The Apple 2026 refresh won’t wait for fall. Instead, the company is front-loading the year with a wave of updated devices: MacBook Pros, iPads, a budget iPhone, and even a long-rumored smart home hub all set to land before summer. It’s a bold shift aimed at keeping sales strong outside of the usual iPhone window.
MacBook Pro leads the Apple 2026 refresh
Apple plans to roll out refreshed 14‑ and 16‑inch MacBook Pros with the new M5 chip early in the year. These models won’t look different on the outside, but performance is getting a noticeable jump. This could be the last generation before Apple moves the MacBook Pro line to OLED displays and redesigned frames.
A new MacBook Air with the same M5 chip is also on deck, along with a smaller, potentially budget-friendly Mac running the A18 Pro chip. That last one could shake up the entry-level laptop space and blur the lines between Mac and iPad.
iPads get smarter, not flashier
The Apple 2026 refresh includes an upgraded iPad Air powered by the M4 chip, plus a base-model iPad with speedier internals. While both models are getting brainier, their designs will stay put. It’s clear Apple’s focus this round is on performance over aesthetics.
iPhone 17e joins the early-year release wave
A new entry-level iPhone will also debut as part of the early 2026 batch. Dubbed the iPhone 17e, it keeps the look of the 16e but runs on the A19 chip for a noticeable boost. It’s a strategic drop, giving budget-conscious buyers a new option well ahead of the premium iPhone cycle.
Apple’s display and smart hub finally show up
Rounding out the Apple 2026 refresh is a new external display, the company’s first since the Studio Display. It’s expected to feature a 27-inch screen with higher resolution. Also on the list: a long-delayed smart home hub. Originally scheduled for 2025, the device is now aligned with Apple’s broader AI and Siri upgrades and could serve as both a HomeKit base and passive display.
Everything in Apple’s early 2026 refresh
- 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pros with M5 chip
- MacBook Air with M5
- Compact Mac with A18 Pro
- iPad Air (M4 chip)
- Entry-level iPad refresh
- iPhone 17e with A19 chip
- New 27-inch display
- Smart home hub with Siri integration
The Apple 2026 refresh isn’t just about volume; it’s about timing. By moving major hardware into the first half of the year, Apple is breaking old patterns and spreading out momentum. Quiet launches are out. A loaded spring is in.
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