Apple's product pipeline for 2026 and beyond is shaping up to be one of the most extensive in recent memory. Based on current rumors, the company is preparing a wave of iPhone updates, the first foldable handset, new Apple Watches, refreshed iPads, an array of Macs, and a new smart-home family. While dates can shift, this guide collects the most reliable expectations for the next several quarters.
September 2026 is expected to be the busiest month of the year. Apple is reportedly planning to announce the iPhone 18 Pro lineup alongside its first foldable iPhone, as well as updates to the Apple Watch, iPad mini, HomePod, Apple TV, and a new home hub. Here is what each product is rumored to bring.
September 2026: iPhone and Watch Updates
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
According to the latest rumors, the iPhone 18 Pro will feature a smaller Dynamic Island and a variable aperture main lens. This would allow the camera to adjust its opening, giving photographers more control over depth of field and low-light performance. The A20 Pro chip, built on Apple's 2-nanometer process, is expected to deliver a major efficiency and performance boost. Apple is also said to include its C2 modem, improving 5G performance and battery life. The 2026 color lineup is rumored to include a new dark cherry shade and a blue option.
Apple's First Foldable iPhone
Apple's first foldable iPhone may be called the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra. It is expected to have a book-style design with a 5.3-inch external display that unfolds into a 7.6-inch internal screen, roughly the footprint of an iPad mini when open. The device could be extremely thin, with reports pointing to 4.5mm when unfolded. Apple is said to be using advanced display techniques and a highly durable hinge to nearly eliminate the crease. Under the hood, the foldable is expected to run an A20 chip, feature dual rear cameras, and use a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the power button instead of Face ID. Pricing could reach as high as $2,500.
Apple Watch Series 12
The Apple Watch Series 12 may be a modest update. No major design changes have been rumored, and the device could simply receive a chip refresh with improved performance and battery efficiency. Expect it to launch alongside the iPhone in September.
iPad mini 8
The iPad mini 8 is likely to be a more substantial upgrade. Apple is reportedly adopting an OLED display for the first time, which should improve contrast, color accuracy, and power efficiency. The new model could also gain a more water-resistant design and a vibration-based speaker system that lets Apple remove the speaker holes from the chassis. It is expected to share the same A20 chip used in the iPhone 18 Pro.
HomePod mini 2
The HomePod mini 2 is reportedly ready, but its launch depends on Apple's next-generation Siri. The smarter assistant has not yet reached the finish line, so Apple is holding the speaker until the software is ready. The speaker is expected to use an updated S-series chip based on the Apple Watch Series 10, and new color options are likely. There has been some disagreement over whether it will include Apple's N1 networking chip, with leaked code suggesting it will not.
Home Hub, Apple TV 4K, and Smart Home Camera
Apple's home hub is a long-awaited addition to the smart-home lineup. It is said to feature an all-display design with a 7-inch iPad-like screen. The hub will support smart-home controls, music, video calls, weather, Siri queries, photos, notes, calendar events, and more. Two versions are reportedly in development: one designed for wall mounting and another with a speaker base similar to a HomePod mini.
The Apple TV 4K is also expected to be refreshed in September. It will reportedly gain an Apple-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, along with an A17 Pro processor. The faster chip should enable console-quality gaming and support for Apple Intelligence. No major design changes are expected.
Apple may also introduce its own indoor smart-home security camera by late 2026. The camera would connect to HomeKit and work with the upcoming home hub.
Late 2026: M6 Macs
Late 2026 could bring the first M6 Macs, built on Apple's 2-nanometer technology. The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro is expected to receive an M6 chip, while the 24-inch iMac is also likely to make the jump to M6. Apple is not expected to change the design or display of the iMac, which will continue to resemble the current model from 2024.
Late 2026 to Early 2027: OLED MacBook Pro and More
Apple is working on a MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen display, possibly called the MacBook Ultra. It could arrive in late 2026 or early 2027. The higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch models are expected to use M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, since Apple is not developing M6 Pro and M6 Max for this generation. The OLED MacBook Pro is expected to have an updated design.
