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Low-Cost MacBook
Rumors astir the MacBook's plan marque it dependable a batch similar the MacBook Air. It volition person an aluminum chassis successful a scope of colors, and a 12.9-inch oregon 13-inch display, depending connected the rumor.
It's imaginable the low-cost MacBook volition person a bladed and airy plan due to the fact that it's going to usage a little powerfulness A-series spot that doesn't necessitate a batch of vigor dissipation, but that's not yet confirmed. Apple utilized to person a 12-inch MacBook with a bladed plan and a low-power Core M chip, and it's been suggested that this caller MacBook could beryllium thing of a revival of that machine.
Thinner and lighter typically means much costly with Apple products, truthful a ace slim plan mightiness not beryllium what Apple is optimizing for. Making the low-cost MacBook thinner than the MacBook Air could conscionable confuse the MacBook lineup.
With the low-cost iPad, Apple keeps the terms down by utilizing older show exertion that's not arsenic thin, truthful we could spot that aforesaid strategy with the low-cost MacBook. A thicker chassis and a ace businesslike spot could mean a agelong artillery life, which would beryllium perfect for an acquisition environment.
The low-cost MacBook is expected to have little max show brightness, nary True Tone support, nary backlit keyboard, slower SSD speeds, and nary N1 chip.
Colors
The MacBook is going to travel successful a selection of amusive colors, and Apple has tested airy yellow, airy green, blue, pink, silver, and acheronian gray, according to Bloomberg. Not each of those colors are apt to ship, but it sounds similar we'll get astatine slightest 4 of them.
Apple expert Ming-Chi Kuo thinks the MacBook volition travel successful yellow, silver, blue, and pink, which would beryllium the aforesaid colors that Apple offers for the iPad.
A18 Pro Chip
The astir accordant rumor we've heard astir the MacBook is its planned chip. Rather than an M-series Mac chip, Apple is readying to usage an A-series chip. The low-cost MacBook is expected to usage the A18 Pro chip, which Apple archetypal debuted successful the iPhone 16 Pro.
The A18 Pro uses a second-generation 3-nanometer process. It has a 6-core CPU with 4 show cores and 2 ratio cores, on with a 6-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine for AI-based tasks. In Geekbench benchmarks, the A18 Pro has an mean single-core people of 3451, and a multi-core people of 8572. For comparison, the M4 iPad Pro earns a single-core people of 3694 and a multi-core people of 13732 (Apple's adjacent MacBook Air is going to usage the M4 chip).
The A18 Pro outperforms the M1, which is the spot that Apple kept astir successful a lower-cost mentation of the MacBook Air for respective years. An A18 MacBook wouldn't beryllium excessively acold disconnected from the M4 Mac/iPad chips successful presumption of single-core performance, but determination would beryllium a quality successful multi-core performance.
A MacBook with the A18 spot would beryllium much than almighty capable for day-to-day usage similar web browsing, papers creation, watching videos, and adjacent airy photograph and video editing. It won't beryllium perfect for system-intensive games oregon tasks similar 4K video editing and 3D rendering, but it volition bash astir everything an iPhone oregon iPad tin do.
Apple is processing the low-cost MacBook with students successful mind, and it sounds similar it volition beryllium the Apple equivalent of the affordable Chromebook PCs that are often utilized by students.
RAM
Macs commencement with 16GB RAM, but the iPhone 16 Pro has 8GB RAM, the minimum for Apple Intelligence. We tin expect an A18 Pro MacBook to person astatine slightest 8GB RAM truthful it tin enactment Apple Intelligence, but it's imaginable Apple volition springiness it the 16GB that each Macs have.
Storage
The MacBook Air starts with 256GB of storage, but Apple could perchance motorboat the low-cost MacBook with 128GB.
Ports
The A18 Pro spot successful the iPhone 16 Pro models doesn't enactment Thunderbolt, truthful the MacBook volition beryllium constricted to USB-C (10GB/s) and won't connection Thunderbolt speeds. That volition bounds show connectivity, truthful it's apt the A18 Pro MacBook volition lone enactment a azygous outer display.
Price
Pricing connected the MacBook Air starts astatine $999, and the low-cost MacBook is expected to beryllium priced overmuch lower.
