Apple has scheduled a product launch event, dubbed an "Apple Experience", for March 4 at 9AM ET. The company is reportedly holding this event in NYC, London and Shanghai.
Everyone loves shiny new products, so what can we expect to see at Apple's first launch event of 2026? We don't know anything for certain, but we have plenty of educated guesses that have been sourced from industry reports and speculation from analysts.
Budget-Friendly MacBook
There have been rumors swirling that Apple is preparing to launch a cheaper alternative to the MacBook Air. Bloomberg reported on this all the way back in November. Industry rumors indicate that Apple will be stuffing this laptop with an iPhone processor, the A18 Pro, to keep the price down.
Worth pointing out the three colors from the invite are light green, blue and yellow -- which just so happen to be the colors Apple has tested the low-cost MacBook with, as I wrote yesterday. Coincidence? We shall see. https://t.co/1FFVkfw9JZ pic.twitter.com/ssKDDzdJsw Mark Gurman (@markgurman) February 16, 2026
It's also been suggested that this laptop will only include 8GB of RAM, which kind of flies against the company's recent stance to outfit all Macs with at least 16GB of RAM. However, that would certainly help with the cost. You might have heard about a little thing called AI that chomp chomps on all RAM it can find.
TechRadar has reported that this could be Apple's biggest laptop launch in years, with potential initial shipments hitting 8 million units. The price is likely to be somewhere in the $699 to $799 range, which is pretty nifty. However, I'd still go for an Air at $999. They are absolute workhorses.
MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and Max chips
It's likely that Apple will release more powerful MacBook Pro models this year and the timing seems to match up. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested a March launch and the event is on March 4.
The company has already released a MacBook Pro with an M5 chip, but both the M5 Pro and Max are likely on the horizon. We could be getting new laptops outfitted with these chips in various display sizes.
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget
There have also been reports that both of the higher-end M5 chips are getting a redesign to help improve heat dissipation and reduce defective chip rates. Additionally, the new chiplet design would allow the M5 Pro and Max to raise the total number of CPU and GPU cores. The Max is expected to have more cores than the Pro.
This idea is helped along by the fact that MacBook Pro M4 Max orders are currently delayed. This is typically the case with an outgoing model as stock dries up to make room for new releases. Also, the Pro and Max variants typically get announced in the Fall, so we are due.
New iPads
Rumors have been circulating that we are about to get new iPads, including an update to the base model and the Air. The standard model, which would be the 12th-gen release, is expected to upgrade the A16 chip to an A18. This should also allow for the integration of Apple Intelligence tools, if that's your bag.
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
As for that iPad Air, rumors suggest an upgrade to the M4 chip from the M3. An extremely light tablet with an M4 would be fairly notable in my estimation, as only the newest iPad Pro has that chip.
iPhone 17e
It was almost exactly a year ago that Apple announced the iPhone 16e, so you know what that means. It's time for a refresh. Recent reports have suggested that an announcement regarding the iPhone 17e is imminent, so this launch event seems like as good a place as any to reveal the latest "budget-friendly" smartphone.
As for specs, Mark Gurman has suggested that it'll be getting an upgrade to the A19 chip, which is nice. Also, it could be getting MagSafe support. That sounds like an iterative upgrade, but the price is expected to remain steady at $599.
Other Possibilities
The following stuff is less likely, though certainly possible. There have been rumors that Apple is currently preparing a revamped Studio Display and Mac Studio desktop. The reports suggest a release sometime in the first half of the year, and March is right in the middle of that timeframe.
It's also possible that the company will reveal an upgrade to the MacBook Air with the M5 chip. Reports indicate that this is unlikely to happen during this event, but it is worth noting that the M4 Air came out in March of last year. In other words, it's a toss up.
