Apple swaps the keynote for an “Apple Experience” — and a new iPhone may be coming 🍏

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After weeks of speculation, Apple has finally made its move. On March 4, 2026, the company will host a select group of journalists for a “special Apple Experience” taking place simultaneously in New York, London, and Shanghai — notably skipping the traditional, globally livestreamed keynote from Apple Park.

An invitation that changes the playbook ✉️

This won’t be a polished, broadcast spectacle. Instead, Apple is opting for a smaller, more immersive format designed around hands-on time with upcoming products. The phrase “Apple Experience” suggests a shift away from stage presentations and toward guided demos and real-world scenarios.

The invite itself — featuring a colorful logo made of overlapping yellow, green, and blue discs — offers zero concrete clues. It’s classic Apple: tightly controlled, visually evocative, and deliberately vague.

A new iPhone… but not the one you expect 📱

At the center of the rumor mill is the so-called iPhone 17e — a more affordable model aimed at broadening Apple’s user base without undercutting its premium image.

If accurate, this device could represent a more “essential” take on the iPhone: fewer frills, a sharper focus on everyday performance, and a more aggressive price point than the flagship lineup. In a saturated smartphone market, such a move would allow Apple to counter mounting competitive pressure while appealing to users who’ve hesitated to upgrade to the latest generation.

The Mac moves back into the spotlight 💻

March 4 may ultimately be less about the iPhone and more about the Mac.

Several machines are reportedly in the pipeline: a new MacBook Air powered by an M5 chip, MacBook Pro models running M5 Pro and M5 Max, and a Mac Studio with M5 — potentially alongside updated displays, including a Studio Display 2 with smoother refresh rates.

Behind the scenes, Apple is also said to be developing a more affordable MacBook powered by an A18 chip — a direct challenge to Chromebooks and entry-level Windows PCs, especially in the education sector.

Not all of these products are guaranteed to debut on the same day. But the broader signal is clear: Apple appears to be gearing up for a major Mac cycle in 2026.

Beyond the Mac: iPad, smart home, and AI 🧠

The rumored roadmap extends well beyond laptops. New iPads are expected, including an 8th-generation iPad Air and a 12th-generation iPad, alongside refreshed versions of Apple TV and the HomePod mini.

Looming in the background is a bigger story: Siri’s long-promised generative AI overhaul. Apple is reportedly preparing a first major step in 2026 with iOS 26, followed by a deeper transformation in iOS 27.

The March 4 event could serve as a foundational moment — not necessarily a full AI unveiling, but a clear statement of intent about where Apple’s intelligence strategy is headed.

An experience, not a spectacle 🎭

By moving away from the global keynote format and toward simultaneous, hands-on experiences in multiple cities, Apple is sending a message. In 2026, it doesn’t just want to announce products — it wants people to live with them, even if only for a few curated hours.

For consumers, that could mean more accessible Macs, a more pragmatic iPhone, and an ecosystem increasingly shaped by smarter, more deeply integrated AI.

The real question is whether this is simply a product refresh cycle — or the beginning of a broader rethink of Apple’s approach to affordability and everyday AI.

What are you most hoping to see from this “Apple Experience”: a more affordable iPhone, a truly accessible Mac, or finally a version of Siri that lives up to the hype? Let’s discuss in the comments.