GoKawiilApple has already unveiled numerous products to date, including new versions of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the iPad Air, the all-new MacBook Neo, and more. Despite having a busy season thus far, there’s still much more in the pipeline worth waiting for.
iPads
There’s two new iPad releases rumored for 2026: the base iPad, and the iPad mini.
The new entry-level iPad is going to be a light refresh, for the most part. Expect an A18 or A19 chip (some rumors differ) to bring support for Apple Intelligence. It could also sport the N1 chip for improved connectivity.
iPad mini, on the other hand, is much more exciting. Rumors indicate that the next iPad mini will be the first meaningful upgrade since its last redesign in 2021. It should sport an OLED display, water resistance, and a newer chipset. OLED would be a meaningful upgrade for the iPad mini, and iPad mini would be the second iPad to gain this display tech after iPad Pro in 2024.
iPad Air is brand new, just refreshed with the M4 chip. You can safely buy that model if you’re eyeing an upgrade. M5 iPad Pro, while not quite recently refreshed, is still going to be the latest model for quite some time. iPad Pro isn’t due for M6 until sometime in 2027.
iPhones
So far, the only iPhone released this year has been the iPhone 17e. That was a minor upgrade, though MagSafe was a delightful addition. If you want one, go ahead – you can’t really go wrong with this phone, especially if you want new. If you’re fine buying used, you could probably consider other options (link refurb iPhone article).
As for the rest of the iPhone lineup: we’re about at the halfway point between the iPhone 17 lineup release and the iPhone 18 lineup launch.
If you’re eyeing an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max, I’d say we’re kind of 50/50 on this one. Sure, you can wait another 5 months until the new models come out, but rumored upgrades are rather sparse. Smaller dynamic island, a new lower aperture telephoto lens, and a new variable aperture on the main lens are the headlining upgrades. If those things don’t excite you, maybe don’t spend your time waiting.
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