The inclusion of Shanghai essentially rules out Siri, as expected, given the delays. https://t.co/mgNLR4qCYy Mark Gurman (@markgurman) February 16, 2026
What's not a toss up? You shouldn't expect anything regarding the long-anticipated Siri refresh. This looks to be a hardware event, so any software updates will likely have to wait until WWDC this summer. In any event, Engadget will be on hand to report on all of Apple's new products. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/heres-what-to-expect-at-apples-product-launch-event-on-march-4-173612772.html?src=rss
Ticketing marketplace SeatGeek has announced a partnership with Spotify that will direct an artist's fans to its platform from the Spotify app. The integration is currently limited to a few participating venues for which SeatGeek is the primary ticket seller.
While SeatGeek is one of the largest online marketplaces for the secondary ticketing market, the company's announcement makes clear that this Spotify integration only applies to venues where it's the primary ticketing company. For now, that's just 15 US partner venues, primarily professional sports arenas like AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Spotify has experimented with direct ticket sales in the past, but now focuses on signing on partners to integrate into the streaming experience. The company currently lists 46 ticketing partners, including Ticketmaster, AXS and others. The app also allows users to follow specific venues to be notified about upcoming concerts and events.
The world's largest music streaming service has added a glut of new features recently. One helps listeners learn more about a song, while another new addition finally added group messaging. The platform, which now boasts some 750 million monthly users, has also been trying to address AI slop in its library, although not very hard by the looks of it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/spotify-debuts-seatgeek-integration-for-concert-ticket-sales-162248870.html?src=rss
Now that pre-orders are open for the Google Pixel 10a, its time to see how it stacks up against last years Pixel 9a. At first glance, the two phones look very similar, and thats not a bad thing. Google hasnt tried to reinvent its budget-friendly formula this year, sticking to the same compact design, clean software experience and camera-first approach that made the 9a such a good value.Both phones share a lot in common, including 120Hz OLED displays, Googles Tensor G4 chip, strong computational photography and seven years of OS and security updates. The actual differences are more incremental, including a moderately brighter, tougher display, improved Extreme Battery Saver longevity, slightly faster wireless charging and the addition of Satellite SOS. Importantly, Google is keeping the starting price the same as before, with both phones coming in at $499.On paper, the Pixel 10a doesnt dramatically rethink what an affordable Pixel should be, but it does offer meaningful upgrades for the same price. While we wait for a review unit to evaluate the Pixel 10a's day-to-day performance, here's a quick comparison of the spec sheets of the two devices to see what the new model brings.Pixel 10a vs Pixel 9a: Design and displayTheres very little separating these two on performance. Both the Pixel 9a and Pixel 10a run Googles Tensor G4 chip with 8GB of RAM and the same storage options, so day-to-day speed should feel virtually identical. The Pixel 10a ships with Android 16 out of the box, though the 9a can be updated to the same version.Off the bat, the Pixel 10a doesnt look dramatically different from the Pixel 9a, and that appears to be intentional. Google is sticking with the same compact, no-frills approach from the last few A-series Pixels, so youre still getting a 6.3-inch OLED panel with a smooth 60120Hz refresh rate and a clean, understated aesthetic. The meaningful changes show up once you dig into the display specs. The Pixel 10a upgrades the cover glass from Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to Gorilla Glass 7i, which should offer better durability against drops and scratches over time. Brightness also gets a noticeable bump. The 9a topped out at 1,800 nits for HDR content and 2,700 nits at peak, while the 10a pushes that to 2,000 nits for HDR and up to 3,000 nits at peak brightness. In practice, that should make the Pixel 10a easier to read outdoors and a bit punchier when watching HDR video.Contrast is improved as well. The Pixel 10as panel is rated at a contrast ratio of more than 2,000,000:1, doubling the already respectable figure on the Pixel 9a. That wont radically change how