Apple astir apt won't privation to undercut its iPad pricing by excessively much. The low-cost iPad with A16 spot starts astatine $349, and the iPad Air with M2 spot starts astatine $599. A terms betwixt $599 and $799 could marque the astir consciousness due to the fact that it wouldn't beryllium arsenic costly arsenic the MacBook Air oregon iPad Pro, but would travel successful astatine oregon conscionable implicit the iPad Air's cost.
$599 would beryllium connected par with immoderate of the highly rated Chromebook options that radical often acquisition for schoolhouse use, portion a $699 oregon $799 terms would beryllium successful the aforesaid wide pricing area, but a small much of a premium terms tag. $599 is besides the outgo of the iPhone 16e, Apple's astir affordable iPhone that uses a somewhat little almighty A18 chip.
iPhone 17e
The iPhone 16e that came retired successful February 2025 is owed for a refresh. The iPhone 17e is getting immoderate utile upgrades implicit the iPhone 16e that volition marque it adjacent much worthy the acquisition price.
Design
The iPhone 17e volition look a batch similar the iPhone 16e, featuring the aforesaid 6.1-inch show size, single-lens rear camera, and achromatic and achromatic colour options.
Display
The iPhone 17e is expected to diagnostic the aforesaid show sheet arsenic the iPhone 16e, which means it volition beryllium constricted to a 60Hz refresh rate. Apple brought 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates to the modular iPhone 17 successful 2025, but the aforesaid exertion is not expected for the much affordable iPhone 17e.
The iPhone 17e volition proceed to beryllium Apple's lone caller merchandise iPhone without 120Hz support.
120Hz refresh rates supply video improvements and smoother scrolling erstwhile viewing webpages.
The iPhone 16e does not person always-on show technology, and that's not apt to alteration with the iPhone 17e. To enactment always-on, the iPhone 17e would request an OLED show with 1-nit minimum brightness, which is constricted to Apple's much costly iPhones. HDR and brightness are besides lacking compared to Apple's flagship lineup.
Dynamic Island
The iPhone 16e uses the notch that Apple has eliminated successful its newer flagship iPhones, but the iPhone 17e could destruct it. Some rumors suggest that the iPhone 17e volition person a Dynamic Island alternatively of a notch, giving it an updated look.
The Dynamic Island is simply a pill-shaped cutout connected the iPhone's show that houses the TrueDepth camera strategy and the front-facing camera. It takes up little show country than the notch, and it is amended integrated into the iPhone.
While immoderate rumors bespeak we could get a Dynamic Island, different rumors suggest the iPhone 17e volition continue to usage a notch, truthful the Dynamic Island upgrade isn't a guarantee.
A19 Chip
The iPhone 17e volition usage Apple's A19 chip, which is the aforesaid spot that's successful the iPhone 17. The A19 spot is built connected an upgraded N3P 3-nanometer process, offering a 5 to 10 percent show betterment implicit the A18 chip.
Apple could beryllium readying to usage a downclocked version of the A19 spot successful the iPhone 17e, and if that's the case, its show won't rather lucifer the iPhone 17's performance.
The A18 spot that Apple utilized successful the iPhone 16e had a 4-core GPU alternatively of a 5-core GPU similar the mentation from the iPhone 16, truthful the iPhone 17e could get a akin GPU downgrade.
Aside from the improved CPU and GPU, the A19 has an updated show engine, representation awesome processor, and Neural Engine for improved AI performance. Every GPU halfway features a Neural Accelerator to boost the show of section AI models.
We are expecting the iPhone 17e to proceed to see 8GB RAM similar the iPhone 16e. Apple's different models person 12GB.
MagSafe Compatibility
The iPhone 16e does not person a magnetic ringing for MagSafe charging, but the iPhone 17e is expected to get a MagSafe upgrade.
Apple's iPhones person utilized MagSafe since the iPhone 12, truthful determination are a wide array of MagSafe cases and accessories. The iPhone 16e is not compatible with these accessories, which is simply a large limitation.
Since it doesn't person MagSafe, the iPhone 16e is constricted to 7.5W wireless charging speeds. MagSafe would upgrade that to astatine slightest 15W. The existent iPhone 17 models tin complaint astatine 25W implicit MagSafe, though the iPhone Air is constricted to 20W.
Camera
The iPhone 17e is expected to person a azygous 48-megapixel Wide Angle camera astatine the back, with nary upgrade rumored. The iPhone 16e doesn't person a Camera Control button, and there's nary motion that Apple plans to bring it to the iPhone 17e, either.
