Apple released no fewer than seven products last week, including the MacBook Neo, the M5 MacBook Air, the iPhone 17e and much more. But there are still three more products likely to be coming out of Cupertino this spring — and one of them is among Apple’s most popular offerings.
Here’s what new Apple products we can look forward to in the next few months across multiple categories.
Fresh Apple products expected in spring 2026
Some of us remember a time when all Apple made was desktop computers. Then it added laptops, external displays, MP3 players, tablets, smartwatches, wireless earbuds … the list goes on and on. Which means the company is never really all that far away from bringing out new models in some product category.
For this spring, leaks and industry reports reveal that Apple will launch a powerful new macOS desktop for professionals, a low-cost tablet and a streaming device. And even more new products might be on the tech giant’s agenda before summer … well before the usual fall announcements.
iPad 12: Adding AI to Apple’s budget tablet
Many experts thought Apple would introduce the iPad 12 along with all the other new products announced last week. Nope. But the company is still expected to launch the 12-generation basic iPad in the first half of 2026.
The central focus of this update is the integration of Apple Intelligence, making it the final model in the tablet family to support the company’s suite of generative AI tools. To make this possible, Apple will likely transition the device to either the A18 or the latest A19 chip, paired with a necessary jump to at least 8GB of RAM — the current version includes only 6GB, which isn’t enough for the company’s AI suite.
While Apple Intelligence is currently somewhat anemic, we expect more features to arrive in iPadOS 26.5 in May. And iPadOS 27 could bring dramatic improvements this fall. If Apple AI turns out as well as the company hopes, the iPad 12 would be the most affordable way to access it.
Beyond the processor, technical leaks point to improved wireless connectivity thanks to Apple’s N1 chip. That could bring Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 to the budget-friendly slate.
While the internal specifications should receive a boost, the iPad 12 likely will maintain its familiar external design to preserve its accessible $349 starting price. Reports indicate that the device will continue to feature an 11-inch, non-laminated display, with a chassis nearly identical to the current 11th-generation model.
Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Rumors also point to the possibility of a new Mac Studio powered by M5 Max and M5 Ultra configurations coming soon. According to supply-chain whispers and analyst speculation, these updated chips will bring notable gains in processing power and graphics performance. That would reinforce the Mac Studio’s appeal to professionals working in video production, 3D animation, software development and other demanding creative fields.
The M5 Max processor makes the newly announced MacBook Pro the best-performing Mac, surpassing the 2025 Mac Studio. The M5 Ultra is sure to bring the “fastest Mac” title back to Apple desktops, where it usually resides.
The upgraded Mac Studio likely will retain the compact, desk-friendly design of the current model. That means it’ll pack plenty of ports, such as HDMI, USB-A, 10Gb Ethernet and more.
The current M4 Max/M3 Ultra version of the desktop computer launched in March 2025, so it seemed likely its successor would arrive with Apple’s rush of new products this month. Since it didn’t, a debut at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in early June seems likely. (The powerful computer is widely used by developers.)
The refreshed M5 Max/Ultra Mac Studio is expected to start around $1,999 and go up from there, depending on the specs buyers choose. It’s not yet clear whether pros will be able to configure it with a whopping 512GB of unified memory (aka RAM) after Apple removed the option from the current version.
Apple TV 4K streaming device
The most recent update for the Apple TV 4K streaming device came in 2022, so it’s certainly due for an update.
The most significant rumored change is the transition to the A17 Pro chip, which would give it a general performance boost. Speculation indicates that Apple Intelligence could come to the streaming device, though the company has not committed to this.
The faster chip would undoubtedly make the device better at running Apple Arcade games. Plus, it might even be able to handle console-grade titles that are currently restricted to Apple’s flagship mobile devices and Macs. Gamers would surely welcome playing Assassin’s Creed Mirage or Resident Evil 3 on an Apple TV 4K, for example.
The 2026 version of the Apple TV 4K might pack a dedicated N1 networking chip, too. This would introduce Wi-Fi 7 support and improved Thread networking for when the device functions as a Home hub.
The new Apple TV probably won’t arrive in March. Instead, rumors point to a launch in the first half of 2026. And a price hike is considered unlikely, so expect it to start at $129.
More Apple smart home devices … eventually
Rumors have circulated for months that Apple is prepping a collection of smart home accessories, including one that combines the features of a HomePod with an iPad.
It’s difficult to pin down a release window because these devices reportedly will depend heavily on the AI-enabled version of the Siri voice assistant that Apple has been struggling to launch for many months.
Some critical parts of the Siri upgrade could appear in May along with iOS 26.4. That raises the possibility that the device, possibly called the “HomePad,” might also hit store shelves in spring 2026. Alternatively, Apple could hold off on releasing the device until the AI-powered chatbot functionality supposedly coming to Siri appears this fall.
What’s not coming to Apple in spring 2026
Earlier this year, we heard a flurry of MacBook-related rumors. Some discussed the budget model, dubbed the MacBook Neo, that Apple released last week. Others revealed details on the new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro or M5 Max chips. And some related to a touchscreen-enabled macOS notebook.
These all relate to separate products. However, some people mixed them together and came up with the idea that a touchscreen-enabled MacBook would arrive very soon. To be clear: It is not.
While convincing reports indicate Apple is working on the first MacBook with a touchscreen, this must wait until macOS 27. The touchscreen MacBook will require significant modifications to the Mac’s operating system. So the device won’t arrive until at least this fall.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
One response to “Apple’s not done: 3 more products coming this spring”
I’ve been waiting on a new AppleTV since tvOS 17 (I think it was) made my 4k 1st gen incredibly slow. At this point I may just get a 3rd gen off eBay.