Apple News 3d Briefing
×New Product Launches
Apple 9to5mac.com announced two new products today: the iPhone 17e 9to5mac.com and an iPad Air with M4. The iPhone 17e brings a performance boost and Mag Safe to Apple's value-focused smartphone lineup, solving the iPhone 16e's biggest problem with increased base storage. The new iPad Air features a binned M4 chip with only three performance cores, lacking the same performance as the iPad Pro version due to core count changes.
Software Updates
Apple seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 26.4 appleinsider.com and iPad OS 26.4 macrumors.com updates to developers for testing purposes, coming a week after the second beta. The software includes a number of exciting new features and changes, including AI-powered Apple Music updates. Meanwhile, mac OS Tahoe 26.4 was absent from the third round of developer betas, while Apple released third betas of watch OS 26.4, tv OS 26.4, and vision OS 26.4 for testing.
AI & Siri Developments
Apple macrumors.com has asked Google to investigate setting up servers in its data centers to run a future version of Siri powered by Gemini. This request comes as years of under-investment in data centers may mean Apple will increase its reliance on Google when the revamped Siri launches. Apple is expected to push its Gemini-trained Apple Foundation Models and new chatbot-like Siri functions during WWDC appleinsider.com, where Core ML could also see an update as it's replaced by Core AI.
App Store & Policy
Australia could soon force the Apple App Store appleinsider.com to remove AI apps that let users access adult or violent content without age verification. Meanwhile, Claude 9to5mac.com hit #1 on the App Store as users rallied behind Anthropic's government standoff, jumping from 42nd place to the top position as AI chatbots currently take up the top three spots on the US App Store's Top Downloaded charts.
Retail & Accessories
Apple has advised its retail store employees to expect a "major rush" of customers this week, according to Bloomberg macrumors.com. Apple Stores are preparing for a significant number of physical product launches during its early March event, with the new MacBook getting its own table. A seasonal color refresh arrived today for a variety of Apple accessories, including iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and the Crossbody Strap.
Trade-ins & Pricing
Apple today updated its trade-in values macrumors.com for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website or at an Apple Store. Meanwhile, Amazon has brought back a few $100 discounts on the iPad Mini 7 macrumors.com, starting at $399, while the Apple Watch Series 11 macrumors.com hits a $299 low price on Amazon, with $100 off nearly every aluminum model.
Future Products
Apple is still developing a large foldable iPad, despite hitting several technical hurdles along the way, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his Power On newsletter macrumors.com, Gurman also reports that Apple will update the MacBook Air with an OLED display for its 2028 model and add a vapor chamber cooling system to the iPad Pro as soon as next year. However, consumers can expect a long wait for the next version of the iPad Pro, with the 2027 refresh getting vapor chamber cooling but not a major revamp.
Regional Updates
Apple has temporarily closed all five of its retail stores macrumors.com in the United Arab Emirates, including three locations in Abu Dhabi and two in Dubai. The closures affect Apple's presence in a key Middle Eastern market as the company navigates various operational challenges.
Third-Party Accessories
Accessories maker ESR recently launched a new lineup of iPad accessories that aim to expand the usefulness of iPad for casual users. They are focusing on users who frequently switch between the many modes and use cases of modern i Pads. Meanwhile, the Baseus Pico Go line has expanded with the AM52 Qi2.2 MagSafe appleinsider.com battery packs, which bring more features and faster speeds to the pocketable chargers.
Market Analysis
The iPhone 17e 9to5mac.com is a solid upgrade but looks dated on day one, with its exterior design remaining familiar enough that an existing iPhone 16e case will still fit the new model. Meanwhile, Apple's 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro has been the notebook of choice for many in recent years, but it isn't perfect, leading some to explore alternatives like the Acer Predator Helios Neo, where Apple's never been so far behind in certain performance metrics.
Industry Trends
It looks like Apple isn't the only company with new products launching soon 9to5mac.com, as Sonos also appears to have new offerings in the pipeline. The competitive landscape continues to evolve as companies race to capture market share in various segments, from smartphones to smart home devices and audio equipment.