Apple enthusiasts may still be reflecting on the fanfare surrounding the highly anticipated iPhone 17 launch, yet attention is already beginning to shift toward what lies ahead. Veteran Apple analyst Mark Gurman, writing in his *Power On* newsletter for Bloomberg, has offered a tantalizing preview of the company’s future roadmap. According to his reporting, more than ten additional devices are currently in development and are expected to roll out either in the latter months of this year or within the first half of 2026. This suggests that Apple, far from resting on the laurels of its recent smartphone release, is continuing to invest heavily in expanding and refreshing its product ecosystem at an aggressive pace.
Not all of the upcoming hardware projects come as a surprise. Some represent natural, evolutionary iterations of the company’s existing product lines. A prominent example is the long-rumored iPad Pro featuring the forthcoming M5 processor. For many observers, the arrival of this device feels inevitable rather than speculative. More intriguing, however, is the rumor that this next-generation iPad Pro could be outfitted with a second front-facing camera. Such a feature would cater to users who prefer the portrait orientation, allowing for a more natural video conferencing experience when the tablet is held vertically. If timelines hold, the iPad Pro may become the very first Apple product to incorporate the M5 chip, potentially making its debut in October. Following closely behind, Apple is planning updated versions of its MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models, both likely scheduled for early 2026.
Another key development involves an accessible, budget-focused variant of Apple’s smartphone lineup. Gurman has revealed that the company is actively preparing an iPhone 17e, expected to hit the market early next year. The differences from its predecessor, the iPhone 16e, are anticipated to be fairly minor, with much of the design and functionality remaining virtually identical. Nonetheless, the inclusion of the A19 processor—the same chip driving the broader iPhone 17 family—ensures that this entry-level device maintains the advantage of modern performance capabilities without straying from the affordable tier of Apple’s catalog.
In addition to refreshes of its handhelds and computers, Apple appears poised to strengthen its position within the household ecosystem. Next year, both the Apple TV and the more compact HomePod mini are slated for updates, most notably in the form of new processors. With these upgrades will also come support for the company’s reimagined Siri voice assistant and Apple Intelligence, the growing suite of artificial intelligence-powered features that promise to reshape how users interact with their devices. Similarly, Apple’s ambitious Vision Pro headset—although largely unchanged in outward design—may be reinvigorated by the internal integration of an M4 chip and a redesigned headband that improves comfort. A more comprehensive overhaul of the Vision Pro line, however, is not expected until around 2027, suggesting that this year’s update is more about refinement than reinvention.
Perhaps the most noteworthy prospective addition to Apple’s catalog, at least in terms of broadening its product categories, is the much-discussed smart home hub internally referred to as J490. Earlier industry speculation hinted that this device could have been revealed as early as March of this year, yet no such unveiling occurred. Gurman now projects that the hub may finally see the light of day in the spring of next year. If true, it would represent Apple’s first substantial venture into a new category of consumer hardware for some time. The device, described as incorporating elements of both the iPad and the HomePod, would serve as a central smart display designed to anchor the modern digital home. Given Apple’s gradual but deliberate expansion into home technology, this hub seems like the natural culmination of groundwork the company has been building for years.
The list of forthcoming innovations does not end there. Also part of the forecast are a next-generation iteration of Apple’s location-tracking puck, the AirTag 2, and a pair of fresh monitors. The revamped AirTags will reportedly boast an improved wireless chip that provides users with greater range and more reliable connectivity, solving concerns expressed about the existing model. Meanwhile, the two monitors—known currently only by their internal designations of J427 and J527—are rumored to measure 27 inches apiece. While technical details remain scarce, this has prompted speculation that they may serve as successors to Apple’s flagship Pro Display XDR and the more moderately priced Studio Display. Both of those products, particularly the Pro Display XDR first released in late 2019, are beginning to show their age, and replacements would be timely for users demanding cutting-edge visual fidelity.
Taken together, this collection of forthcoming devices underscores Apple’s relentless drive not only to iterate on its most successful products but also to tentatively explore uncharted territory. Whether it be through evolutionary updates to the iPad, iPhone, or MacBook lines, subtle refinements to entertainment and lifestyle devices, or bold new ventures into smart home hardware, Apple appears determined to keep its customer base engaged and its ecosystem indispensable.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/apple-rumors/777791/whats-next-for-apple-iphone-17-m5-ipad-pro
