Apple Prepares Major 2026 Hardware Push With iPhone 17e, New iPads, and M5 Macs [Gurman]

Apple is preparing a busy stretch of hardware launches over the next several weeks, setting the tone for a year that will eventually introduce entirely new product categories. The near-term roadmap includes a refreshed budget iPhone, updated iPads, and the next generation of Apple silicon Macs.



According to the latest newsletter from Mark Gurman, the rollout begins with the iPhone 17e. This device will replace the iPhone 16e and is expected to inherit the A19 chip from the flagship iPhone 17 lineup, along with MagSafe charging. It will also mark the shift to Apple's newest in-house cellular and wireless chips. Gurman reports that Apple plans to hold the price at $599, a strategy designed to market the device aggressively toward enterprise clients and users in emerging economies where competition from Android is stiff.


The iPad lineup is also slated for imminent updates, though the changes will be almost entirely internal. The entry-level iPad is set to gain the A18 chip, bringing Apple Intelligence support to the company's cheapest tablet for the first time. The iPad Air will jump to the M4 processor, while the iPad mini is the outlier in terms of hardware changes, finally making the move to an OLED display. Gurman notes that anyone hoping for broader design changes across the tablet family should "prepare to be disappointed."

On the Mac side, the transition to the M5 generation is about to begin. Apple is preparing to launch new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros as well as updated MacBook Airs powered by the M5 chip. These laptops are tied to the macOS 26.3 release cycle, with a launch window targeted as early as the week of March 2. Desktop users can expect new Mac minis and upgraded Mac Studio models to follow, along with a long-awaited refresh to the Studio Display, though the monitor will reportedly retain its current design.

Perhaps the most intriguing addition to the lineup for the first half of the year is a completely new laptop category. Apple is finalizing a low-cost MacBook that features a screen smaller than 13 inches and runs on an iPhone-class chip rather than an M-series processor. This device is positioned to compete directly with Chromebooks and cheaper Windows laptops in the education market, serving as a new entry point into the macOS ecosystem.

Looking further out to late 2026, the roadmap becomes even more ambitious. Gurman points to the arrival of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, as well as Apple's first foldable iPhone. The Mac lineup is also set for a notable shift later in the year with the release of a MacBook Pro featuring an OLED touchscreen, a feature Apple resisted for years but now appears ready to embrace.


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