Apple is lining up one of its most aggressive hardware years in recent memory, with 2026 shaping up as a turning point for iPhone, Mac, wearables, and the smart home. From a first foldable iPhone to a radically redesigned watch and cheaper laptops, the company is preparing to test how far it can stretch its ecosystem without diluting the premium sheen that made it famous. I see a clear pattern in the reporting: Apple is using 2026 to push into new form factors, deepen its AI story, and reach price points it has mostly avoided.
At the same time, the slate is crowded enough that even devoted fans will have to choose their upgrades carefully. With more than twenty devices reportedly on the roadmap, including a low-cost MacBook, a new home hub, and multiple OLED screen transitions, 2026 looks less like a routine refresh cycle and more like a reset of Apple’s hardware strategy.
Foldable iPhone 18 and the next-gen Pro lineup
The most hyped device of 2026 is the first foldable iPhone, expected to sit inside the broader iPhone 18 family and finally bring a flexible display to Apple’s flagship line. Reporting indicates that Apple is planning a Split launch strategy, with the foldable model debuting alongside more traditional iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e devices. That approach would let the company test demand for a flexible screen without forcing every buyer into a new form factor, a cautious move that fits its usual pattern with big hardware shifts.
The Pro tier is also set for a substantial jump, with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max rumored to gain major camera and performance upgrades. One detailed rundown of the Pro specifications points to a new A20 chip and reworked camera system, while another report notes that, as of Thursday January 15, 2026 10:56 am PST, Joe Rossignol was already detailing how the Pro and Pro Max chassis could change to accommodate a larger battery. A separate overview from Apple watchers underscores that the rumor mill is already looking past the iPhone 17 prices to this more ambitious 2026 lineup.
LLM Siri, HomePad and the battle for the smart home
On the software side, Apple is preparing to overhaul its voice assistant with a large language model, turning Siri into a more conversational layer that sits across iPhone, Mac and the home. One detailed rundown of 2026 launches notes that Everything Apple Is includes a Fold iPhone, LLM Siri and a Low cost MacBook, framing the assistant upgrade as part of a broader AI push. Another report, which urges readers to Follow Jordan Hart, says Apple is expected to ship a new Siri that is explicitly described as more conversational, a shift that would finally bring the assistant closer to the generative AI experiences users now expect.
Hardware will carry that intelligence deeper into the living room. Mark Gurman has outlined Apple Devices Planned, including a New HomePod smart hub often referred to as HomePad and a Base iPad with faster internals. A separate roadmap of Winter and Spring 2026 hardware says Apple is also preparing a HomePod Touch as a brand new product, reinforcing the idea that the company wants a screen-centric hub to anchor its smart home story.
Low-cost MacBooks, OLED Pros and the Mac reset
On the Mac side, 2026 looks like a deliberate attempt to widen the laptop funnel while pushing the high end into new display tech. Multiple reports say Mac updates will include a refreshed MacBook Air, with Apple focusing on internal improvements rather than radical design changes for some models. A broader 2026 guide notes that the MacBook Air is expected in early 2026 and that Air buyers should see new colors that build on the light blue from 2025, a subtle but telling sign that Apple is still leaning on aesthetics to differentiate its mainstream notebook.
The bigger story is price. Several analysts say an Affordable MacBook is on the way, with one list of 15 new products explicitly calling out an Affordable notebook and noting that, While Apple has several products lined up for the first half of 2026, the rumored low-cost MacBook is the one to watch. Another deep dive into Apple 2026 device rumors says the company’s Low Cost MacBook Heads List of Device Rumors, even floating the idea that Yours for $799 or under could be the pitch. A separate video breakdown of the Mac roadmap argues that Apple may use 2026 to introduce its first ever OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro, which would sit at the opposite end of the price spectrum.
That high end is already drawing attention. One analysis of the most anticipated 2026 hardware singles out a Redesigned MacBook Pro and notes that MacBook Pros could receive an overhaul, According to reports, with an OLED panel and a stronger AI story. Parallel reporting on Apple Products Will Reportedly Be Upgraded With OLED Displays says Apple is preparing its first OLED MacBook Pro with Max chips, while a broader homepage summary reiterates that Apple Products Will across several lines. A separate video overview of the 2026 slate even suggests that, if rumors are accurate, Apple will use the year to both introduce a low-cost MacBook and push its iPhone launches into new territory.
Apple Watch Series 12 and a health-first redesign
Wearables are set for one of their biggest shifts since the original watch, with Apple Watch Series 12 widely tipped for a major redesign. One detailed report says Apple Watch Series 12 Could Bring Radical 2026 Redesign With Eight-Sensor Ring, Promising Major Accuracy Gains and Health Upgrades, describing a new sensor pattern beneath the cover glass. Another wearable-focused analysis advises buyers to Skip the Apple Watch 11 because next year’s Apple Watch 12 is tipped for a huge sensor upgrade, reinforcing the idea that health tracking is the main selling point.
Security and industrial design are evolving in parallel. Code references uncovered earlier suggest that on-device biometric authentication is coming, with one leak arguing that the security of processes such as Apple Pay could be considerably enhanced if Apple adds Touch ID to the watch. At the same time, a paywalled supply chain report summarized by forum posters says a high-end 2026 Apple Watch model will feature a glass cover on the underside, a change that could work hand in hand with the new eight-sensor ring. Another wearable roundup, which tells readers to When to click the Follow button for updates, underlines how closely enthusiasts are tracking these health-focused changes.
OLED everywhere, Studio Display 2 and the rest of the 2026 wave
Beyond headline devices, 2026 is also the year Apple starts standardizing OLED across more of its lineup. A detailed rundown of upcoming panels says Friday January reporting from PST by Joe Rossignol says Apple plans to upgrade the iPad mini, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, iMac and MacBook with OLED displays. A related homepage summary reiterates that Apple is moving aggressively to bring OLED to the Pro and Air tiers, while a separate front-page blurb again notes that Pro laptops are central to that shift. For buyers, the practical impact is better contrast, deeper blacks and potentially thinner, lighter devices across both tablets and Macs.
Displays are not just for portable devices. One 2026 gadget roundup says an Apple Studio Display 2, identified as J427, is on the roadmap, even as some insiders suggest the related Vision Air headset may slip to 2027 or 2028, with the author noting they have heard that Vision Air is slated for later. A broader 2026 preview, which argues that if rumors are accurate 2026 is going to be a huge year for Apple, expects an all-new home hub alongside the foldable iPhone and low-cost MacBook. Another comprehensive list of the most anticipated launches stresses that Apple has a number of new products launching that could have major impacts on the tech community at large, from AI-first laptops to more capable wearables.
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