealed include the iPhone 17e, a brand-new affordable MacBook, along with minor updates for both the Mac and iPad product lines.
Affordable MacBook
Speculation surrounding the new MacBook suggests a design reminiscent of the MacBook Air, featuring an aluminum body available in multiple colors and either a 12.9-inch or 13-inch screen. This lightweight model is expected to have a low-power A-series chip, potentially echoing the design of Apple’s former 12-inch MacBook, noted for its thin profile.
Potential Features
The budget MacBook may forego some typical features to keep costs down, such as lower maximum display brightness, absence of True Tone support, and slower SSD speeds. It might also come in fun color options, with analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo predicting colors like yellow, green, blue, pink, silver, and gray.
iPhone 17e
The anticipated iPhone 17e will follow the iPhone 16e, bringing notable enhancements. This model is expected to maintain the 6.1-inch screen size and single-lens camera, while potentially adopting a Dynamic Island design, replacing the notch seen in previous models, although this is still speculative.
Performance Specifications
Powered by the new A19 chip, which uses a refined 3-nanometer process, the iPhone 17e is anticipated to feature better performance than its predecessor. It will likely include 8GB of RAM, support for MagSafe charging, and potentially an enhanced camera setup, although no major upgrades are expected in this area.
iPad Air & Accessories
The iPad Air will see an upgrade to the M4 chip, enhancing performance while keeping the same design. Expect no changes in size or display technology, as the model remains slightly thicker than the iPad Pro. New color variants might be introduced, but other specifications are likely to remain unchanged.
Updated Low-Cost iPad
The low-cost iPad will receive a chip upgrade, with the possibility of using either an A18 or A19 chip. This revision signifies a major update, as it will introduce support for Apple Intelligence. Design-wise, it will maintain the current look, but may come in multiple fun colors while retaining features like a USB-C port, alongside compatibility with the Apple Pencil.
Event Coverage
While Apple is not hosting a traditional launch event, multiple product announcements are expected to be shared via press releases on March 4. MacRumors will provide extensive coverage and hands-on evaluations of the new offerings, starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
