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Table space: Apple retail braces for affordable MacBook push
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 new MacBook is on the way
From Monday, Apple will be making multiple product announcements before holding a three-city "experience" event. While the actual products that will launch are not officially known, it seems Apple is expecting one to make a big impression on consumers.
Retail workers were told to prepare for a sudden influx of customers in early March due to its program of product launches this week, writes Mark Gurman in the Bloomberg "Power On" newsletter. The prelaunch planning for the week is at a similar level to an iPhone launch, meaning Apple has big expectations for its lineup.
Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely
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Table space: Apple retail braces for affordable MacBook push
[Malcolm Owen's profile picture]
Sun Mar 01 2026, 08:48 AM EST
1 minute read
A new MacBook is on the way
Rumor Score
🤯 Likely
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.
From Monday, Apple will be making multiple product announcements before holding a three-city "experience" event. While the actual products that will launch are not officially known, it seems Apple is expecting one to make a big impression on consumers.
Retail workers were told to prepare for a sudden influx of customers in early March due to its program of product launches this week, writes Mark Gurman in the Bloomberg "Power On" newsletter. The prelaunch planning for the week is at a similar level to an iPhone launch, meaning Apple has big expectations for its lineup.
These warnings include longer hours for the week, just like an iPhone launch. Curiously, Apple is also preparing for one product to be popular enough to warrant having its own table in stores.
This is usually an action taken for a massive new product unveiling. Of the currently forecast launches, the biggest would be the new MacBook model.
Described internally as "incredible value," Apple thinks the new budget MacBook will be a big event for potential switchers. There is also the belief that iPhone users could be tempted to get their first Mac with the release.
That model is expected to be a cut-spec MacBook with an A18 Pro chip instead of an M-series Apple Silicon, marking the first commercial Mac release to do so. With a projected price tag of between $699 to $750, it will have other changes to save on production costs.
That includes a lower-quality 13-inch display, a reduced USB-C port count, a new aluminum enclosure production technique, and 8GB of memory.
Other products that the rumor mill is confident will come out include the iPhone 17e, updates to the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, iPad and iPad Air refreshes, and a probable software change too.
Mark Gurman has a pretty good track record when it comes to Apple leaks and rumors. This close to the release, and considering other reporting on the week ahead, his newsletter claims are very likely to be accurate.