Apple's March 4, 2026 'experience' event: what to expect from New York, London, and Shanghai

Apple has announced an upcoming "experience" on March 4, 2026, with venues in New York, London, and Shanghai. The company remains tight-lipped about what will be unveiled, offering no specifics in the invitation itself. Here’s what insiders and analysts, including Mark Gurman, anticipate for the event—likely a mix of online announcements and hands-on previews across the three locations.

1. MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips There’s been growing chatter about new MacBook Pro models powered by a fresh generation of Apple silicon. Gurman has suggested these laptops could bow in the first week of March, a match for the scheduled event. Observers note that the current M4 Max allocations are already delayed as Apple clears stock for the new lineup. The big question is whether the M5 Pro and M5 Max will share a common base silicon, with the Max acting as the higher-binned option and the Pro a lower-binned variant. If true, buyers may gain more customization options for their high-end machines.

2. A cheaper MacBook with A18 chip Another major headline in play is a more affordable MacBook that could ride on an A18 Pro CPU, trimmed to 8GB of RAM. Such a model would challenge Apple’s recent 16GB baseline for Macs and could land at about $699–$799 in the US. Rumors suggest shipments could reach 5–8 million units, signaling a bold push into the budget segment. The invite’s color palette—light green, blue, and yellow—has been pointed to as a hint, since it mirrors the hues seen on prototype affordable MacBooks. Whether that color cue is meaningful or just a coincidence remains to be seen.

3. iPhone 17e Ahead of the event, chatter about a mid-range iPhone 17e continues. The expected core upgrade is a jump from the A18 to the A19 chip, which should offer a smoother user experience and snappier performance. MagSafe support could also appear as a welcome addition. Pricing is anticipated to stay steady at about $599 / £599 / AU$999, which would keep the model appealing amid broader RAM and storage pressures in the market.

4. iPad Air (8th-gen) Apple is also tipped to refresh the iPad Air with a new chip—shifting from the M3 to the M4. A more powerful Air at a similar form factor could be a meaningful bump for portability and speed, reinforcing Apple’s ongoing emphasis on AI-powered features and responsiveness.

5. iPad (12th-gen) Alongside the Air, a new iPad entry—likely the 12th generation—may debut, again focusing on a processor upgrade from the A16 to the A18. This could bring AI features into the iPad experience, aligning with Apple’s broader push into on-device intelligence. If accurate, it would be a modest upgrade rather than a dramatic redesign.

What we’re less likely to see (though not guaranteed)

• A revamped Studio Display or Mac Studio refresh, which has been floated for the first half of 2026 but isn’t strongly positioned as a primary feature for this event.
• The MacBook Air M5, another rumored sibling in the MacBook family, though many expect the focus to be on a tighter set of launches.
• A new Apple TV—while some hope is high for software/ecosystem teasers, a hardware reveal seems unlikely at this stage.
• A major Siri or AI overhaul taking center stage, though there may be teaser discussions or demonstrations aligning with the broader AI narrative.

Stay tuned for updates as Gurman and TechRadar continue to track these rumors. If you want ongoing coverage, consider following our reports and social channels for quick reactions, hands-on impressions, and practical analysis once the event unfolds.