RAM prices are spiraling out of control in the United States, leading many to worry that electronic devices (computers, smartphones, and anything that indirectly relies on NAND) will be beyond the reach of consumers. Probably in the next few years. The question on everyone’s mind now is how this will affect Apple, a company notorious for overpricing its products. Still, there are a slew of rumored Apple products coming in 2026. Even if we can’t afford them, we can still enjoy them through YouTube videos.
Again, these are rumor release. Leakers and analysts look at supply chains and talk to inside sources to guess, sometimes with great accuracy and sometimes not, what products will be launched next and when. However, they remain rumors. Apple may not be able to stop insiders from chattering, but it’s notoriously tight-lipped ahead of announcements, often shortly before launch. Anything on this list is subject to change and may not be posted as quickly, or at all. With that said, these six are the most exciting potential releases of 2026.
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iPhone folding
ftp. Artist’s interpretation of iPhone Fold on black background – ftp./YouTube
Foldable phones may be a niche technology that’s out of the reach of the average consumer, but they’ve been around for longer than we think. The first version was released in 2018, almost ten years ago. Samsung has launched its seventh generation product: Galaxy Z Fold 7. Most major manufacturers except Apple have one. The tech giant has been quietly developing its own foldable technology, and 2026 seems like a reasonable launch window.
Traditionally, Apple is trying to perfect what its competitors are already doing. Notable features of the Fold could include a potentially crease-free display from Samsung, a “liquid metal” hinge, and atypical screen ratios. If the latter rumor is true, the iPhone will be shorter at about 5.3 inches (about 9 mm thick) when folded, and roughly equivalent to the 7.76 inches (about 4.8 mm thick) of an iPad Mini when unfolded. YouTuber Snazzy Labs printed out an allegedly leaked design mockup and “used” it to understand why Apple didn’t go with the typical screen size of two side-by-side smartphones. He thinks the proportions are actually clever and make the foldable device easier and more enjoyable to use.
This could also be one of the first iPhones to feature a hole-punch camera design, and could even mark a return to the iPhone’s old Touch ID days. Some people believe that the iPhone Air is a test of ultra-thin technology, and the iPhone Fold will improve it and fix its problems, including using more efficient chips and modems. Of course, this will cost you. Expect to pay around $1,800 on the low end and up to $2,500. Foldable devices are expensive, but that’s Apple.
Budget MacBook
Old MacBook model on white table – Karolis Kavolelis/Shutterstock
The MacBook is an incredible device, and anyone thinking about switching from Windows to a Mac will probably be glad they did. However, there is one small problem: the price. Apple’s “cheapest” current-generation M4 MacBook Air starts at $899. You can get cheaper prices through education discounts, refurbished models, or buying new obsolete models on Amazon, but even then it’s still pretty pricey for one of Apple’s entry-level laptops. That could change if the long-rumored cheaper MacBook arrives in 2026.
TrendForce says this will be a smaller 12.9-inch MacBook with a more competitive price, possibly as low as $599. Of course, this is Apple we’re talking about, so this price point may come at the expense of things like RAM, display tech, and Thunderbolt support. The most surprising aspect of the rumor is that it may use the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro. Some people’s first reaction is to wonder how a smartphone chip can run macOS, but you’d be surprised. According to Geekbench data, the A18 Pro performs better than Apple’s 2020 M1 chip. Many still believe the M1 chip is powerful enough for today’s computing needs, so we can safely assume the A18 Pro will get the job done – especially if we’re just talking about day-to-day web browsing and email.
Of all the items on this list, this is one of the most exciting because it will significantly reduce the entry cost of buying a MacBook. Plus, it could fill the gap we’ve been missing in a small, ultraportable MacBook. Students and light computer users will be happy, but only if Apple can be aggressive with pricing, especially during the RAM crisis.
New home center
An Apple HomePod with an iPhone leaning on it, pink background – Kaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock
Apple offers a great centralized smart home interface with HomeKit, but to use devices away from your home network, you need a home hub. This requires HomePod speakers or Apple TV. Both options haven’t been updated in a while, and neither is designed specifically for smart home control. They just add it on top of what they already do. A smart home hub will be a device specifically designed for this purpose.
In a nutshell, this is basically an iPad mounted on a speaker, a smart home assistant that can talk to you or control it with touch. It could have some really cool features, like react to the physical presence of a specific person to decide what information to display or what actions to perform, and maybe even spin. However, there are very few rumors about the product, and past leaks have tried and failed to tie its launch to previous years. Take this with a grain of salt.