The Mac Studio is also being refreshed with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, but launch timing is unclear because of RAM shortages and cost pressures. Similarly, M5 Pro and M6 Mac mini models are in development, though it is not known whether they will arrive in 2026 or slip to early 2027.
2027 Launches
Apple's 2027 calendar is packed with new devices, including some that normally launch in September. According to rumors, Apple is pursuing a split iPhone launch strategy. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone will launch in September 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 will arrive in spring 2027. The iPhone 18e is also expected in spring 2027, with few changes. The second-generation iPhone Air may also be held until spring after being delayed, with Apple reportedly considering adding a second camera and lowering the price to make it more appealing.
The AirPods Max could receive a refresh in 2027, with weight reduction and a newer H2 chip or better. That would add improved sound quality, stronger active noise cancellation, longer battery life, Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, Conversation Awareness, and support for Siri without the Hey prefix.
The iPad Pro is not expected to be updated in 2026, but a 2027 version could include a faster M6 chip and vapor chamber cooling for sustained performance.
Apple is also working on next-generation AirPods Pro with tiny infrared cameras and an H3 chip. The cameras could enable in-air gestures and improve integration with the Vision Pro. The product may be branded AirPods Pro 3 rather than AirPods Pro 4.
The low-cost iPad is expected to get an update with the newest A19 chip first used in the iPhone 17, though no major design changes are anticipated.
A 20th-anniversary iPhone is planned for September 2027. It is expected to have front and back glass that curves around the device edges, a narrow metal band running around the midpoint, a display that could be completely bezel-free, and a selfie camera hidden under the display. This would be the first iPhone with no display cutouts at all.
Apple is also working on a tabletop robot with a thin robotic arm and swivel base. It is expected to be a more powerful version of the home hub and could launch in 2027.
The MacBook Air and an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro are both expected in early 2027 with M6 and M7 chips, respectively. The budget 14-inch MacBook Pro will not have an OLED display, but it is expected to receive the same design overhaul as the higher-end models.
A new low-cost MacBook Neo is also in development, likely with a faster A19 Pro chip, more memory, and possibly new colors.
Products With Unknown Release Dates
Several other products are in development but have no confirmed release date. AirPods 5 could feature an H3 chip, improved sound quality, lower latency, and two models with and without active noise cancellation. Apple Watch Ultra 4 is in development, but feature details and launch timing are unclear. Apple is also working on AI smart glasses to rival Meta's Ray-Bans, with cameras, speakers, sensors, and AI but no displays. The glasses could support photos, music, phone calls, and AI interaction, and might be introduced as early as 2026 before launching in 2027.
Late 2027 to 2028
A second-generation OLED MacBook Pro is expected about a year after the first, with M7 Pro and M7 Max chips built for artificial intelligence workloads. OLED displays are also expected to come to the MacBook Air and iMac, but those updates may not arrive until 2028 or later.
Recent Product Refresh Timeline
To understand Apple's launch patterns, it helps to look at recent refreshes. So far in 2026, Apple has released the AirTag 2 in January; the iPhone 17e, MacBook Neo, M5 MacBook Air, M4 iPad Air, Studio Display products, and AirPods Max 2 in March; and M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models. The annual software updates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, visionOS 27, tvOS 27, and watchOS 27 were announced in June.
In 2025, Apple released the iPhone 16e in February, new MacBook Air, Mac Studio, iPad, and iPad Air models in March, the iPhone 17 series and Apple Watch Series 11 in September, and iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro updates in October. The major operating system updates arrived in September after being previewed in June.
The 2024 cycle followed a similar path: Vision Pro launched in February, MacBook Air and iPad updates arrived in spring, and the iPhone 16 family launched in September alongside the Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4. Those timelines help set expectations for 2026 and beyond.
Source:MacRumors News