Hot on the heals of the new iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods Pro, the next round of updates from Apple will include Macs, iPads and displays as well as a refreshed Vision Pro.
The next generation M5 will power new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air updates
Bloomberg reports that Apple next generation system on a chip, the M5 will debut during the first quarter of 2026. This new chip will power the next generation of MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iPad Pro devices. The same chip will likely land in the Vision Pro 2.
The next MacBook Pros are code-named J714 and J716 while the new MacBook Airs have been dubbed J813 and J815.
Updated Studio Displays are coming
Apple’s updates aren’t limited to computing products. We can also expect an updated display. Apple’s Studio Display was last updated in 2022. It’s powered by an A13 Bionic chip which is several generations behind Apple’s most recent silicon. The same Bloomberg report suggests there will be two new displays released, codenamed J427 and J527.
A low-cost MacBook will follow
Apple is also preparing a new, low-coast Mac laptop, which will likely be named MacBook. The low-cost MacBook will differ from the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro as it will use an A-series processor, like the iPhone and some iPads. It will probably have a smaller display to further differentiate itself from the rest of Apple portable computer range.
We are due for an iPad Pro upgrade
The iPad Pro will see updates from Apple soon as well. The big shift will be the introduction of the M5 chip. The release history of the iPad Pro suggests a refresh is imminent as it’s been almost a year and a half since the last update.
- 1st generation: September 2015 (12.9-inch only, 9.7-inch followed in March 2016)
- 2nd generation: June 2017 (15 months if we use the 9.7-inch release date)
- 3rd generation: October 2018 (17 months)
- 4th generation: March 2020 (17 months)
- 5th generation: April 2021 (13 months)
- 6th generation: October 2022 (18 months)
- 7th generation: May 2024 (19 months)
In order to ensure there is a gap between the iPad Pro and iPad Air, the middle-of-the-range iPad will get a boost to the M4 processor.
The Vision Pro update is long overdue
It’s been almost 2.5 years since the Vision Pro was announced in June 2023. While it was heralded as a new computing revolution, it has not lived up to the hype. However, it is far from being an abandoned product as it has received regular software updates from Apple as well as tools to help create content that is optimised for the Vision Pro.
While a processor bump is inevitable, perhaps we’ll also see a redesign that gets rid of the cumbersome external battery pack.
If you’re waiting for a more affordable Vision Pro, you may have to wait a while longer.
Yet another iPhone
It’s only been a couple of weeks since Apple released the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air but there’s an expectation that one more new iPhone will be released in the new year.
The iPhone 17e is anticipated to be released in early 2026. The iPhone 16e was released in February 2025, replacing the iPhone SE. While the iPhone SE was only updated ever couple of years, rumours persist that Apple will fresh its entry level iPhone annually. So we can expect an iPhone 17e towards the end of our summer.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.