Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Macworld reports that Apple’s March 4 event will be a “special experience” across New York, London and Shanghai, featuring hands-on sessions rather than a traditional keynote.
- The color invite hints at a new sub-$1,000 budget MacBook with an iPhone processor potentially available in fun colors.
- Other expected releases include the iPhone 17e, the new iPad Air models, the entry-level iPad, and the M5 MacBook Air/Pro variants.
It seems like every week there’s a new rumor about when Apple’s first major product will arrive (sorry, AirTag 2), and it looks like we might finally have a firm date. This morning, Apple is sending out invitations to a “special Apple experience” on March 4 at 9 a.m. ET.
Apple generally holds product launches at 1pm ET at its headquarters in Cupertino, so this is definitely a unique event. So far, there will be at least three events in New York, London and Shanghai, all coordinated to take place at the same time. It doesn’t appear to have a major note attached to it, but Apple is known to launch new products online around that time.
The invitation features a stylized Apple logo with three colors: yellow, green and a bit of blue at the bottom. Just this week, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported on a new budget MacBook in “fun colors,” so that could be the link. The new machine is expected to use an iPhone processor and cost significantly less than $1,000.
Along with the new Macs, several products are said to be launching soon, including the iPhone 17e, iPad Air, entry-level iPad, M5 MacBook Air, and M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro. Some of these products could arrive in the weeks leading up to the event.
The use of the word “experience” means that the event will be an extended hands-on session with new products rather than a keynote. Apple recently held a similar “experience” in Los Angeles to showcase its new Creator Studio, and has held similar events over the years to promote new products. It is possible that this event will introduce several new products that have been released in the days and weeks leading up to March 4th.
It’s unclear why Apple would choose to showcase new products this way, but it’s possible that there are too many announcements in 2026 to hold events for everyone. Among the products expected to arrive in early March, Apple also has a new smart home hub, a foldable iPhone and a touchscreen MacBook rumored to arrive later this year.