Apple Is Gonna Have a Very Loaded 2026

Between the delay of the new AI-powered Siri, the apparent sales flop of the iPhone Air, and the exodus of high-level executives—whether due to retirement or attrition—Apple had a turbulent 2025. You win some, you lose some, right?

Looking ahead to 2026, Apple might have a pretty strong roadmap of new hardware planned to distract from its meager AI offerings. If you’ve been bored by Apple’s iterative device updates these past few years, you may find the company’s upcoming lineup refreshing.

Macworld’s Filipe Esposito has been busy this week sharing details on several new Apple devices slated for release as early as next spring.

Apple Studio Display 2

© Phillip Tracy / Gizmodo

Citing code from internal pre-release builds of iOS 26, Esposito says there will likely be a new version of the Apple Studio Display, which hasn’t been updated since it launched in March 2022.

The second-generation Apple Studio Display is likely to retain its 27-inch size and 5K Retina resolution, but come with ProMotion, a variable refresh rate technology that will allow the monitor to support 120Hz. This would make scrolling smoother and games feel more responsive. Esposito also says that the monitor will support HDR, or high dynamic range. This would mean the new Apple Studio Display would need to switch from its current LCD display tech to mini LED or OLED to achieve the higher brightness levels that HDR requires.

Lastly, Esposito says that the new Apple Studio Display might have an A19 chip, replacing the current model’s A13 Bionic chip.

ProMotion and HDR are the two features that are frequently listed as the major downsides to Apple’s 5K display. Personally, I’m hoping that Apple greatly improves the built-in Center Stage camera, which still looks fuzzy even after several firmware updates. I guess nothing can fix the poor picture quality other than a better image sensor, so fingers crossed.

‘HomePad’ smart home hub

Also citing internal iOS 26 code, Esposito says he believes that Apple is targeting a spring release for its long-rumored smart home hub, dubbed “HomePad.” The device is said to have an iPad-like screen with a square aspect ratio.

Hardware-wise, the HomePad will reportedly be powered by an A18 chip and include an ultrawide camera with 1080p resolution and Center Stage. Esposito says the front-facing camera will support FaceTime video and audio calls and Face ID for biometric security and automatic user account switching.

It’s unclear if Apple will launch the so-called HomePad as a wall-mountable smart home hub, as reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in November 2024, or if it will have the rumored swiveling screen attached to a robotic limb.

Whatever Apple’s smart home hub looks like, it’s expected to run the new contextual Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Esposito says the new Siri will be able to understand “what’s on the screen and which apps are open.”

AirTag 2

© Teodor Costachioiu (Shutterstock)

Introduced in April 2021, Apple’s AirTags item tracker has become a must-have for keeping track of anything it’s attached to—luggage, wallets, remote controls, pets, and—hell—even people like kids and the elderly.

Again, from Macworld, Esposito says code he’s seen suggests Apple will update the AirTag with improvements such as better Precision Finding (the feature that lets you use a supported iPhone and its built-in Ultra-Wideband chip to locate an AirTag just by pointing it in a direction), a new feature called “Improved Moving,” that lets you see more accurate tracking as the AirTag’s location moves, and better tracking in crowded areas.

Additionally, AirTag 2 could have more detailed battery level information and have an improved pairing process.

iPad (12th-generation) and iPad Air (M4)

© Kyle Barr / Gizmodo

Rounding out Esposito’s string of Apple leaks is information on the 12th-gen iPad. This is the successor to the entry-level iPad (11th-gen) that was updated in March of this year.

The 12th-gen iPad is expected to be a spec bump refresh with a new A19 chip and at least 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence features. It will also reportedly use Apple’s N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread.

Meanwhile, the iPad Air is said to get a faster M4 chip and the N1 wireless chip.

Both iPad models are expected to retain their hardware designs.

Foldable iPhone, OLED MacBook Pros, and more

© Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

That’s not even all of what Apple is expected to release in 2026. Apple will likely launch the iPhone 17e in the spring, replacing the iPhone 16e.

The rumored “affordable” MacBook, powered by an A18 Pro chip instead of Apple’s M-series silicon, should still be on track for release in the first half of 2026. Not much is known about this laptop, except that it’ll have a display that’s smaller than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air. This editor is secretly hoping for an ultra-compact laptop like the discontinued 12-inch MacBook.

And on the topic of MacBooks, it’s looking like we’ll get two versions next year. A refresh to the current 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros could happen sooner, updated with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. In the second half of 2026, Apple might launch redesigned MacBook Pros with a thinner body, OLED screens, no notch, and—get this—a touchscreen.

The spring could also see a minor refresh to the HomePod mini. A new S10 chip should be the news for the smart speaker, but no Apple Intelligence, according to Esposito.

In the fall, Apple is said to be switching things up. Instead of three or four new iPhones all at once, there might only be two series this year: the iPhone 18 Pros (including the 18 Pro Max) and the foldable iPhone. The latter should resemble book-style foldables like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold. It would be Apple’s first foldable, may have a crease-less screen, and cost as much as $2,400.

Where are the regular iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2? Apple is supposedly reserving the fall for its premium and Pro-series iPhones, while moving the launch of the regular non-Pro iPhone to the spring, possibly to release alongside the iPhone “e” series. Low iPhone Air sales have reportedly spooked Apple out of selling an immediate successor, which may not come out until 2027, if the model is not outright canceled.