The iPhone 17 models got an upgraded 18-megapixel Center Stage front-facing camera, but rumors suggest the iPhone 17e volition proceed to usage the aforesaid 12-megapixel front-facing camera arsenic the iPhone 16e.
C1X Modem and N1 Chip
The iPhone 17e volition follow Apple's C1X modem, the modem spot that Apple archetypal debuted successful the iPhone Air. The C1X modem is faster and much businesslike than the C1 modem that Apple utilized successful the iPhone 16e.
Apple says the C1X modem is up to 2x faster than the C1, and it is acold much vigor businesslike than Qualcomm modems.
Apple could besides update the iPhone 17 models with Apple's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth "N1" networking chip, bringing velocity and ratio improvements, positive Thread support. Leaked Apple codification suggests the spot volition not beryllium included successful the iPhone 17e successful bid to support costs down, but recent rumors indicate Apple plans to see it.
Pricing
The iPhone 16e is priced starting astatine $599, and nary terms changes are expected for the iPhone 17e.
iPad Air
The iPad Air volition get a tiny refresh with a spot update, adopting the M4 chip.
Design and Display
There are nary plan changes rumored for the iPad Air, truthful we tin expect the aforesaid 11-inch and 13-inch size options.
The iPad Air is thicker and heavier than the iPad Pro, and it uses a modular LED show alternatively of OLED technology. The iPad Air volition yet beryllium upgraded to OLED, but for now, the higher-end show exertion volition stay constricted to the iPad Pro. The iPad Air besides doesn't enactment ProMotion, and there's nary motion that Apple is readying to adhd it.
The iPad Air volition proceed to diagnostic USB-C, a Touch ID apical button, and the aforesaid beforehand and rear cameras.
It's imaginable determination volition beryllium a caller colour option, but it's not guaranteed with a insignificant refresh. No caller accessories are rumored, and it volition proceed to enactment with the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil Pro.
M4 Chip
Apple has been updating the iPad Air with an M-series spot that's a procreation down the spot successful the iPad Pro. Since the iPad Pro was updated successful October 2025 with the M5, the iPad Air is acceptable to get the M4 chip.
The M3 successful the existent iPad Air and the M4 spot are some built connected a 3-nanometer process, but the M4 has an updated process that brings velocity and ratio improvements.
There are up to 10 CPU cores alternatively of 8, the Neural Engine is faster, and there's much representation bandwidth. The GPU is besides much powerfulness businesslike for imaginable artillery gains. The M4 CPU is up to 30 percent faster than the M3 CPU, portion the GPU is up to 21 percent faster.
The iPad Air already supports Apple Intelligence, and the next-generation exemplary volition proceed to bash so. Apple accrued the RAM successful iPad Pro models with higher retention tiers, but there's nary connection connected whether that aforesaid alteration volition travel to the iPad Air. Current models diagnostic 8GB RAM, the minimum for Apple Intelligence.
Charging
The iPad Pro gained faster charging with the M5 update, and that's thing that could trickle down to the iPad Air.
N1 Chip
The iPad Air is apt to follow the N1 networking spot that Apple archetypal introduced successful the iPhone 17 models. The N1 spot is an Apple-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth spot that offers connectivity and ratio improvements compared to the third-party chips that Apple has utilized successful erstwhile devices. The N1 supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 technology.
The existent iPad Air offers Wi-Fi 6E support, truthful the next-generation exemplary could spot faster Wi-Fi speeds connected compatible networks with Wi-Fi 7.
Apple Modem
Apple utilized the C1X successful the M5 iPad Pro, and the cellular versions of the iPad Air volition get that aforesaid modem chip. The C1X is an upgraded variant of the C1, Apple's archetypal in-house modem chip.
It offers show connected par with Qualcomm chips, though 5G connectivity is constricted to sub-6GHz with nary enactment for mmWave 5G. That's not an contented connected the iPad, due to the fact that the existent mentation of the iPad Air doesn't enactment mmWave.
Apple's modem chips are much powerfulness businesslike than Qualcomm modem chips, and are capable to amended integrate with different iPad components.
Pricing
There are nary rumors of a terms increase, truthful the 11-inch exemplary is expected to proceed to commencement astatine $599, portion the 13-inch exemplary volition commencement astatine $799.
Low-Cost iPad
Like the iPad Air, the low-cost iPad is going to get a refresh with an updated chip. The update is simply a bigger woody due to the fact that the iPad is expected to enactment Apple Intelligence for the archetypal time.
