NEW YORK: Apple is aiming for a date on or near March 8 to unveil a new low-cost iPhone and an updated iPad, sources say, establishing the mood for a potentially record-setting year of product launches.

The announcement will mark Apple’s first major event since a new MacBook Pro debuted in October. Like the company’s other recent launches, it’s expected to be an online presentation rather than in-person, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private, report agencies.

Given that the planned timing is still more than a month away, the company’s plans may change in the face of production delays or other changes, sources said. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on the company’s plans.

The new phone will be the first update to the iPhone SE model in two years, adding 5G network capabilities, an improved camera and a faster processor. But the design itself is expected to be similar to the current version, which debuted in April 2020.

The new iPad, meanwhile, will be an update to the Air model that features a faster processor and 5G. The company is also planning a new Mac with Apple-designed chips, which could also come as early as March.

In addition to announcing new devices, the company is planning to release iOS 15.4 in the first half of March, sources said.