What to expect from Apple for the rest of 2026

August is upon us, and there is about a month left until Apple’s end-of-year product releases start. The iPhone 18 Pro and folding iPhone are coming, but there’s a lot more on the docket.

Apple has a historically busy schedule of announcements, launches, and major events, and 2026 is no exception. However, while the first half has already been packed with launches, the second half of the year is always busier.

This is chiefly because Apple tends to hold many of its major launches in the fall, making it the busiest period of its calendar.

While the bulk of events that matter will be product launch-related, not everything will be hardware being prepped for sale.

Though Apple’s very regular with its scheduling, it doesn’t telegraph specific dates far in advance for most events. However, it’s not hard to make an educated guess where appropriate.

What follows is a schedule of when you can expect important events to occur before 2027 arrives, and what should emerge from them.

September 1: John Ternus becomes CEO

John Ternus will inherit the role of CEO on September 1. He will be taking over the position from Tim Cook, who will move to a new executive chairman role.

This is the only event on this list with a definitive date, as Apple indicated it was transitioning between CEOs back in April. The aim was to give the company a smooth leadership change, giving Ternus and the entire organization a chance to prepare and gradually shift over.

John Ternus [left] with Tim Cook [right] – Image Credit: Apple

While this isn’t an event that will directly impact consumers in the short term, it is a major one for Apple itself. The CEO sets the tone for future projects and product changes, affecting the company years down the road.

Based on the long tenures of Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Ternus can easily be in the same role for a decade or more.

Apple has already made some changes to its structure, including quite a few hardware team alterations. But there will probably be more reshuffles in the months after Ternus takes the reins, as he sets things up for his turn in the saddle.

Early September: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max

The first major event in the Ternus era will happen only a few weeks later. It is also the biggest one for the company.

Typically held in the second week of September, the event is known for Apple’s iPhone launches. It’s a major presentation, since it will show off the iPhone 18 generation and other hardware.

The main launches will be the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, but crucially not the iPhone 18. Apple is expected to be splitting up the iPhone 18 generation, delaying the non-Pro models until early 2027.

It’s a decent idea, as it does allow Apple to concentrate its promotion on the higher-end devices that tend to sell more in the holiday shopping season. It also reduces the strain on the Apple supply chain as mass production for those models can happen later.

iPhone 17 Pro in a case. The iPhone 18 Pro should look very similar.

The iPhone 18 Pro line will be largely similar to the iPhone 17 Pro generation in terms of construction and appearance. The camera bump could be a tiny bit bigger this time around, but aside from new colorways like dark cherry, they should be practically the same.

As usual for Apple, the main changes are internal, with the use of the A20 Pro chip bringing massive performance improvements. Some schematic leaks also show that changes to the packaging will help the chip run cooler for longer, which will reduce the instances of thermal throttling.

The C2 modem is also a good bet for the inbound model.

Sadly, another good bet is a change in cost, as the iPhone temporarily escaped the June price rises of other products. Analysts believe that the iPhone 18 Pro will be more expensive this fall, possibly costing consumers up to $300 more than the iPhone 17 Pro counterparts.

Early September: iPhone Fold/Ultra

The iPhone Fold has been a long-rumored device, but it seems that it will be finally making its debut this fall. That is, barring anything that can delay it further.

Even if there is a delay, it could just be one that affects the ship date, not the unveiling. It’s possible that Apple can introduce it in September but actually put it on sale months later.

This happened for the iPhone X, which was shown in September 2017 but couldn’t be preordered until late October and then actually shipped in early November.

As for what to actually expect from the iPhone Fold, you could end up calling it something different for a start.

There have been rumors of Apple potentially using the Ultra name for the iPhone Fold, following its usage elsewhere in its empire.

A render of what the iPhone Fold could look like – Image Credit: AppleInsider

You can expect it to have two displays, with an external 5.3-inch screen always in view. The internal screen can be unfolded, book style, to reveal a 7.8-inch display.