Design
The 12th-generation iPad volition person the aforesaid 11-inch edge-to-edge show with Touch ID Side Button and heavy bezels arsenic the existent model.
The low-cost iPad is lone disposable successful a azygous surface size, and it is Apple's thickest tablet astatine 7mm. It features a Retina LCD show with nary ProMotion support, nary P3 wide color, and nary lamination (display exertion that cuts down connected glare, provides a much responsive feel, and allows for a thinner size) compared to Apple's different tablets.
Apple makes the low-cost iPad successful respective amusive colors, and we could spot immoderate caller shades successful 2026. Current colors see blue, pink, silver, and yellow.
No changes are expected for the rear camera, beforehand camera, USB-C port, oregon compatibility with accessories similar the Apple Pencil.
A-Series Chip
The low-cost iPad volition beryllium equipped with Apple's A18 oregon A19 chip, some of which are built connected a 3-nanometer process. The upgraded spot volition connection velocity and ratio improvements implicit the A16 spot that's successful the existent model.
The A16 spot that Apple utilized successful 2025 does not enactment Apple Intelligence, but the A18 and A19 do, truthful that volition people a large update for Apple's affordable tablet. The 2026 exemplary volition beryllium capable to enactment Apple Intelligence features that are unavailable with the 2025 model.
The 11th-generation iPad has 6GB RAM, but Apple volition request to bump that up to 8GB for Apple Intelligence.
N1 Chip
Apple is expanding its N1 networking spot to galore of its caller devices. The N1 spot supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread networking exertion for astute location devices.
The 11th-generation iPad is constricted to Wi-Fi 6, truthful if the 12th-generation mentation gets Wi-Fi 7, it volition beryllium capable to link to faster 6GHz networks for the archetypal time. Bluetooth 6 would besides beryllium an betterment implicit Bluetooth 5.3. There is simply a accidental that Apple is reserving the N1 spot for its much premium devices, based connected leaked interior code. If that's the case, the iPad won't see the N1 chip.
Apple Modem
Apple has designed C1 and C1X modem chips that it has utilized successful iPhones and iPads successful 2025, and the next-generation mentation of the iPad could besides get an Apple-designed modem spot for cellular models.
Pricing
The 11th-generation iPad is priced starting astatine $349 for 128GB of storage, and determination are truthful acold nary indications that pricing is going to alteration for the 12th-generation model.
MacBook Pro
Apple already refreshed the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 chip, but present it's clip for the higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch models to get an update.
Design
There are nary rumors of plan changes, and we are expecting the upcoming M5 MacBook Pro models to look conscionable similar the M4 versions. Apple volition proceed to connection 14-inch and 16-inch size options, some of which should travel successful M5 Pro and M5 Max varieties.
M5 Max and M5 Pro
We already got basal exemplary 14-inch MacBook Pro with the caller M5 spot successful October, truthful what we're expecting are upgraded 14-inch and 16-inch models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
The M5 household is built connected a much precocious 3-nanometer process from TSMC, and it offers velocity and ratio improvements. The M5 spot is up to 20 percent faster successful multi-core CPU show than the M4 chip, and we could spot akin improvements for the M5 Pro and M5 Max spot options. GPU show is up to 30 percent faster.
With the M5, Apple added a Neural Accelerator to each GPU core, improving the speeds of GPU-based AI workloads. The spot besides supports third-generation ray-tracing, second-generation dynamic caching, and enhanced shader cores.
The 16-core Neural Engine is much vigor businesslike than before, and unified representation bandwidth has improved. These are each features that we're apt to spot with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips arsenic well.
Why You Shouldn't Buy an M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro
If you're not successful superior request of a caller MacBook Pro close away, early 2026 is simply a atrocious clip to upgrade. The next-generation MacBook Pro aft the aboriginal 2026 models is expected to diagnostic an OLED show and touchscreen capabilities, some of which volition people a large upgrade successful show quality. It's expected to see a Dynamic Island alternatively of a notch, and macOS volition beryllium optimized for interaction interactions.
Most radical shelling retired other wealth for a MacBook Pro with a higher-end M5 Pro oregon M5 Max spot request the other show oregon show quality, truthful it is worthy waiting for the immense update that's coming.
The modulation to OLED volition besides apt bring a plan update on with M6 Pro and M6 Max spot technology, which is different crushed to wait.
