Apple’s March 4 Event: New Macs and iPads Expected
▼ Summary
– Apple has announced a “Special Apple Experience” event scheduled for March 4, though the company has not officially revealed the specific announcements.
– The event will be covered live from New York City, starting at 9AM ET on that date.
– A likely announcement is the iPhone 17e, a budget-oriented phone featuring an A19 chip and potentially MagSafe charging.
– The iPhone 17e is not expected to have a multi-camera array like more expensive models.
– The phone’s pricing will be a key detail, as current non-Pro iPhones are priced between $600 and $800.
Apple has officially scheduled a special event for March 4th, sparking widespread anticipation for potential hardware refreshes. The company’s invitation, promising a “Special Apple Experience,” follows its traditional pattern of revealing little ahead of the official unveiling. Industry analysts and supply chain reports, however, strongly suggest the spotlight will fall on updated Macs and iPads, potentially offering consumers compelling reasons to upgrade older devices.
The event is set to begin at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. While Apple maintains a flexible release schedule for most products, recent speculation provides clear direction. The most anticipated announcements are expected to be new iPad Air and iPad Pro models, alongside refreshed MacBook Air laptops featuring the next generation of Apple silicon processors. These updates would address product lines that have seen longer gaps since their last revisions, making them prime candidates for a spring launch.
Beyond the core Mac and iPad families, there is also chatter about the potential introduction of a new budget-friendly iPhone model. This device, possibly branded as the iPhone 17e, would serve as an updated successor to previous ‘e’ models, targeting the value segment of the market. It is rumored to incorporate an A19 chip, bringing performance parity with the standard iPhone 17, and could introduce MagSafe charging to this more affordable tier. The design, however, is likely to remain simple, forgoing the advanced multi-camera systems found on Pro models.
For any new budget iPhone, pricing will be the critical factor to watch. The current non-Pro iPhone lineup, including previous ‘e’ variants, occupies a price band between approximately $600 and $800. Another entry at the familiar $599 point may not generate significant excitement. A more aggressive price strategy could be necessary to make a substantial impact in a competitive market. The March 4th event will ultimately reveal Apple’s strategy for energizing its ecosystem in the first major product launch of the year.
(Source: Ars Technica)