the phone looks day to day, but it should translate to deeper blacks and slightly more depth in darker scenes, especially when streaming video or browsing photos at night.Pixel 10a vs Pixel 9a: CamerasOn paper, the Pixel 10as camera hardware looks very familiar. Like the Pixel 9a, it uses a 48-megapixel main camera paired with a 13MP ultra-wide, and theres no dedicated telephoto lens. Image quality, color science and low-light performance should therefore be similar between the two.Where the Pixel 10a pulls ahead is in software features. Google has added a few camera tools that arent available on the Pixel 9a, even though the underlying hardware hasnt changed much. One of those is Camera Coach, which debuted on last years Pixel 10 series and offers on-screen tips to help you frame shots better or adjust how youre holding the phone. The Pixel 10a also gains Macro Focus, allowing you to get much closer to small subjects like plants or textures. In our Pixel 9a review, we found the phone could capture solid close-up detail, but locking focus could be finicky at times, so a more dedicated macro mode should make those shots easier to nail.Finally, theres Auto Best Take, which automatically picks the best expressions from a burst of photos and combines them into a single image. The feature debuted on Googles Pixel 10 lineup last year, and its especially handy for group shots where someone always seems to blink at the wrong moment. By bringing it to the 10a, Google is extending one of its more genuinely practical AI camera tricks to a cheaper phone.Battery life and chargingBoth the Pixel 9a and Pixel 10a use a 5,100mAh battery and support the same 23W wired charging speeds. Where the Pixel 10a does pull ahead slightly is wireless charging. The Pixel 9a tops out at 7.5W, while the Pixel 10a supports wireless charging at up to 10W when used with Qi-certified Extended Power Profile (EPP) chargers, which are designed to deliver faster wireless power than basic Qi pads. The difference isnt dramatic, but the Pixel 10a should charge a bit quicker on a compatible wireless stand when youre in a pinch.Youll also get some extra hours in dire situations. When you activate Extreme Battery Saver, the Pixel 9a is rated for up to 100 hours, while the Pixel 10a extends that to up to 120 hours. The Pixel 10a gets Satellite SOSThe biggest safety-related upgrade on the Pixel 10a is the addition of Satellite SOS. Because it uses a newer modem compared to the Pixel 9as Exynos Modem 5300, it is capable of tapping satellite networks when necessary. This allows the phone to contact emergency services when youre outside of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage, which can be genuinely useful if you spend time hiking, traveling or driving in remote areas.If you already own a Pixel 9a, there doesnt appear to be a huge reason to upgrade. Day-to-day performance may feel almost identical, since both phones use the same Tensor G4 chip, the same amount of RAM and very similar camera hardware.That said, the Pixel 10a does make a stronger case for first-time buyers or anyone upgrading from an older Pixel. The biggest differentiator, though, is Satellite SOS its the one feature the Pixel 9a simply cant match due to hardware limitations. At the same $499 starting price, the Pixel 10a is, on paper, the better long-term buy if youre choosing between the two today. Google Pixel 10a vs. Google Pixel 9a: Specs at a glanceSpecGoogle Pixel 10aGoogle Pixel 9aPrice$499$499ProcessorGoogle Tensor G4, Titan M2 coprocessorGoogle Tensor G4, Titan M2 coprocessorDisplay6.3-inch Actua display, 1080 x 2424 pOLED at 422.2 PPI, Gorilla Glass 7i6.3-inch Actua display, 1080 x 2424 pOLED at 422.2 PPI, Corning Gorilla Glass 3RAM8GB8GBStorage128GB, 256GB128GB, 256GBBattery5,100mAh5,100mAhWireless chargingUp to 10WUp to 7.5WRear camera48MP wide, 13MP ultrawide, Super Res Zoom up to 8x48MP wide, 13MP ultrawide, Super Res Zoom up to 8xFront camera13MP selfie cam13MP selfie camSIMDual SIM (single nano SIM, eSIM)Dual SIM (single nano SIM, eSIM)ConnectivityWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v6, NFCWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.3, NFCOSLaunch with Android 16Launch with Android 15This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-pixel-10a-vs-pixel-9a-whats-changed-and-which-one-should-you-buy-150000786.html?src=rss
Google debuted the Pixel 10a phone today. Pre-orders are open now and the smartphone will be available starting March 5. Although it's the new 2026 addition to the A series lineup, the Pixel 10a invites many comparisons with last year's Pixel 9a. For starters, the price is identical at $499.
