Apple March event preview: Rumored date, possible products

Apple has held an event in the Spring of each year for a good long time now, and its early-year events have become a key part of its yearly product release cycle.

We have no reason to believe that 2022 will be any different. Last year, Apple unveiled its new M1 iPad Pro (2021), Apple TV 4K (2021), iMac with M1 and its AirTag as well as a new iPhone 12 color.

So if Apple is going to have a Spring event, when will it be? And what products will it announce? Here's what we think we know so far.

Date

The rumored date for the Apple Spring event is March 8, this comes according to noted high-profile insider Mark Gurman. Mark Gurman is the authority on Apple's future plans, so if anyone knows when this event will take place before the official announcement, it will be him.

From February 4:

Rumors have been circling around a potential Apple event happening sometime in the first quarter of 2022. According to a new report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, it could be coming very soon.

Gurman states that the date for the Apple "spring" event will likely be March 8, 2022, just over a month away.

"Apple Inc. is targeting a date on or near March 8 to unveil a new low-cost iPhone and an updated iPad, according to people with knowledge of the matter, kicking off a potentially record-setting year for product launches."

The date makes perfect sense, Tuesday is Apple's typical event day on any given week, and March is usually Apple's month of choice.

But what about expected products? As Gurman notes, two mainstay Apple offerings seem to be on the cards.

iPhone SE

According to Gurman, a new iPhone SE, Apple's famed cheap iPhone and one of the best iPhones for those on a budget, is on the way. Rumors are we'll get 5G capability for faster browsing and downloads, and a new processor, possibly the A15 from the iPhone 13.

We aren't expecting a major design overhaul for the iPhone SE, so expect it to retain Touch ID and the chin/forehead design of the iPhone 8 the first phone was based on. Other possible upgrade areas are of course the phone's camera and battery life.

iPad Air

Gurman also notes a new iPad is on the way, and while he doesn't mention which model, we've previously heard from other sources this is a new iPad Air that will also feature 5G and a new A15 processor. From January:

The Macotakara report cites supply chain sources when saying that we should expect an Apple A15 chip to be part of the new tablet. Support for 5G is also expected, while an upgraded front-facing camera should enable support for Center State, too.

Via machine translation:

According to reliable sources in China, there is a possibility that the iPad Air (5th generation) will be announced along with the iPhone SE (3rd generation) in Spring 2022.

The iPad Air isn't expected to get a new design having received a massive overhaul and a big price increase when it was last updated. Other rumored features are a new 12MP ultra-wide front camera, likely building on Center Stage in iPadOS 15.

MacBook Pro

Not mentioned in Gurman's initial report but definitely a possibility is a new MacBook Pro.

According to a Digitimes report from February, Apple suppliers have been working through the Lunar New Year break in China in preparation for a new Macbook Pro that Apple plans to launch in "early March".

Mark Gurman has previously noted that Apple is planning to unveil a new cheaper MacBook Pro that will feature Apple's new M2 processor and no Touch Bar. While that may indicate a design similar to the MacBook Pro announced last year, the introduction of the M2 chip indicates this will be a less powerful and hopefully less expensive Mac that will fit between the MacBook Air and the current Pro.

Not long now

If Apple is planning to hold an event on the rumored March 8 date then we don't have long to wait to find out exactly what Apple's plans are. We also don't have too long to wait for event invites, as Apple usually notifies the public of its event about a week in advance.