Apple officially confirmed that it will begin launching new products starting on Monday, March 2. With new iPhones, iPads, and Macs, Apple will modernize its hardware lineup in three ways by saying goodbye to some old technology decisions.
Every iPhone will have MagSafe for the first time
Last year, Apple replaced the iPhone SE with the much more modern iPhone 16e. This move saw Apple discontinue the last product with a classic Home Button, but it lacked MagSafe.
If the iPhone 17e includes MagSafe and Apple stops selling the iPhone 16e, then every iPhone Apple sells will have MagSafe for the first time.
Apple introduced MagSafe with the iPhone 12 in October 2020.
Adding a strong magnetic connection to the back of the iPhone enabled attaching accessories like wallets, stands, and battery packs. It also greatly improved wireless charging with charging coil alignment that snaps into place.
Nearly six years later, Apple will be able to market MagSafe support as a feature on every iPhone for the first time.
Apple Intelligence for every new iPad
Despite bringing Apple Intelligence to every iPhone last year, Apple went on to release a new iPad without Apple Intelligence support.
Apple could change that next week if the iPad 12 arrives with an A18 chip and Apple Intelligence support.
That would mean that every new iPhone, iPad, and Mac supports Apple Intelligence for the first time — oh, and Apple Vision Pro, too.
Having Image Playground on every iPad, especially the base model, is a fun step forward — not to mention the promised Siri enhancements coming this year with Google Gemini’s help.
Every Mac laptop could (also) have MagSafe
Apple itself hasn’t sold a Mac laptop without MagSafe in several years, but it has kept the M1 MacBook Air around through Walmart. That laptop appears to be out-of-stock now ahead of its expected replacement.
A new MacBook powered by an A18 Pro chip is expected to enter the lineup, priced below the $999 MacBook Air.
While anything is possible, it might be odd to see Apple not support MagSafe charging (the Mac kind, not the iPhone kind) on this new MacBook.
The M1 MacBook Air featured two USB-C ports, but only one was accessible while using the other for charging.
The port situation on this rumored MacBook is one of the mysteries going into next week. If Apple gives it MagSafe charging, that’ll mean every Mac laptop still sold as new will move on from the no-MagSafe era.
Which of these modernizations are you most excited to see? Finally having MagSafe on every iPhone is a big one to me, even though the more affordable MacBook is most intriguing as a product.
The rollout begins Monday morning, followed by a media ‘experience’ in New York City on Wednesday, March 4. 9to5Mac’s Chance Miller will be on-site, so stay tuned for hands-on coverage!
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