Design-wise, not much as changed. The back of the phone can lay flat, which has become a hallmark of the Pixel A collection, rather than wobbling around on a bulky camera housing. The screen is still 6.3 inches with an Actua display. The phone's insides are also the same; the 10a comes with the same Tensor G4 chip and 8GB of RAM as its predecessor, and buyers have the option to upgrade to either 128GB or 256GB of storage. The phone has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and its display uses Corning Gorilla Glass 7i.
One of the few areas where the 10a is getting a marked upgrade is on its battery. This version claims more than 30 hours of battery life, or up to 120 under the Extra Battery Saver mode. The 10a also brings the welcome addition of proper fast charging, where a compatible charger can get the device to 50 percent battery in about 30 minutes. This addresses one of the few complaints we had about the 9a.
For the photo buffs, the Pixel 10a has a 48MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide lens; again unchanged from the specs in the 9a. AI is also present in the new model's photography suite, with the addition of the Camera Coach resource for the first time on the A series lineup. Camera Coach uses Gemini AI models to read the scene and offer tips on getting the desired shot. The 10a also has the Auto Best Take feature for getting everyone's best side in a group shot and the Add Me tool that lets you insert yourself into a photo after the fact.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/googles-500-pixel-10a-smartphone-arrives-on-march-5-150000489.html?src=rss
Google's A-series phones have offered some of the best value among midrange handsets for years, and after checking out the new Pixel 10a, I don't see that trend stopping anytime soon.Let's start with the specs. Starting at just $499, you get a vivid 6.3-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits of peak brightness, 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of onboard storage. The phone also features a durable aluminum frame along with a stronger Corning Gorilla Glass 7i panel in front and a composite plastic back with a lovely matte finish. As a nod towards sustainability, Google says the P10a's chassis is made from 100 percent recycled material, while the rear panel comes in at 81 percent. And just like its predecessor, you still get an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and the same battery capacity (5,100mAh) except now it charges even faster, both wired (30 watts, up from 23) and wirelessly (10 watts, up from 5).While lavender is the new hero color for the Pixel 10a, berry is the hue I'd pick. Sam Rutherford for EngadgetThe one place where the Pixel 10a might come up a touch short is that unlike its more expensive siblings, it features an older Tensor G4 processor instead of the Tensor G5 chip used on the main Pixel 10 line. Google says the decision to go with an older SoC is due to budget constraints. While it might not be the first choice for gamers or power users, I've never really had an issue with the day-to-day performance of Google's recent homegrown silicon.However, even with a one-year-old chip, Google found a way to port over three flagship features to the Pixel A series for the first time. Camera Coach uses AI to help you compose and come up with more interesting shots. Meanwhile, Auto Best Take is designed to ensure that everyone in a group shot ends up with their finest expression. Finally, Satellite SOS allows you to call for help during emergencies, even when you don't have proper cell service. Satellite SOS support is one of three new features coming to the Google's A-series phones for the first time. Sam Rutherford for EngadgetAs for its cameras, the P10a looks to be using the same sensors as before, including a 48MP main camera, a 13MP ultra-wide and a 13MP selfie shooter in front. That might be a bummer for some, but considering that the Pixel 9a offered by far the best image quality of any phone in its price bracket, I'm not that bothered. Also, it's quite likely that if Google had opted for new hardware, it may have pushed the phone above $500. After seeing the positive response to the barely-there camera bump on its predecessor, Google leaned in and made the Pixel 10as rear camera module completely flat, and its my favorite thing about the phone. There's no hump or protrusions to speak of, and when combined with the rest of the phone's design, it results in a really sleek, minimalist look. Plus, after almost a decade of big and bulky camera warts on the back of phones, it's just nice seeing the Pixel 10a go the opposite direction. I really appreciate how Google double downed on feedback regarding the Pixel 9a's tiny camera bump (left) by making the Pixel 10a's camera (right) completely flat. Sam Rutherford for EngadgetOn the flipside, my biggest complaint about the P10a is that Google didn't include Pixelsnap support (aka magnetic Qi2 compatibility). It's another feature that got cut due to cost and it's a real bummer because after introducing it on last year's main Pixel 10 line, I was hoping that it would become a standard inclusion on all Google phones going forward. Thankfully, when I asked about the lack of Pixelsnap support, Google representatives were able to confirm that there will be third-party accessory makers such as Casefinite, Dbrand and Spigen that will offer cases with built-in magnetic rings, so anyone hoping to attach magnetic peripherals will still have an avenue to do so. The Pixel 10a's charging speeds have been improved to 30 watts for wired and 10 watts wirelessly. Sam Rutherford for EngadgetRegardless, for Android phone owners who are in the market for a simple, no-nonsense upgrade that covers all the basics without breaking the bank, the Pixel 10a is looking like another top contender. The Pixel 10a is available for pre-order today in lavender, berry, fog and obsidian with official sales slated for March 5. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/pixel-10a-hands-on-google-locks-down-the-midrange-phone-game-150000513.html?src=rss
Polestar is gearing up to launch three new models in the next two years, including a station wagon (estate or shooting brake) version of the Polestar 4 that harkens back to the company's Volvo roots. The Geely-owned Swedish company sold a record 61,000 EVs in 2025, but hopes that the new models will help it take an even bigger bite out of the market. "We want to get more volume out of a bigger cake," CEO Michael Lohscheller said.
