- A new report lifts the veil on Apple’s plans for 2026
- Major new features could affect multiple Apple product lines
- Iconic models such as the foldable iPhone or connected glasses could finally see the light of day
Apple is preparing to unveil a slew of new devices in 2026, according to a new report. These launches mark the brand’s 50th anniversary and include extensive updates to the product catalogue.
All this information is from the latest edition of Empowerment newsletterwritten by Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman. Here you can read what you can expect and when.
Early 2026
- iPhone 17e
- Entry-level iPad
- iPad air
From the beginning of 2026, the cheapest model in the iPhone series will expand further with the introduction of the iPhone 17e. This device would feature the A19 chip from the iPhone 17 and offer a new design that includes the Dynamic Island instead of the notch on the current iPhone 16e.
As for the iPad, the base model would be upgraded to an A18 chip, an improvement over the current version’s A16. Meanwhile, the iPad Air will use the M4 chip instead of the M3.
March-April 2026
- Connected speaker to the screen
- Screen connected to the wall.
- Siri is powered by artificial intelligence
According to Gurman, Apple’s long-awaited home automation products should finally see the light of day in March or April 2026. Underneath is a smart speaker with a built-in display, meant to compete with products like the Amazon Echo Show. According to Gurman, Apple also plans to launch a wall-mounted smart display at the same time.
On the software side, the Siri voice assistant finally benefits from the improved AI update initially announced in June 2024. After almost two years of waiting, this update will allow Siri to interact with other applications, better understand what is happening on the screen and adapt to the user’s personal context.
June 2026
- Operating system updates
- New Apple intelligence features
Every year in June, the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) showcases the latest developments in software and operating systems. The 2026 edition will be no exception, with the long-awaited presentation of iOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27 and other updates.
In addition to the new systems, Gurman said major changes are also expected in Apple’s “intelligence and artificial intelligence strategy in general.” Given the dynamic competition in this sector, Apple will have to work hard to convince itself that its approach to artificial intelligence is cutting edge.
September 2026
- iPhone 18
- foldable iPhone
- New Apple Watch models
- Overview of smart glasses
For fans of the brand, September is all about the new iPhones. In 2026, this will lead to the launch of the iPhone 18 series, with the proprietary C2 modem. But the real announcement, after years of speculation, could be that of the first foldable iPhone.
The Apple Watch series will also receive several updates. Mark Gurman did not mention which models were affected, but the launch of the Apple Watch Series 12 seems likely. However, the development of the SE and Ultra models is still uncertain; These variations are not systematically evaluated annually.
According to Gurman, however, Apple is pushing the development of its smart glasses at a rapid pace and may even preview the product before the end of next year.
Finally, a new iPad mini is expected in 2026, but an updated version of the iPad Pro is not expected until 2027. The journalist did not mention the launch time of this iPad mini, but since the latest model will be launched in October 2024, it is unlikely to hit the market before September 2026.
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