After a relatively quiet start to the new year, Apple is about to make some noise. The company has sent invitations to select members of the media for a “special Apple Experience” taking place simultaneously in New York, London, and Shanghai on March 4, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET. And if the rumor mill is any indication, the weeks surrounding that date could mark one of the busiest product launch stretches Apple has seen in years.
The invitation itself is notably understated—it features a striking 3D Apple logo design composed of yellow, green, and blue discs, with no further description beyond the phrase “special Apple Experience.”
Unlike the company’s full-scale, live-streamed keynotes held at Apple Park, this gathering is expected to be a more intimate, hands-on affair, giving invited press the opportunity to get up close with new hardware in three major global cities at once. The multi-city, hands-on format strongly suggests Apple plans to put physical products in journalists’ hands that day — something that would reinforce a wave of new product announcements believed to be imminent.
What Apple Is Likely to Announce
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has a strong track record on Apple leaks, reported this week that Apple is preparing to launch more than five new products over the course of the next several weeks. Here’s a breakdown of what’s reportedly in the pipeline.
A New Low-Cost MacBook
Perhaps the most intriguing entry on the list is a brand-new low-cost MacBook—a category Apple hasn’t offered since the original MacBook line was discontinued years ago. This machine is said to feature a display slightly smaller than 13 inches and will reportedly come in a range of eye-catching colors, reminiscent of the colorful iMac lineup. (The yellow, green, and blue discs on the March 4 invitation may hint at the color options for this machine.)
Under the hood, it would run Apple’s A18 Pro chip, bringing desktop-class Apple Silicon performance to an accessible price point.
M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro
Gurman also reports that updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models powered by the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are on the way. These would follow the base M5 MacBook Pro that launched last fall, rounding out the M5 MacBook Pro lineup. The updates are expected to be primarily a processor upgrade without significant changes to the design or display—but for power users who’ve been waiting to pull the trigger, M5 Pro and Max performance should be a meaningful step forward.
M5 MacBook Air
A refreshed MacBook Air with the M5 chip is also expected to arrive soon. Like the MacBook Pro updates, this is anticipated to be more of a spec-bump release without major design changes.
New Mac Display(s)
Apple is also reportedly working on at least one new external display. The current Studio Display hasn’t seen a refresh in years, and the new model is said to bring a higher refresh rate and improved picture quality. External displays are a category Apple has historically been slow to update, so a new Studio Display would be welcome news for Mac users who rely on quality external monitors for creative and professional work.
iPhone 17e
Beyond Macs, Apple is also preparing to launch the iPhone 17e, a follow-up to last year’s iPhone 16e. Inventory of the 16e has reportedly dried up at retail, signaling the transition is imminent. The 17e is expected to bring the familiar budget-friendly positioning with updated internals, and it may finally gain a Dynamic Island in place of the traditional notch.
New iPad and M4 iPad Air
Rounding out the potential product wave are tablet updates: a 12th-generation base iPad and an M4 iPad Air are both said to be arriving in the coming weeks. Like the 16e, inventory of the current iPad Air has been seeing shortages.
Possible Wildcards: New Siri, Apple TV and HomePod mini
There’s also the possibility that we get a preview of the new Google Gemini-powered Siri, though there are now reports that this project has seen delays. A new Apple TV and refreshed HomePod mini could also be part of this Spring-time product push. A new Apple TV with a more modern chip and Apple Intelligence support has long been rumored, and a HomePod mini update with faster chips and new colors would be a welcome addition for smart home enthusiasts. But it’s hard to imagine these products launching before we receive the new and improved Siri since both would be heavily tied to receiving improved Home and Siri integration.
