Apple's early 2026 product lineup to include iPhone 17e, Studio Display, iPads

AppleInsider

Apple has become more predictable as it has settled into an annual Apple Silicon update cycle, but the next year will see some small shifts with more spring hardware releases alongside the iPhone 17e.

iPad Pro and MacBook Pro among products being updated with M5

Once you've followed Apple for a while, it's easy to pick up on certain patterns. There are always iPhones in September, Macs around October, and a sprinkle of other products in the spring and summer.

That cycle has become more predictable thanks to the advent of Apple Silicon, but a report from Bloomberg suggests there will be some slight adjustments to the expected schedule. Instead of getting MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPad Pro, and Apple Vision Pro updates in the fall, some have shifted to early 2026.

Apple is still expected to reveal the iPhone 17 lineup, Apple Watch Series 11, and the M5 processor later in 2025. However, the products using the M5 processor might have been kicked back to help balance Apple's books more post-iPhone season.

Still coming in 2025

Apple may repeat what it did with the iPad Pro previously and debut the M5 only in that spec-bumped model in October. There are rumors of an Apple Vision Pro launching in the fall too, but there are contradicting rumors over whether it will be M4 or M5.

That seems to be it for the fall season beyond possible smaller product spec bumps. The report makes no mention of the Mac mini, iMac, or Mac Pro.

A packed early 2026

The M5 Pro and M5 Max may not be revealed until early 2026 alongside the spec-bumped MacBook Pros. The MacBook Air is also not getting M5 until early 2026, according to this report.

MacBook Pro will see updates in early 2026

Apple is also expected to reveal a new "Mac external monitor" which could be an improved Studio Display, but the Pro Display XDR has also remained untouched since 2019. Rumors have been all over the place, which are hard to differentiate from wish casting, and include everything from ProMotion to OLED.

More of the iPad lineup will see simple processor updates in the spring. The base iPad will be bumped up to a new processor from the A16 in March or April, and the iPad Air will get an M4 and minimal other updates.

Apple will likely wrap up the spring release season with the iPhone 17e. It will be a simple successor to the entry iPhone 16e and feature a new processor and possibly a C2 modem.

The report suggests Apple's rumored tablet-like home hub is still coming, but the contextual Apple Intelligence delay is still holding things up. It could launch sometime in the first half of 2026.

It is set to be another busy year for Apple. There are also rumors of a new Apple TV 4K, updated HomePods, new AirPods, AirPods Pro, and more.

Rumor Score: Likely

Read on AppleInsider

skylarabrams

120 Hz 8K OLED would be great.

red oak

So, Apple decided to basically take FY 2025 off?

This company has lost all sense of urgency.   Spending time and resources on the F1 movie is a joke   

amusingfool

skylarabrams said:

120 Hz 8K OLED would be great.

Not sure if that's possible, even with Thunderbolt 5 (with the double-upstream mode, maybe; haven't done the math), but it would be amazing, if so.

applepoor

Got a 4th Studio Display (nano this time) for file server since it's original is now in the mountains in my office there. Have had zero issues with the first two VESA mount standard screen Studio Displays that came along with my M1 Ultra Mac Studio when it was released.

Will not upgrade displays if the first generation are still operational.

Next year, Apple's prices may be challenging as no one, including Cook, can guess if tariffs will be in place and at what rates. Dumkopf still thinks (or at least says) the source countries pay the tariffs while the reality is we the people pay it as a Federal sales tax whose proceeds go to the billionaire class.....