Polestar currently offers two models in the US, the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4, both SUVs. However, the new Polestar 4 will come in two variants, one a traditional SUV as before and the other a four-door wagon-type version that combines "the space of an estate and the versatility of an SUV," Loscheller said. "It's all the good things from the current car, but it's a bit more practical." This new model is due later this year and will be built in Busan, South Korea in order to avoid US tariffs on cars built in China.
The automaker is also planning to release a new version of the Polestar 2 targeted at young buyers, though that one is unlikely to come to the US. It will be slightly longer for more passenger space and be produced in China like the current model 2.
Polestar
Finally, the Polestar 7 will be a compact SUV in the same family as Volvo's EX60, set to arrive in Europe to address the fast-growing compact SUV segment. "We are convinced that we can offer customers a progressive performance-driven car for a very attractive price point, built in Europe," Lohscheller said.
The new models are designed to help Polestar hit its goal of 60 percent of EV sales worldwide by "targeting the big profit pools of the BEV segment," Lohscheller stated. Following Polestar's withdrawal from the hyper-competitive Chinese market, Europe accounts for 78 percent of its sales and the US most of the rest but the company hopes to boost its fortunes in the latter. "People forget that the U.S. is a big EV market, especially on the east and west coasts," the CEO added. "And it will stay a big market."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/polestar-unveils-a-station-wagon-version-of-the-4-144025505.html?src=rss
Cameo, the platform where celebrities sell short, personalized videos, has scored a preliminary win in a trademark lawsuit against OpenAI. A California judge has ruled that the AI company's video generation tool Sora cannot use the term 'cameo' or any variation likely to cause confusion. A temporary restraining order in the case was originally granted in November of last year.
The suit was first brought in response to a feature available within the Sora app at launch called 'Cameo' that allowed users to add any likeness to videos they generated. Cameo claimed the use of the term in this setting was likely to cause confusion and could dilute their brand. OpenAI then carried on with the feature despite the suit.
U.S. District Judge Eumi Lee ruled on Saturday that Cameo's lawsuit was likely to succeed and granted a preliminary injunction, blocking OpenAI from continuing to use the name. An OpenAI spokesperson responded to the ruling saying, "We disagree with the complaint's assertion that anyone can claim exclusive ownership over the word cameo, and we look forward to continuing to make our case," according to Reuters.
