Apple kicked off its exciting “big week” of new products on Monday with two cool devices: the iPhone 17e and the iPad Air with the M4 chip. This builds buzz for their live event on March 4 in New York City, where press and creators will attend. You can pre-order both starting March 4, and they’ll be in stores from March 11. The iPhone goes to over 70 countries, and the iPad to 35. Prices are friendly: $599 for the iPhone 17e, $599 for the 11-inch iPad Air, and $799 for the 13-inch one. These updates make the mid-range gadgets better with more storage, faster speeds, and AI smarts, but they keep the same looks. It’s Apple’s way of slowly improving things before bigger news, like new MacBooks, later this week.
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The iPhone 17e is a great pick for budget buyers, still just $599, but way better than the iPhone 16e. It now starts with 256GB of storage, twice as much, so you have plenty of space for apps, pictures, and smart AI features from day one. The big new thing is MagSafe, which lets it charge wirelessly at up to 15W with Qi2 twice as fast as before. That means it works great with fun accessories like phone stands, wallets, and chargers.
The look is the same comfy 6.1-inch Super Retina screen and body shape. But the screen glass, called Ceramic Shield 2, is three times tougher against scratches and cuts down on glare, so it stays nicer longer. The camera is still the reliable 48MP Fusion setup, with no big changes, just solid shots. Inside, a new C1X modem makes the internet twice as fast as the old one, perfect for quick downloads and smooth videos anywhere.
It runs on the powerful A19 chip from the top iPhone 17, so all Apple Intelligence AI stuff works great, like smarter Siri, making pictures with AI, and fast on-phone tasks. Comes with iOS 26, handles water and dust (IP68 rating), and has a battery that lasts all day. It also has satellite support for emergencies. You can send an SOS, call for roadside help, send messages, and even find your phone when there is no network signal.
It comes in simple colors: black, white, and light pink.
It’s a great choice for people who want premium features without paying too much money.
Now, the iPad Air with M4 chip is awesome for everyday fun and some serious work. The M4 is almost two years old, but it’s super strong, while the fancy iPad Pro has the newer M5. Great for watching shows, surfing the web, sending emails, and doing easy tasks. It steps up for tougher stuff, like editing videos. Apple says it’s 2.3 times faster than the old M1 iPad Air and over four times better at 3D graphics with ray tracing. That’s handy for hobby creators.
Public reactions on (X) Twitter show interest in different Apple products and some disappointment about missing announcements.
One user reminded others not to forget the MacBook Pro, suggesting they believe it also deserves attention in the news.
Another user said they are mainly waiting for the budget MacBook, showing interest in a more affordable option rather than high-end models.
A third user asked, “No Studio Display?” which reflects surprise or mild disappointment that the display may not have been included in the announcement.
Memory jumps to 12GB from 8GB, even with prices going up, Apple keeps costs the same. $599 for an 11-inch with 128GB, $799 for a 13-inch, and $50 off for schools. Runs iPadOS 26 with better multitasking, Apple Pencil support, and AI tools.
It has new N1 and C1X chips for super-fast Wi-Fi 7 at home and 5G if you pick the cellular version. The design hasn’t changed much: slim metal body, bright LCD screen like before, 12MP back camera, and two speakers that sound great for movies. No fancy OLED screen that’s for Pros. Colors: pretty blue, purple, starlight, and space gray to match your style.
These launches show Apple’s smart plan drop goodies now, save the wow for March 4. We’ll cover live updates on new laptops, software, and more. Right now, the iPhone 17e and iPad Air give tons of value with better power and Apple features, without wild new designs.
