Whenever Apple has a launch event, the world pays attention.

Last month, their iPhone and Apple Watch launch was watched by millions around the world, and everybody set about comparing the XS to the XS Mac and the XR.

Later today, the world’s first trillion-dollar company will have their second launch event of the year, and WIRED believes it could be more interesting than the first:

That’s because we’re expecting to see new iPads and a new MacBook, one that could fill the years-long gap since Apple last had an “affordable” premium laptop in its lineup. And, while Apple’s iPad leads the tablet category overall, tablet sales overall have declined year-over-year for the past five years.

There are really two ways Apple can go to try to make these large glass slabs more appealing: lower the cost and make them more accessible, which it did this past spring, or add some whiz-bang features to its top-of-the-line iPad Pro.

They’re expecting it to be more of the latter, with Apple pushing the message that the iPad Pro can be the only computer that fans need.

Reminder – whatever Apple releases will eventually end up at Digicape, South Africa’s largest independent Apple retailer, so you can keep an eye on their site for pricing details and more.

Then there’s the MacBook announcement:

Early reports, including ones from well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, suggest that a new MacBook Air-ish could include a fingerprint sensor for authentication, something that’s been present on high-end Windows machines for years now.

It won’t have a TouchBar, which will set it apart from the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros that come with this option. Perhaps the most exciting of the rumors is that this new MacBook Air-ish might have a Retina display.

The Mac Mini could get an overhaul, too, with the mini-desktop PC still proving popular amongst those who need a desktop workstation.

The launch will be shown live on Apple’s site, kicking off at 4PM our time.

[source:wired]