This is just the latest in a string of intellectual property cases against AI companies that have accelerated as video generation capabilities have improved across the board. Rights holders of all kinds from authors and music publishers to major movie studios have taken the likes of OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity and others to court, seeking to protect their IP.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/federal-court-rules-that-openai-must-stop-using-the-term-cameo-124559072.html?src=rss
Tesla has stopped using the term Autopilot to sell its cars in California, thereby avoiding a 30-day sales and manufacturing ban in the state. If youll recall, a California administrative law judge ruled in December that the automaker misled consumers by using the terms Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. The judge recommended the suspension, but the California DMV gave Tesla 60 days to remove any untrue and misleading language in its marketing materials. In its announcement, the DMV said Tesla has taken corrective action and has stopped using Autopilot for marketing. Prior to that, the automaker has already clarified that driver supervision is still needed with Full Self-Driving. The judge was ruling on a complaint the DMV made back in 2022, wherein the agency accused Tesla of making and disseminating misleading statements. It argued that starting in May 2021, Tesla used deceptive marketing materials with the labels Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Capability, as well as claimed that the system is designed to be able to conduct short and long-distance trips with no action required by the person in the drivers seat. In reality, the vehicles equipped with those features could not at the time of those advertisements, and cannot now, operate as autonomous vehicles, the DMV said. A ban in California could have had a huge effect on the company, seeing as the state accounts for nearly a third of its sales in the country. Tesla also recently announced that it will stop the production of its Model S and X cars to turn its Fremont, California factory where they were being manufactured into a space for the production of its Optimus humanoid robots. Tesla has huge plans for Optimus and intends to start selling the robot to the public by the end of 2027. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-stops-using-autopilot-to-promote-its-evs-in-california-112533060.html?src=rss
Meta just announced a deal to buy "millions" of NVIDIA Blackwell and Rubin GPUs in a new long-term partnership. As part of that, the social media giant will deploy NVIDIA's Confidential Computing for WhatsApp, "enabling AI-powered capabilities across the messaging platform while ensuring user data confidentiality and integrity."
As part of the deal, Meta committed to using NVIDIA's Confidential Computing for WhatsApp messaging to allow AI inside the app while guaranteeing user data confidentiality. That technology will let Meta secure data during computation, not just when it's being shuttled to a server. It also allows software creators like Meta or third-party AI agent providers "to preserve their intellectual property," NVIDIA wrote on a blog about the technology.
Meta will also be the first to deploy NVIDIA's Grace CPUs in a standalone way, instead of incorporating them with GPUs. They're designed to run inference and agentic workloads when running in this fashion. Meta will also be using NVIDIA's Spectrum-X Ethernet switches.
Meta announced earlier this year that it would spend up to $135 billion on AI in 2026, so it's not a surprise that a big chunk of that is going toward NVIDIA. However the numbers involved, likely in the "tens of billions" according to analysts, represent a significant expansion of the partnership between the two companies. Meta plans to build up to 30 data centers, including 26 in the US, by 2028 as part of a $600 billion commitment.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/meta-will-run-ai-in-whatsapp-through-nvidias-confidential-computing-110002283.html?src=rss
YouTube is experiencing an outage across the United States, with users in other countries like Canada, India, the Philippines, Australia and Russia also having problems with accessing the website. The issue seems to have started at around 8 PM Eastern time and reached 338,000 reports on Downdetector before starting to taper down. More users reported having issues accessing the app, but I personally lost access to the web homepage first. As of 9:22 PM, users are still reporting being unable to access YouTube on Reddit. As of 9:33 PM, users are complaining that they still cant access the service, though others say its back up for them. Some people are reporting partial restoration of service, with the homepage now being accessible but not seeing any recommended videos. Downdetector also got thousands of reports of Google being down at around 8 PM Eastern time. As of 9:53 PM, Engadget Managing Editor Cherlynn Low reports that both YouTube and Google Home Assistant are still inaccessible for her. As of 10:12PM Eastern, Team YouTube posted on X that the issue has been completely fixed. While it didnt say why YouTube went down, the team acknowledged the problem before 9PM and posted an update 20 minutes later that its recommendation system was having issues, even though its homepage was back. Update, February 17, 2026, 10:27 PM ET: YouTube says the issue has been completely fixed.Update, February 17, 2026, 10:08 PM ET: Updated with reports that certain Google services are also down for some users.Update, February 17, 2026, 9:34 PM ET: Updated with reports from users.Update, February 17, 2026, 9:26 PM ET: Updated to correct time of outage, added new countries where its out and added new reports of YouTube still being inaccessible.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/youtube-was-down-for-thousands-of-users-in-the-us-020718788.html?src=rss
