• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

3

Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

3

Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
TechApple

The Latest Rumors Surrounding Apple’s March 21 Event

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 18, 2016, 10:51 AM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Apple’s “Let us loop you in” event is right around the corner, and the question on everyone’s mind is what the company will announce on March 21.

Apple has used its catchy event themes in the past to hint at what it’ll talk about at its events. Given the company’s mention of a “loop,” it seems quite likely that Apple will announce new Apple Watch bands at the event. Some earlier reports suggested Apple could update its popular wearable, but the latest rumors say the company will instead focus on new watch band accessories and leave the second-generation Apple Watch for sometime later this year.

One of the worst-kept secrets in Apple (AAPL) land is a new, smaller iPhone. Over the last several months, several Apple-tracking sites, including Macrumors and 9to5Mac, as well as a slew of analysts, have said Apple is currently manufacturing a 4-inch iPhone to complement the 4.7-inch iPhone 6s and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Still, there are some question marks. For one, while several reports have suggested that Apple would launch a new design, a 9to5Mac report on Friday cited sources who said the company would keep a nearly identical design to the iPhone 5s, a smartphone it’s already selling and launched in 2013. Despite that, nearly all the rumors agree Apple will offer its A9 processor in the next iPhone, matching the chip in its iPhone 6s line. In addition, Apple is expected to offer a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera and offer up to 64GB of internal storage.

Now let’s turn to the iPad. Apple’s tablet business has been slipping in recent quarters. In the company’s most-recent quarter ended Dec. 26, Apple’s iPad unit sales were down 25% and revenue slipped 21%. It was just the latest in a long line of declines in that division.

Still, Apple continues to try to make a mark. Since last year’s launch of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, rumors have surfaced saying the company will unveil a smaller, slimmed-down version of its enterprise-focused slate on March 21. According to several rumors, as well as design schematics published by Engadget, the new iPad Pro will come with a 9.7-inch display, making it notably smaller than Apple’s earlier launch. Apple is expected to offer the A9X processor, matching the chip found in its current iPad Pro. Details on storage size are unknown, but expect the tablet to be running iOS 9.

For more on Apple’s March 21 event, watch:

Which brings us to software. All accounts suggest that Apple’s March 21 event will be a somewhat minor showcase, offering cheaper, smaller versions of its currently available products. However, the company could also focus on some software updates.

For one, Apple has been testing iOS 9.3 with developers for quite some time. It’s expected that iOS 9.3 will come out of beta on March 21 and deliver new features, including improvements to the Notes app and a new Night Shift feature, which makes looking at your iOS device a bit easier on the eyes in dark environments.

Not to be outdone, Apple Watch might also get a software update. Like iOS 9.3, Apple has been sending betas of its watchOS to developers, suggesting a consumer launch is in the offing. That said, aside from improved Apple Maps support, it’s unlikely that the new watchOS will be a major upgrade, according to rumors.

As for Apple’s OS X and tvOS? It’s tough to say. There are hints that Apple could offer upgrades to the operating systems running on its Macs and latest Apple TV. However, the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which is typically in June, is where Apple showcases its latest and greatest software improvements, so don’t expect too many major upgrades—if there are any.

Apple Confirms Its ‘Let Us Loop You In’ March 21 Event

Beyond that, it’s hard to believe Apple CEO Tim Cook won’t at least talk about privacy. After all, his company has been battling with the FBI over data privacy over the last several weeks, and he has been exceedingly outspoken about his stance against government intrusion. Look for Cook to talk about that FBI battle and perhaps even hint that better encryption is coming to the company’s cloud-based platform iCloud.

But then again, take all of this with the proverbial grain of salt. Apple is notoriously tight-lipped and tends to have some surprises up its sleeve for every press event. It’s possible all of the rumors are true and it will unveil a new iPhone and iPad, or the company could surprise us with something new. At this point, only Apple knows for sure what it’s announcing on March 21, and it’s not telling until 1 p.m. ET that day.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

gas
LawAntitrust
Gas station owners have found a use case for AI, lawsuit says: colluding to fix prices
By R.J. Rico and The Associated PressJune 25, 2026
3 hours ago
g
AIunemployment
One of the Democratic Party’s brightest stars is co-founding a group to help with the coming AI jobs earthquake
By Josh Boak and The Associated PressJune 25, 2026
3 hours ago
apes
HealthAnimals
Scientists tickled monkeys to find if they have the same giggles as humans — and they do
By Adithi Ramakrishnan and The Associated PressJune 25, 2026
4 hours ago
GTA 6 release date is finally here—but the $80 price tag and missing disc have gamers furious
Arts & EntertainmentGaming
GTA 6 release date is finally here—but the $80 price tag and missing disc have gamers furious
By Whizy Kim and Tech BrewJune 25, 2026
7 hours ago
stock
InvestingMarkets
How one chip stock reversed the global tech selloff, exposed AI’s ‘memory tax’ and made the case for an entire valuation regime change
By Nick LichtenbergJune 25, 2026
9 hours ago
Larry Ellison quietly gave $45 million to a pro-Trump group—then Oracle landed a starring role in a $500 billion AI buildout
PoliticsLarry Ellison
Larry Ellison quietly gave $45 million to a pro-Trump group—then Oracle landed a starring role in a $500 billion AI buildout
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
9 hours ago

Most Popular

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
19 hours ago
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
2 days ago
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
Success
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 25, 2026
18 hours ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
2 days ago
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
3 days ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.