Siri is the elephant in the room. Voice assistants are notoriously bad, to the point where there are a lot of things you shouldn’t even bother asking it. An ostensibly voice-first device must be reliable enough so that you can issue commands to it in rooms of various sizes and configurations, with varying noise levels. Who knows, maybe that’s the whole reason why previous predictions about smart hubs fell through. Apple has been rushing to catch up with other AI-powered chatbots and assistants, and in doing so has gone head-to-head with rival Gemini while refining its own in-house solutions. If Siri improves significantly, it could remove the barriers to home center exit.
AirPods Pro 3…Pro
A hand holds a pair of AirPods Pro 3 on a black background – photoschmidt/Shutterstock
AirPods Pro are one of Apple’s best products and continue to get better with every generation. They’re good enough that Apple only releases them every few years. While the recent AirPods Pro 3 did have some controversy when it came to sound, they were otherwise an upgrade from top to bottom. Surprisingly, we may see a slight follow-up upgrade in 2026.
This will be the “Pro” version of AirPods Pro 3. AirPods Pro 3 Pro? AirPods Pro 3.5? We don’t know, but calling them AirPods Pro 4 isn’t enough of an upgrade. Two possible improvements are rumored. First, there is a built-in infrared camera. It’s not 100% clear what the infrared camera will be used for; some have speculated that it will allow gesture-based music control without touching the AirPods, or provide them with some form of Apple Intelligence functionality. The AirPods Pro 3’s built-in heart rate sensor caught everyone off guard, and many people may have turned off the feature just to save power. Still, it would be nice to be able to control your AirPods without using your hands or your voice.
Another surprise for the AirPods Pro 3 was the decision to use the then three-year-old H2 chip hardware. The rumored upgrade may solve this problem by introducing the H3 chip. The H2 chip still performs very well in the AirPods Pro 3 (based on first-hand experience), so it will be interesting to see what benefits the upgraded chip brings beyond improved battery efficiency.
Improved MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro box on pedestal in dark room – AZFAR ARTS/Shutterstock
The MacBook Pro series certainly lives up to its name. Their power and battery life are incredible, leaving almost any competitor in the dust. However, anyone who owns a MacBook Pro knows that they are big and heavy. Apple seems to be aware of this, as there are rumors of some exciting changes coming to the MacBook Pro range.
Apple is reportedly slimming down the MacBook Pro, but it’s unclear how much, so the extra size may be the first thing to go. Perhaps the cooling technology of the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Max will support the fanless MacBook Pro. Another major wish of MacBook owners may come true: an upgrade from XDR to OLED display technology, which many high-end laptops have been using for years. It could also be a touchscreen with a dynamic island cutout, although the former is hard to imagine happening. From personal experience, the touchscreen on a laptop (unless it’s a foldable laptop with a pen) is a feature you rarely use and most of the time it smudges the display. But it would be great if Apple could use Face ID on MacBooks.
You may also be able to purchase a cellular data plan for your future MacBook. This could solidify the MacBook’s status as the ultimate portable productivity device, with plenty of chassis space for antennas and battery capacity for backup when the signal is bad – as well as Apple’s efficient C-Series modems. Finally, it may launch a new round of Pro and Max chips for power users. The upgrades to M-series chips in 2020 are huge, so this could further refine an already excellent platform.
aviation tag 2
One hand places AirTag into leather pocket – Backyard Production/Getty Images
AirTags are one of the products that haven’t been updated in a while because, frankly, they don’t really need an update. They’re affordable, small, have batteries that last a long time, and offer a range of smart features to track the items they’re attached to. But better is better, and we wouldn’t say no to improved AirTags.
The first improvement is naturally the ultra-wideband (UWB) chip. The existing AirTags do a good job, but the new version will offer longer range and better accuracy. Imagine how useful and reliable the entire Find My network will become once more people have the latest iPhones with improved UWB chips and can ping AirTags from further afield.
Another thing that might change is the placement of the speakers. Current AirTags have been shown to cut speaker wires with relative ease, which could make it easier for a stalker to place a speakerless AirTag on a target without alerting that person. This raises concerns about repairability, but we believe that protecting potential stalking victims should be a priority. Finally, my personal favorite: AirTags may finally display their battery levels instead of just notifying you when they’re about to run out. Nothing crazy, nothing exciting, just meaningful, polished improvements to an already great product.
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Read the original article on SlashGear.
