Apple’s doing that thing again where they send out vague invitations and expect everyone to lose their minds. This time it’s a “Special Apple Experience” on March 4 at 9AM ET in New York City. They won’t say what they’re announcing, naturally, because mystery is apparently part of the brand identity at this point.
But the rumor mill has been working overtime, and we’ve got a pretty decent picture of what’s coming. The question isn’t really what Apple will announce. It’s whether any of it matters.
The Budget iPhone That Might Not Be Budget Enough
The iPhone 17e is supposedly making its debut, and it’s being positioned as the budget option. It’ll pack an A19 chip, which is the same one in the base iPhone 17, and might finally get MagSafe charging. That’s nice and all, but here’s the problem: Apple already has too many phones in the $600-800 range.
The iPhone 16, the iPhone 17, and the existing 16e all cluster in that price bracket. If Apple drops the 17e at $599, what’s the point? That’s not a budget phone. That’s just another mid-tier option in an already crowded lineup. The Technology space is competitive enough without Apple cannibalizing its own products.
And don’t expect multiple cameras. This is Apple we’re talking about. They’ll strip out just enough features to make you wonder if you should’ve spent the extra hundred bucks.
iPads Getting Boring Chip Bumps
Speaking of uninspiring updates, the iPad lineup might get refreshed too. A base model with an A18 chip and an M4-powered iPad Air are on the table. But here’s the thing about these updates: they’re basically just processor swaps.
Apple loves to disable CPU and GPU cores on their lower-end iPad chips anyway, so you might not even notice the difference unless you’re running benchmarks for fun. If you’ve got a recent iPad, you’re probably fine skipping this generation entirely. The marginal improvements aren’t going to revolutionize your Netflix watching experience.
The MacBook Pro Updates People Actually Want
Now we’re getting somewhere. The MacBook Pro line has been stuck in an awkward spot since last fall. Apple dropped a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip but left everyone who needs actual power hanging. No M5 Pro. No M5 Max. Just radio silence for the professionals who actually push these machines hard.
The rumors now point to both 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros getting the M5 Pro and M5 Max treatment. That’s what people have been waiting for. Video editors, developers, and anyone doing serious work on these laptops has been stuck on M4-based machines for months. This is the upgrade path that should’ve existed from day one.
For those who don’t need that much horsepower, there’s supposedly a cheaper MacBook with an A18 Pro chip coming, plus an M5-powered MacBook Air. That Air update actually makes sense. The Air line is popular enough that a chip bump will matter to the Business crowd who want something portable but capable.
What’s Actually Worth Your Money
Let’s be honest here. Most of these updates are iterative at best. Apple’s event will probably generate headlines and buzz, but that doesn’t mean you need to upgrade. If you’ve got a Mac from the last couple of years, you’re fine. If your iPad still works, keep using it.
The MacBook Pro updates are the only announcements that feel genuinely necessary. Apple created their own problem by launching the M5 without Pro and Max variants, and now they’re fixing it. Everyone else is just getting minor spec bumps dressed up as innovation.
The whole event feels very Apple in 2026: polished, professional, and just a little bit unnecessary. We’ll know for sure on March 4 what they’ve been cooking up, but don’t be shocked if it’s just reheated leftovers with a new chip sprinkled on top.
