Gurman: New MacBook Pros, iPads, and iPhone 17e Are Coming in Early 2026

Apple is planning to refresh its MacBook Pro, iPads, and entry-level iPhone in the first half of 2026, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported yesterday. The new MacBook Pros are expected to feature Apple’s upcoming M5 chip, while the iPad Air will be upgraded to the M4. Moreover, the iPhone 17E will also succeed to the entry-level iPhone 16E released in February 2025.

Apple possibly releasing a new entry-level iPhone every year would be an interesting change: There was a four-year gap between the release of the 1st-gen and 2nd-gen iPhone SE, while the 3rd-gen model was released two years after the 2nd-gen model. Gurman also expects Apple’s entry-level iPad to be upgraded with a newer chip nearly a year after the release of the A16 model in March 2025.

Besides the launch of the iPhone 17 series, Apple’s new product lineup for the fall of 2025 should also include new iPad Pro models with M5 chips, new entry-level and high-end Apple Watches, and a new version of the Apple Vision Pro with an M4 chip. Apple also used to release new MacBook Pros in the fall, but Gurman believes that the current MacBook Pro release cycle may last a little longer than usual. “The new products are part of a push to get back to more consistent revenue growth following this fall’s iPhone launch,” Gurman wrote.

Here’s what to expect from Apple by early 2026, according to Gurman:

M5 MacBook Pros: These new models are expected to be the last to feature the current MacBook Pro design, with future models adopting a new case and OLED screens, similar to iPhones and iPad Pros.

New MacBook Air: The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models should also be upgraded with M5 chips, while retaining the same design introduced with the M2 model.

New Mac external monitor: Gurman previously reported that Apple was working on a new 27” Studio display, and this will be the first new Mac external monitor since the release of the Apple Studio Display in 2022.

M4 iPad Air: Apple’s mid-range tablet will get M4 chips in place of the M3, but it’s not expected to get other significant changes.

New entry-level iPad: Gurman believes that this new iPad will look the same as the A16 model released earlier this year, but it will feature a faster chip. The current model doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, so that will likely change as well.

iPhone 17E: The new entry-level iPhone should look similar to the iPhone 16E, but it’s expected to feature the same A19 chip as the upcoming iPhone 17.

Lastly, Gurman believes that Apple’s smart home hub will also launch in the first half of 2026. Apple reportedly planned to launch the new device earlier this year but had to postpone it due to the AI updates for Siri still being far from ready (https://www.thurrott.com/apple/318239/apple-delays-much-anticipated-ai-updates-for-its-siri-assistant).