Apple kicked off its 2026 hardware push on March 2 with press releases announcing the iPhone 17e and 12th-generation iPad, extending artificial intelligence capabilities to more affordable devices ahead of the March 4 multi-city events in New York, Shanghai, and London. The iPhone 17e ($599) features the A19 chip, MagSafe wireless charging, and Apple's in-house C1X modem, while the base iPad ($349) upgrades to the A19 chip with 8GB RAMβthe first in its line to support Apple Intelligence on-device AI features.
This multi-day rollout underscores Apple's vertical integration strategy, building on the M5 chip's sixfold AI gains over the M1 and the shift to proprietary modems after a $1 billion Intel acquisition. With entry-level products now AI-enabled, Apple aims to drive ecosystem adoption amid competition from Samsung and Huawei, as the company eyes full Qualcomm independence by 2027.