March Madness: This is what Apple is preparing to launch

With Apple’s March 4th experience, the rumor mill is in full swing. These are the top candidates — and candidates — for what Apple will launch and then “experience” at the March 4th demo.

It looks like the Apple Experience on March 4th won’t be an actual launch of new products in Apple’s catalog, but will instead wrap up several announcements throughout the week. This gives Apple plenty of opportunity to promote more items.

With a wide range of rumored devices, including many expected to launch in early 2026, it certainly needs the opportunity. But as always, some have a better chance of appearing than others.

And there are some that are yet to come. Here’s what we expect to see very soon.

Best candidate – iPhone 17e

One of the top two items that is a dead certainty for a March launch is the iPhone 17e. It’s often said to be part of Apple’s strategy to expand iPhone launches to twice a year and as part of the now annual update cycle for its budget iPhone model.

The rumor mill firmly believes that it will be a classic spec-bump update. This means the use of a 6.1-inch 60Hz OLED screen and similar styling to the previous model.

Of the changes to the model, the most certain is the move to the A19 processor used in the iPhone 17. That, and the use of the latest versions of Apple’s own cellular and wireless chips.

The model also gets MagSafe, which the iPhone 16e did not have. This change opens up the iPhone 17e to the world of pre-existing MagSafe accessories, including chargers and wallets.

The dreaded notch is also being discussed. Some leakers believe it will finally leave the notch in favor of the smarter Dynamic Island.

As for the price, the current expectation is $599.

Very likely – Budget MacBook

The next item on the most likely list is a cheap MacBook. The third category in the line of portable Macs, it will be a new budget-focused option, cheaper than the MacBook Air.

An early spring MacBook launch is ideal for Apple. His appearance in March would not be surprising at this stage.

A big focus of the model will be its chip, as the rumor mill inside will feature an iPhone-class chip instead of Apple’s M-series silicon. This could take the form of the A15 or A18 Pro, as both have reportedly been undergoing testing.

As you’d expect, Apple will cut costs where it can make the model cheaper, but that obviously won’t be on the cover. One late rumor said it would still have an aluminum skin, with improvements to the manufacturing process saving costs instead of changing the material.

This cloak will differ from its stablemates by having a more colorful appearance. Instead of the work-friendly colors of the current MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, yellow, green, blue and pink are among those tested.

Sporting a 13-inch display, it will come with a very attractive price tag for potential Switchers, perhaps around $699 to $750.

Very likely – MacBook Pro and MacBook Air

Another MacBook-related launch that represents a good change is also one that is already widely anticipated.

Apple has so far launched the 14-inch MacBook Pro M5, but has yet to actually migrate to the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. They usually launch these chip levels a few months after the base version, so the March launch correlates with that.

There were also reports of a launch in the first week of March. There was talk of a February launch, but also that it was postponed to the following month.

As for what these models will have, don’t expect any real external changes to the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro lines. Instead, the focus will be on upgrading to the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.

You’ll be waiting a long time to play with the OLED model, which will have a much more visible change.

In a similar vein, the MacBook Air usually gets an update around the same time as the MacBook Pro. There is also speculation of an update in early 2026, possibly alongside the Pro models.

Good luck – iPad Air

Apple last updated the iPad Air in March 2025. With a launch expected in March 2026, this is prime time for an annual upgrade.

It also helps that a code leak in December revealed that an updated model is on the way, with updates that align with the March timeline. Reduced inventory isn’t a great indicator, but it helps.

As for what could be improved, don’t expect anything more than a spec-bump update that moves from the M3 chip to the M4.

Reasonable Happiness – iPad

Like the iPad Air, there are relatively few rumors circulating about an update to the base iPad. Again, it updates very regularly, and the last update was in March 2025, again lending itself to an annual update cycle.

However, the same December code leak pointed to one being on the way. One includes the A19 chip update.

We’re at a stage with the iPad where we can speculate that a launch will happen, even if it’s not being talked about. But at the same time, it’s less of a focus for Apple and could easily be shelved to make room for other products.

However, the leak certainly helped narrow down the timing.

Unlikely – Mac Studio and Mac mini

We’ve combined Mac Studio and Mac mini here because their reputations are relatively similar. That and Apple will consider releasing updates for them at the same time.

There’s also an assumption that desktop Macs will get an update at the same time as the portable versions, especially if it’s a chip update.

However, a macOS Tahoe leak from October suggested that the Mac mini and Mac Studio will arrive later in summer 2026 instead of March.

For Apple, it would have prevented its March launch while keeping the focus on its lucrative portable line. Coming to coincide with WWDC will also be a bit of a nod to developers.

As for what will change, there will be upgrades to the M5, including the M5 Pro on the Mac mini and at least the M5 Max on the Mac Studio. The M5 Ultra remains to be seen.

Late to the Party – Apple Studio Display

An Apple Studio Display update has been on the cards for a while now, but it won’t arrive at the March event.

In February, it was reported as one of the devices arriving not long after the Mac Spring Update. That means he won’t be appearing during March Madness.

Rumors so far have included claims of codenames like J427 and J527, the use of Mini LED backlights instead of LEDs, and an increase in resolution to 6K or 7K. There were also suggestions that it would range from 27 inches to 32 inches.

Using two codenames, this means that two different sizes of Apple Studio Display are on the way. Just not with other Macs.

Nope – Apple’s long-heralded Home Hub

A long-running buzz topic has been a greater push for smart home automation. This has emerged mainly as a smart home display, something we’ve labeled the “Home Hub”.

Mentioned in code links in an internal build of iOS 26, it will be accompanied by a second home device, a smart camera with Face ID support.

The idea behind the Home Hub is that it’s a tablet-like device that acts as your main access point to your smart home devices. Equipped with a camera and powered by Apple Intelligence technology, it should be able to detect alarm sounds and use multiple sensors to manage home devices.

Both are good choices for a 2026 appearance, but it’s an ice cube’s chance of survival in a furnace deep in Texas that will appear during the March launch. Not least because it’s a significant enough product concept that it needs a much bigger launch than a press release.