Locator: 49990APPLE.
Is Apple pivoting toward adding lower cost, playful color and mass appeal to its growing stable?
Is it unusual for Apple to hold events in March?
According to Google:
- not unusual, but,
- the March 4, 2026, "Special Apple Experience" is notable:
- hands-on,
- multi-city (New York, London, Shanghai
- rather than a traditional, streamed, boring, keynote from Cupertino
- spring (March/April) is a regular part of Apple's annual event cycle
- often focuses on education, iPads or new accessories
Expect a lot:
- well-known journalist Joanna Stern was specifically invited to attend
Disclaimer: definitely go to the links to fact-check. It is very easy for me to get confused with all the Apple products and specs.
Expectations:
- three biggies:
- one: new entry-level iPad; important details at MacRumors, link here.
- iPad 12
- A18 chip: a full two-generation leap in Apple silicon
- Apple Intelligence capability
- Apple AI -- varies with hardware (different than Google Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT
- on the company's most affordable tablet for the first time ever
- second biggie: will likely introduce a new lower-cost colorful MacBook Air with iPhone chip
- four possible colors: yellow, green, blue and pink
- a third biggie: an iPhone 17e
- successor to the iPhone 16e with four key upgrades
- MagSafe
- an A19 chip
- a C1X modem for faster 5G
- an N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7.
Summary:
- an A18 M4 iPad: completes AI hardware rollout
- an M4 iPad Air;
- low-cost, colorful MacBook?
- an M5 MacBook Air
These two would be significant upgrades for me:
- the M4 iPad Air, although my very old iPad Pro continues to meet my needs;
- the M5 MacBook Air -- the only reason I need a new MacBook Air -- my keyboard has some poorly functioning keys
For Sophia:
- the entry level, colorful MacBook Air is interesting but I'm afraid she wouldn't use it much;
- she has a school-provided laptop; and,
- prefers her mini-iPad at home
For Arianna:
- would Arianna have fun with a colorful MacBook?