Conflicting rumors are spiraling about the possibility of a March media event, which in previous years, focused primarily on iPad. As the global pandemic continues to hinder in-person gatherings, almost all tech events for the first half of 2021 have been canceled, at least the in-person part. This leaves a question mark for Apple’s own March event. There are prominent Apple leakers on both sides claiming there both will and will-not be an event, but who will be right and what would Apple launch?
Apple March 2021 Event Rumors
Whether the event is happening at all is still undecided by armchair analysts. Up and coming Apple leaker Jon Prosser, who has recently hit more rumors correctly than not, claimed there will be a March 16 event.
Okay, how about “One More Thing” ?
After this November ARM Mac event, the next Apple Event (currently a digital event) will happen on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 🗓
Event headliner will be AirPods Studio (B515) https://t.co/UxqQr6je1c pic.twitter.com/oCxVhg3owb
— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) October 16, 2020
While this claim dates back to October 15, 2020, he has not retracted his estimate that there will be an event in March, on that specific date. However, more prominent and more often correct, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, specifically disagrees there will be an event on March 16:
Narrator: There won’t end up being one https://t.co/SVAdtzfjqz
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) February 20, 2021
You can see Gurman in the above Retweet of Joe Rossignol of MacRumors, refuting the claim of the March 16 event.
What should we expect? Well, it is known that the spring is also a good time for Apple to talk about Apple Watch devices. In fact, check out these watch band dates posted by Parker Ortolani of 9to5mac:
Been trying to figure out when new Apple Watch bands are dropping and it turns out there is kind of a pattern for Spring releases, they’ve all pretty much launched on the same days… pic.twitter.com/chJdJhcmGY
— Parker Ortolani (@ParkerOrtolani) March 5, 2021
We find it unavoidable to use the old cliché, where there is smoke there’s fire. The hype around an Apple March event is strong. It is easy to assume there would be, given Apple’s history and the continuing claim of new iPad Pro models and Air Tags.
iPad Pro and Air Tags
The iPad has received an update multiple times in the spring semester and last year received a minor spec bump with a LiDAR camera enhancement. Air Tags, the GPS, ultra-wideband tracker fob is a completely new product that would allow users to easily find the tag and its attached item. But, it seems, these are the only two devices getting any rumor attention, as recently as February 19:
iPads
AirTagsThat’s all I’ve heard of happening in March
Haven’t heard of iMac or AirPods
— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) February 20, 2021
It would be hard to fill an hour of discussion about two devices, especially if the iPad Pro is just another spec bump. Rumors claim the new iPad Pro will receive a mini-LED display, but it will potentially be reserved for the 12.9″ model. This would possibly mean just a processor bump for the 11″ version. Maybe, Apple decides to add a splash of color to the lineup, similar to the iPad Air launch last fall. Maybe, go with a Pacific Blue to match the iPhone Pro devices? The upcoming iMac refresh is anticipating colors, but are not expected until this fall:
Hello, 1998.
iMacs.
Colors.They’re back. 😳https://t.co/Rho9SmK9I6 pic.twitter.com/YkKgoEFYCa
— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) February 24, 2021
In conclusion, everything is speculation. Typically, the rumor mill is a little tighter on predictions both for events as well as launch days and announcements. If a March event is held, we can be sure that it will be pre-recorded, similar to all Apple events in 2020. There will certainly be new hardware announced, but right now it seems like that may be limited to the iPad Pro models and, perhaps, the Air Tags. However, the Air Tags have been rumored for launch at every event dating back to June 2020’s Worldwide Developer Conference.
If an event for March 16 2021 is being held, expect invitations to Tuesday, March 9th. If an event is going to be held March 23, expect an invitation on March 9. And, March is a long month! If an event is on March 30, you savvy math people already guessed, the invitation would come on March 23.
