Apple, which made an extremely aggressive entry with the affordable MacBook powered by an iPhone processor, the MacBook Air powered by an M5 processor, and the budget-friendly price-performance beast iPhone 17e, seems to be saving its main ammunition for the second half of the year.
According to the latest information leaked by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg and concrete reports from industry supply chains, Apple is preparing to make moves that will shake up the hardware world before the end of this year. In particular, we are in for a fall season where the company will break some taboos that it has been saying “we will never do” for years.
Touchscreen and OLED Display M6 MacBook Pro
Apple, which has long resisted touchscreens and complex designs in laptops, is finally giving in. The new MacBook Pro series with the M6 processor, expected to be unveiled towards the end of 2026, will mark a milestone in Mac history by featuring a touchscreen OLED display. This leap in screen technology won’t be limited to just deeper colors and blacks; these 14- and 16-inch beasts will bring the Dynamic Island design we’re familiar with from iPhones to the computer ecosystem.
Equipped with Apple’s new M6, M6 Pro, and M6 Max chips, developed using 2-nanometer production technology, this series will also require significant software updates on the macOS side. According to the information available, the interface will dynamically adapt to touch input.
For example, touching the menu bar will open expanded control panels that are much more suitable for finger presses. Apple is expected to launch these high-end OLED devices as a separate “premium” segment with a much higher price tag, without discontinuing the current M5 Pro and M5 Max models. Also on the list of announcements are a new 24-inch iMac with new color options for the desktop, and processor updates for the Mac Studio and Mac mini.
3rd Generation HomePod May Arrive
Apple’s long-delayed and highly anticipated smart home project is finally coming to light. Known internally as “J490” and currently referred to as HomePod in leaks, the new smart display device combines the iPad and HomePod into one. This innovative hardware, featuring a 7-inch square touchscreen, will be powered by the A18 processor, also used in the iPhone 16 series. Aiming to bring Apple Intelligence features right to the heart of your home, the device will feature an ultra-wide-angle Face ID-enabled camera.
Running on a completely new operating system codenamed Pebble, the HomePod will keep you in focus during FaceTime calls even as you move around the kitchen, thanks to its Center Stage feature. Furthermore, its smart sensors will detect who enters the room and instantly change the widgets and music playlists on the screen to suit that person. The device, which can be hung on the wall with a MagSafe-like magnetic system or used on a stylish desktop stand, is expected to offer a personalized, brand-new Siri experience.
Infrared Camera Apple AirPods and Foldable iPhone
Apple is preparing to make its big revolution in the smartphone market with the long-awaited and eagerly anticipated “first foldable iPhone” model. No major design changes are expected for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models to be unveiled in September; the company’s focus will primarily be on artificial intelligence performance and camera quality.
However, the surprise on the headphone front is quite ambitious. The new generation AirPods Pro headphones, planned to be unveiled before the end of the year, will feature tiny infrared (IR) cameras in their bodies. While the idea of adding a camera to an earbud may sound intriguing at first, these innovative sensors will work in tandem with Apple Intelligence to analyze the user’s surroundings.
The system will allow you to control media with simple hand and head movements, and when used with Apple Vision Pro in particular, it will take the spatial audio experience to a unique level. Finally, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 models, which will cement Apple’s dominance in wearable technology, and the new standard iPad model, which will get a boost on the processor side, will complete this grand hardware feast.