Of course, the caller features could beryllium constricted to higher-end MacBook Pro models oregon could beryllium importantly much expensive. If you're connected a budget, request a Mac now, oregon don't attraction astir OLED, the M5 Pro and Max models could inactive beryllium worthy considering.
MacBook Air
Along with the low-cost MacBook and M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro models, Apple could present a refreshed mentation of the MacBook Air adjacent week.
M5 Chip
The next-generation MacBook Air volition follow the M5 chip, which Apple already introduced successful the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models that came retired past year.
Apple's M5 spot uses third-generation 3-nanometer technology, and it features up to a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU with 3.5x faster show than the M4 chip.
The M5's multithreaded CPU show is up to 15 percent faster than the M4, and it offers 30 percent faster GPU performance. Apple added a Neural Accelerator to each GPU halfway to amended the speeds of GPU-based AI workloads. Unified representation bandwidth is 153GB/s, which is adjacent to a 30 percent betterment implicit the M4's representation bandwidth. Unified representation architecture lets the spot usage a azygous representation excavation for moving AI models connected device, boosting GPU performance, and improving multithreaded show successful apps, truthful an upgrade determination is meaningful. RAM volition proceed to commencement astatine 16GB, with 24GB and 32GB disposable arsenic upgrade options.
Third-generation ray-tracing, second-generation dynamic caching, and upgraded shader cores bring improvements to gaming and different system-intensive tasks. An updated 16-core Neural Engine is much vigor businesslike than before, truthful we could spot artillery beingness improvements.
Storage tiers are apt to enactment the same, starting astatine 256GB with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB disposable arsenic upgrade options.
Design
The MacBook Air got a plan overhaul successful 2022, and determination are nary signs that Apple is readying for an updated chassis successful 2026. Apple often uses the aforesaid plan for respective years earlier updating, and plan refreshes are usually tied to large caller features.
We're expecting Apple to merchandise the aforesaid 13-inch and 15-inch size options successful 2026. Both volition diagnostic the aforesaid aluminum unibody plan and fanless thermal system, on with a Retina LCD display.
The MacBook Air is apt to proceed to connection 2 Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, and the aforesaid speaker, microphone, and camera setup.
Pricing
MacBook Air pricing is not expected to change, and it should proceed to commencement astatine $1,099. There is simply a anticipation that representation upgrades volition beryllium much costly owed to DRAM shortages that person driven prices up.
Other Possibilities
Apple's Special Experience seems similar it's going to absorption chiefly connected lower-end devices, with the objection of the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models. We are waiting connected different devices that rumors person suggested volition beryllium refreshed successful aboriginal 2026, but it's apt we'll beryllium waiting a spot longer for them.
HomePod mini
A caller mentation of the HomePod mini is seemingly acceptable to go, but Apple whitethorn clasp it backmost for a much home-focused refresh that volition besides see the rumored location hub. The location hub and the HomePod mini are apt tied to the caller mentation of Siri.
Apple was aiming to present the much susceptible Siri successful iOS 26.4, but pushed backmost Siri's debut due to the fact that of ongoing reliability issues. It's not wide erstwhile the caller Siri is coming now, and truthful the timing of the adjacent HomePod mini is besides unknown.
The HomePod mini is expected to get a caller spot and caller colors, but not overmuch else. The plan volition enactment the same.
Apple TV
As with the HomePod mini, the adjacent Apple TV is simply a instrumentality we've been proceeding rumors astir since precocious past year. It was expected to travel successful precocious 2025 oregon aboriginal 2026, but it excessively is apt tied to the Siri refresh.
There are nary plan changes expected for the Apple TV, and it volition get an updated chip.
MacRumors Coverage
Apple isn't holding an lawsuit for the caller announcements, truthful determination won't beryllium a video to watch. We're expecting to spot caller products unveiled via property merchandise connected Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, truthful enactment tuned to MacRumors for details connected everything Apple unveils.
Apple is holding a Special Experience for members of the media connected March 4, 2026, wherever we're expecting Apple to amusement disconnected the caller products. MacRumors volition beryllium successful attendance, truthful we'll beryllium capable to stock a hands-on look astatine immoderate Apple has to offer.
The Special Experience volition instrumentality spot astatine 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
This article, "What to Expect From Apple's Big Week: iPhone 17e, Low-Cost MacBook, New iPads, and More" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com
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