It’s that time of the year again: it’s apparently time for the excitement of new technology, as a year of new gear kicks off from an assortment of brands. Samsung has already noted an Unpacked is on the way, while Mobile World Congress in Spain looks set for an assortment of other phones for 2026, as well.
And what else is happening? Apple has an event.
This week, Apple sent out invites to a series of events set for March 4 in the US, with three locations around the world seeing in-person events: New York, London, and Shanghai.
An event in more than one place is already a little unusual for Apple, which normally uses its headquarters in Cupertino for its events, or nearby in San Francisco. It appears that this time is a little different.
In terms of what you can probably expect, the good guess will be on Macs and iPads, with more M5 models likely set for announcement following the iPad Pro and MacBook standard models last year.
We’ve not yet reviewed these, but the M5 Pro and M5 Max models are expected for the MacBook Pro, which hasn’t seen an update since 2024. Likewise, there’s also a possibility of a new iPad Air, updating things from last year’s M3 to the M4, a largely expected update and refresh.
However, Apple could also be taking the time to announce a new generation of MacBook made to be less expensive overall.
Expected to be built with chips used in the iPhone, a new generation of MacBook standard (not Air, and not Pro) could see a lower price-point, possibly seeing as little as $1000 in Australia, or close enough for jazz.
These aren’t the only possibilities, with a new HomePod Mini and Apple TV variations all expected this year, alongside other potential smart home gadgets, and a new Studio Display.
Also interesting is that Apple doesn’t appear to have sent the invites for this one out to Australian journalists, at least not the ones this writer knows. That could be for a number of reasons, such as Australia not being in the the initial target market, or even that it’s focusing on specific levels of journalists first and foremost, such as with TV in the beginning (this journalist covers online and radio mostly).
Whatever the reason, it’s likely that regardless of whether it’s set for Australia, the Apple launch will likely change things for gadgets and gear locally. And that means it’s worth staying tuned.
In the mean time, we’re largely expecting Apple will launch something else, with possibly a new iPhone “e” series on the way, as the rumour mills spin up for that.
In short, it seems as though if you’re in the market for an Apple-anything, you might just want to hold on for a few weeks, at least until March 5 in Australia (March 4 in the US). Things might be nicer to your wallet until whatever is new arrives.
