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Apple Sets Three-Day Launch As Stores Brace for Low-Cost MacBook Demand

Retail staff have been told to prepare for iPhone-level traffic, with some locations dedicating a full table to the rumored A18 Pro notebook.

Overview

  • Tim Cook teased a “big week” starting Monday, with Apple expected to announce products over three days and host hands-on media sessions on March 4 in New York, London, and Shanghai.
  • Multiple reports point to a new sub-$1,000 MacBook with a roughly 12.9-inch display, an A18 Pro chip, and colorful aluminum finishes, with price estimates ranging from about $599 to $799.
  • To hit lower prices, leaks suggest the notebook may ship with a 400-nit display without True Tone or P3, slower charging, limited and slower SSD options, 8GB of RAM, and no keyboard backlight.
  • Bloomberg reports Apple retail has warned employees to expect a “major rush,” longer hours, and a dedicated in-store table for the new device, which Apple internally calls an “incredible value.”
  • Beyond the budget MacBook, reporting indicates announcements could include an iPhone 17e, M5-based MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, and iPad updates such as an A18 base iPad and an M4 iPad Air.