New York, March 3, 2026, 08:36 EST — Premarket.
- Apple (AAPL) slipped roughly 0.5% before the bell, after closing just 0.2% higher on Monday.
- Apple rolled out the new iPhone 17e, pricing it at $599—buyers get 256GB of storage standard. The iPad Air refresh? That one stays put at a $599 starting price.
- March 4 preorders are on radar for traders, with the recent oil surge also shaping the overall risk tone.
Apple stock slipped roughly 0.5% in premarket action Tuesday, following the company’s launch event that introduced the iPhone 17e and a refreshed iPad Air. Shares had closed Monday at $264.72, ticking up 0.2%.
Apple left the iPhone 17e’s entry price unchanged at $599 but bumped base storage to 256GB, even as memory chip costs surge worldwide. On another front, Google has looked at running servers in its own data centers to support a new Siri version built on Gemini that still aligns with Apple’s privacy requirements, the Information reported. Both companies declined to comment, according to Reuters.
Investors are caught in a tricky position here. Leaning harder into value can shore up unit demand, sure, but when parts grow scarce and costs climb, that same move can squeeze margins.
Apple’s iPhone 17e debuts with the A19 chip, built on 3-nanometer tech — a process that crams in more transistors, usually boosting performance and trimming power needs. Also on board: MagSafe, the company’s magnetic accessory-and-charging setup, plus the new C1X modem. Apple claims the modem delivers higher speeds while drawing less power. “A compelling option,” is how Kaiann Drance, Apple’s VP of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, described the phone for users considering the iPhone 17 lineup. Apple
Apple rolled out its revamped iPad Air lineup, now running on the M4 chip. Pricing starts at $599 for the 11-inch and $799 for the bigger 13-inch. Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, called the new iPad Air a device offering users “more ways than ever” to be creative and productive. Apple
Goldman Sachs stuck with its Buy call and $330 target following the launch, noting that Apple’s move to keep prices steady while boosting specs could bolster its grip on market share. Still, the firm flagged lingering worries over product gross margins.
Traders are watching the modem transition closely. Qualcomm slipped roughly 2% following Apple’s latest device launch, Barron’s noted. Apple pushing further into its own connectivity chips is already sending ripples through its supplier network.
Macro factors look set to dominate again. Stock futures signaled a steep drop at the open, with oil prices jumping on the back of Middle East tensions—pushing inflation anxieties higher, according to Investopedia.
Apple faces a dilemma: if the memory crunch gets worse, keeping prices level could get tricky, and the company may have to choose between protecting margins or moving more units. There’s also a chance a mid-tier update just doesn’t land if people keep hanging onto their old devices longer.
Apple’s stock will be on traders’ radar after the bell. Preorders for the iPhone 17e and the latest iPad Air kick off March 4, setting up for in-store sales on March 11.
