Upcoming Apple Product Releases: Here’s What’s Coming in 2026
- Apple may skip the base iPhone 18 in 2026 — a first since 2007.
- MacBook Pros and Airs are set for M5 chips, but OLED fans will keep waiting.
- Siri’s big AI makeover could finally land next year, starting with a new smart hub.
Apple hasn’t even unveiled the iPhone 17 yet, but attention is already shifting to what’s coming in 2026 — and the picture is both exciting and a little unsettling. Reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and South Korea’s ETNews suggest that next year’s lineup will bring long-awaited updates across nearly every major category, while also leaving some conspicuous gaps.
Photo via Reddit // A concept image of Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 lineup, according to new rumors.
2026 iPhone Rumors
Apple will kick off 2026 with the iPhone 17e, a follow-up to this year’s 16e. Internally codenamed V159, the phone will feature Apple’s first in-house modem and the A18 chip — the same silicon that powers the iPhone 16 flagships. Expect a familiar design: a notch on top and a single rear camera.
But the bigger story is what happens later in the year. According to ETNews, Apple plans to skip the base iPhone 18 at its traditional September launch. Instead, only the iPhone 18 Air, Pro, Pro Max, and the first foldable iPhone will debut that fall. The standard iPhone 18 and its entry-level counterpart, the 18e, are now slated for spring 2027.
That would mark the first time since 2007 that Apple’s fall lineup excludes a mainstream iPhone. The strategy essentially splits the release cycle: premium models in September, lower-cost devices in March. Apple already tested this approach by launching the iPhone 16e earlier this year as a spring “entry” model.
From a business perspective, it’s easy to see the logic. Spreading launches across two halves of the year keeps sales momentum more evenly distributed, instead of relying almost entirely on the holiday quarter. Still, for customers, it could feel strange: come September 2026, you won’t find a standard iPhone on store shelves.
2026 iPad Rumors
The iPad family will see modest updates. Apple is preparing:
- A 12th-generation base iPad (codenames J581, J582) with a faster processor but the same familiar design.
- A refreshed iPad Air, moving to M4 silicon.
- The iPad Pro, which just received a sleek redesign in 2024, will likely hold its look but transition to the M5 chip in late 2025.
Photo via AppleInsider // Apple's 2026 iPads are coming, and here's what we know so far.
Nothing revolutionary here, but steady chip upgrades will keep the lineup competitive.
2026 Mac Rumors
The Mac portfolio is shaping up to be the star of 2026. According to Bloomberg, Apple will roll out:
- MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch) with the new M5 processors early in the year. These will be the last Pro models using the 2021-era chassis — recognizable by the notch and all-black keyboard deck. Disappointingly, they’ll stick with mini-LED panels, meaning those waiting for OLED MacBooks will need more patience.
- MacBook Air models (J813, J815), also powered by M5 silicon, expected to arrive early 2026.
- A long-rumored update to the Apple Studio Display, though details about size or new features remain vague.
Conspicuously missing are any references to a refreshed Mac Pro or the mythical iMac Pro.
Photo via MacRumors // Apple has a full lineup of products in the pipeline for 2026, with a few notable differences.
"The Affordable MacBook"
One of the most intriguing possibilities is an $800 MacBook, sitting just below the $999 Air (or $899 with student pricing). MacRumors even claims to have spotted references to this machine in Apple’s code, showing a 13-inch screen and multiple color options.
Ming-Chi Kuo has gone further, noting that Apple is testing a version powered by the A18 Pro chip — the same silicon found in the iPhone 16 Pro. At first glance, a mobile chip inside a Mac sounds like a compromise. But Apple has done this before. Its developer transition kit in 2020 used the A12Z, a tablet chip that performed surprisingly well when running macOS.
And let’s be real: Apple’s mobile silicon is powerful enough for an everyday laptop. At $800, a colorful entry-level MacBook could be a smash hit. The catch? Bloomberg’s latest reporting makes no mention of it. For now, it remains a rumor floating in limbo.
Apple Smart Home Hub
Beyond the usual Macs and iPads, Apple is working on a new smart home hub. Originally tipped for 2025, the device — internally known as J490 — is now targeting mid-2026 after delays tied to Apple’s AI-powered Siri.
Here’s what we know:
- It’ll feature a 7-inch display with rounded corners, a half-dome base, and thin bezels — something akin to a Google Nest Hub.
- It runs an OS called “Charismatic,” designed for multi-user households with widgets, clock faces, and Apple’s core apps (Music, Calendar, Notes, Reminders, etc.).
- A front-facing camera will recognize users and personalize content.
- Siri will take center stage, with Apple developing a large language model (LLM) version of Siri, capable of integrating personal data for richer responses. Gurman notes this new Siri could arrive “as early as next spring,” with a redesigned look rolling out across iPhones and iPads in 2026.
Apple is testing both in-house and third-party AI models (from OpenAI and Anthropic) for the new Siri. The hub, and eventually a tabletop robot slated for 2027, will rely heavily on these capabilities.
On the Horizon
- Cheaper Vision Pro models are in development, alongside a higher-end successor. An M5-powered Vision Pro is rumored for launch soon.
- A new Apple TV with Apple Intelligence integration could arrive in late 2025 or 2026.
- Updated HomePods (one with a built-in screen) and new AirPods are also expected around the same timeframe.
My Take
Apple’s 2026 roadmap is crowded but uneven. Macs are finally getting meaningful upgrades, and the smart home hub could be Apple’s most interesting new product since the Vision Pro. But the lack of clarity on an affordable MacBook feels like a missed opportunity — especially as Windows PC makers push aggressively into the sub-$1,000 Arm laptop space.
The delayed iPhone 18 also changes the rhythm of Apple’s fall events in a way that might throw fans off balance. For the first time, September may feel like a premium-only affair, with budget-conscious buyers left waiting until spring.
Apple’s hardware machine remains unmatched in scale, but if the company really wants to keep momentum, 2026 needs to be about more than just new chips. It has to surprise us.
Recommended by the editors:
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Published to Apple Scoop on 25th August, 2025.
