Apple Plans Updates for iPads, MacBooks, and Other Devices

Apple is planning to update the basic iPad and the iPad Air, and also to introduce a new external Mac display. The new low-cost iPads have the internal code names J581 and J582. The iPad Air models are coded J707, J708, J737, and J738. These new versions will be released relatively soon, compared to the current models, which came out in March 2024.

The new budget iPad is expected to keep the same design but will get a faster processor. It may launch as early as March or April 2026. The current model has the A16 chip, which was first released in 2022.

The new iPad Air will upgrade from the M3 to the M4 chip, but with no major design changes. These models are expected to launch around the same time as the new basic iPads.

The iPad Air has been very successful for Apple since 2024, when a 13-inch version was introduced. It offers the size of an iPad Pro at a lower price (around $800).

The iPhone 17e and Apple’s New Annual Strategy

The upcoming iPhone 17e, with internal code V159, will include the new A19 chip, the same one used in the rest of the iPhone 17 series. The current iPhone 16e has the A18 chip. The new model is expected in early 2026, just months after the previous one. This signals a shift to an annual upgrade cycle for Apple’s low-end iPhones. The previous SE line has only had two updates since 2016.

New MacBooks and External Display

Apple is also working on upgraded MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models. These were originally planned for 2025, but the launch may now be pushed to early 2026. The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, with code names J714 and J716, will use the M5 chip. These will likely be the last to use the current design, introduced in 2021.

Future models will have a new design and OLED displays, similar to those used in iPhones and iPad Pros.

New MacBook Airs (J813 and J815) are also expected in the first half of 2026. Apple is also preparing its first new external Mac display since the 2022 Apple Studio Display, with code name J427.

Vision Pro and a Cheaper iPad Pro

Apple plans to update the iPad Pro with the M5 chip in fall 2025 (models J817, J818, J820, J821). The iPad Pro hasn’t been updated since May 2024, and its starting price is still $999.

At the same time, Apple is preparing a faster version of the Vision Pro headset. It will also release updated Apple Watch models — both basic and premium — and a slimmer iPhone 17 Pro with a new design.

New Smart Home Device and Broader Strategy

Apple is still working on a new smart home device, code-named J490. It was originally scheduled for March 2025, but it has been delayed indefinitely. This is mainly because it depends on new features from the upgraded Siri, which were also postponed. The device might now launch in the first half of 2026.

All of these upcoming products are part of Apple’s broader strategy to boost revenue growth. After strong sales during the pandemic, the company has faced lower demand and slower product upgrade cycles in the past two years, especially for iPads.