Apple Inc.
A Lineup Heavy With Hardware
Gurman reports Apple will introduce at least five products spanning hardware, software, and chips. A new low-cost MacBook is widely expected, with the March 4 invitation itself hinting at the device's launch colors. The iPhone 17e is also seen as near-certain for the March window.
Additional candidates include upgraded MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, new MacBook Air machines, iPad Air with M4, and an entry-level iPad with the A18 processor.
Visual Intelligence: The Bigger Story
Behind the hardware parade lies a strategic signal. Gurman reports Cook has been quietly telegraphing Apple's push into AI wearables built around what the company calls Visual Intelligence, a technology that lets devices see and interpret the surrounding environment.
Supply Chain and Premium Strategy in Focus
Apple has been navigating an AI-driven memory chip shortage that, per CEO Cook, will have a greater impact in the March quarter than it did in December.
To manage constraints, Apple is prioritizing premium devices, including its first-ever foldable iPhone slated for fall 2026, while pushing the standard iPhone 18 to the first half of 2027, according to a Nikkei Asia report.
On the manufacturing front, Apple announced plans in February to shift part of its Mac Mini production to a Foxconn facility in Houston, Texas, as part of a broader $600 billion U.S. investment commitment.
Apple reported fiscal first-quarter revenue of $143.76 billion, beating analyst estimates of $138.42 billion, with iPhone sales surging to $85.27 billion from $69.14 billion a year earlier.
AAPL Price Action: Apple shares were down 0.91% at $271.73 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
