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After a quiet start to 2026, Apple is suddenly in full release mode, launching new hardware on a daily basis ahead of today's "special Apple Experience," also known as its March event. CEO Tim Cook published a teaser over the weekend that got everyone excited about new Macs, maybe even touchscreen models, though those are rumored to launch later this year.
Also: Everything Apple may unveil at its March event: MacBook M5, iPad 12, and more
ZDNET is at the show covering everything as it is announced, and hopefully giving you a close-up look at what's new. I'm especially interested in anything surprising. Chip news and how it affects performance is cool and all, but I want the good stuff. If Apple drops a surprise, like a brand-new MacBook, you'll see it here in real time. Stay tuned.
When is Apple's March event?
Apple is hosting a "special Apple Experience" event on March 4, 2026, with in-person sessions in New York, London, and Shanghai at 9am EST. Prior to the event, beginning on March 2, Apple announced a series of products via press releases on its website, including the new iPhone 17E, M4 iPad Air, and new M5-chip MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops.
By Elyse Betters Picaro, Senior Contributing Editor / Mar. 3
Apple updated its MacBook Pro lineup on Tuesday. It now comes with new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, targeting creators, developers, and other high-end users who need more performance.
The models use Apple's Fusion architecture, combining CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine into a single system on a chip with up to an 18-core CPU, faster graphics, and improved AI performance.
Also: The new MacBook Pro gives you M5 Pro and Max power now - for a bigger price
It also adds Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thunderbolt 5, faster SSD speeds, and higher memory ceilings, with configurations supporting up to 64GB of unified memory on M5 Pro and 128GB on M5 Max.
Pricing starts at $2,199 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and $2,699 for the 16-inch model, while the M5 Max versions start at $3,599 (14-inch) and $3,899 (16-inch). All models include at least 1TB of storage, with higher tiers offering more memory and bandwidth for demanding workloads.
Preorders begin March 4, with availability starting March 11.
By Elyse Betters Picaro, Senior Contributing Editor / Mar. 3
On Tuesday, Apple refreshed its thinnest, lightest laptop: the MacBook Air. It's now powered by the M5 chip, bringing performance gains and faster storage. The laptop features a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory as standard, and Apple's N1 wireless chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Also: The new MacBook Air M5 costs $100 more - here's what that gets you
It keeps the same design as last year's model, including a 12MP Center Stage camera, up to 18 hours of battery life, and support for two external displays.
The 13-inch MacBook Air M5 starts at $1,099, while the 15-inch model starts at $1,299. Apple doubled the base storage to 512GB with faster SSD speeds, helping justify the $100 price increase over the previous generation.
Preorders begin March 4, with availability starting March 11.
By Elyse Betters Picaro, Senior Contributing Editor / Mar. 2
On Monday, Apple introduced a new iPad Air powered by the M4 chip. The model features an 8-core CPU, 9-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine for faster graphics, multitasking, and on-device AI tasks in iPadOS 26.
Also: Apple's new M4 iPad Air is here - and it's twice as fast as your old M1 model
The refreshed iPad Air adds support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread through Apple's N1 wireless chip, and it has Apple's C1X modem in cellular versions for improved efficiency and connectivity. The new iPad Air also works with accessories like the Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C), and Magic Keyboard.
The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599, while a 13-inch model starts at $799, the same prices as the previous generation. Preorders begin March 4, with availability starting March 11.
By Elyse Betters Picaro, Senior Contributing Editor / Mar. 2
Apple kicked off its March announcements on Monday with the iPhone 17e, a new entry-level model in the iPhone 17 lineup designed to give you access to the latest features and improved performance at a lower price.
Also: The iPhone 17e is here: 6 ways Apple just upgraded its cheapest phone
It runs Apple's A19 chip, paired with a six-core CPU, a four-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and a 16-core Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence features. It also includes a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, a single 48MP Fusion rear camera, MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging, and a new C1X cellular modem.
The iPhone 17e starts at $599 with 256GB of storage, doubling the base capacity of last year's iPhone 16e. It comes in black, white, and soft pink, with preorders beginning March 4 and availability starting March 11.
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