Apple Reportedly Warns Retail Workers About Deluge of Customers as It Releases Unusually Cheap Gadgets

According to the latest from Bloomberg’s Apple reporter Mark Gurman, Apple leakers say the company is expecting to be inundated with customers as it releases a line of new products—in particular a cheaper version of the iPhone 17, and new bottom-tier MacBook. It’s all part of what Tim Cook says will be a “big week†starting today.

A big week ahead. It all starts Monday morning! #AppleLaunch pic.twitter.com/PQ9gM2Gl2r

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 26, 2026

Last month, data from the Commerce Department revealed worryingly flat consumer spending during the holidays. That’s on top of brand new reports of a stagnating job market, and global investors seeking safety instead of risk due to the outbreak of a new war in Iran. In other words, there’s reason to believe consumers are looking for bargains, not splashing out on luxuries.

Consumers should expect a new entry-level iPhone (an iPhone 17e most likely, to match last year’s iPhone 16e), bottom-end iPad and iPad Air model releases, and—the most mysterious new product of all—a rock-bottom-end MacBook equipped with a smartphone chip, meant to “drive a serious number of switchers from Windows machines and Chromebooks,†Gurman says.

There will also reportedly be new MacBook Airs and faster MacBook Pros, however, so this is not purely a moment for bargain shoppers.

But Gurman claims Apple has issued a warning to its retail employees: they should expect a surge in customer interest not unlike those that accompany new phone releases, which means “longer hours.†Apple has also, apparently, been gearing up to create new displays in Apple Stores, including a dedicated table for one of the newly released products—which Gurman thinks will be a special display for the new cheap-as-hell laptop.