One that will be supported by a hinge that has been the subject of so many rumors of delays and technical difficulties. The screen, too, has also been talked about a lot, as Apple is keen to eliminate any creasing issues with the model.

Around the back, on the side that doesn’t have a screen, is anticipated to be a dual-camera system with 48MP sensors. Both displays should also have front-facing versions, with the exterior using a punch-hole style and the internal potentially using an under-display system.

Powering the arrangement will be an A20 Pro chip, as you would expect for such a high-end device.

As for how much it will cost, early estimates put it at between $2,000 and $2,500, later rising to as high as $2,900. With the current RAM and SSD crisis in play, it’ll probably be at the higher end of that range.

Early September: Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra

When it comes to things Apple could launch alongside the iPhone, it’s best to look at items that could either be bought as an accessory to it. Or at least for things that can be announced quickly.

The Apple Watch Series 12 fits both categories neatly, for better or for worse.

For a start, the rumors are that Apple isn’t going to make a major update to the design at all. Externally, it will seem that the Apple Watch Series 12 will resemble the Apple Watch Series 11 closely.

Apple Watch Series 11, which the Series 12 will probably look like.

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While the most plausible rumor involves borrowing a watch face from the Apple Watch Ultra, it may still gain some new hardware. One leaker said in early July that there would be a new health sensor added via a fluoroelastomer band.

We don’t know what that sensor will do, but it could involve muscle movement sensing or hydration.

The other Apple Watch update could be for the Apple Watch Ultra, which would bring it up to version 4. The rumors have pointed to a redesign and the inclusion of new sensors, albeit again without saying what they are for.

As it stands, new Apple Watch models are always a decent bet for a September event launch.

Early September: iPad mini 8

You can usually expect there to be some form of iPad representation in the fall. However, with rumors saying an iPad or iPad Air refresh won’t arrive until 2027, the honor falls to the iPad mini.

The eighth-generation model is anticipated to have a major glow-up this time around. Alongside the usual upgrade to a new chip, possibly the A20, it’ll have a new display, too.

iPad mini, sans OLED

Repeated rumors and even a code leak have indicated that OLED is on the way for Apple’s smallest iPad. The rumors say it will have an 8.4-inch LTPS rear panel with hybrid OLED.

However, while it will have a brighter and fancier screen, it won’t necessarily be Pro level. It is reportedly having a refresh rate capped at 60Hz, meaning it won’t have ProMotion.

Like any other hardware coming out in 2026, pricing for the model is unclear. The current non-OLED model was increased to $599, and an OLED edition will certainly put the price even higher.

September/October: Smart home push

One thing that has repeatedly been discussed throughout the year is the smart home, and Apple’s plan for it. However, while a bunch of things are expected to surface this fall, it may not necessarily take place in September.

Apple often spreads its launches in successive months, with an October event frequently being used for overflow hardware. Rarely, this also includes November.

Since the September event will include the significant iPhone Fold launch, which will consume a lot of event time, there’s a probability that repeatedly-delayed smart home items will be pushed to October.

As for what Apple will announce as part of this push, there are three products rumored to be on the way.

An early artist’s rendition of the Home Hub – Image Credit: AppleInsider

The simplest update is the HomePod mini. Expected to cost consumers $129, its refinements will chiefly be processing-based, so it can support Siri AI.

The second is Apple TV, as in the hardware not the streaming service. Again, little is known about the change, aside from a $199 price tag and that all-important chip update for Siri AI.

The element that everyone’s eyes will be focused on is the tentatively-named Home Hub. An all-new device, it’s said to consist of a seven-inch-square screen on a half-dome base, and will be the center of your smart home network.

It may not even be a table-based screen, either. There’s been talk of it having magnetic capabilities, possibly to attach to different mounting points.

The display will facilitate communications with others, including an in-home intercom system and FaceTime. It will also be used for notifications, scheduling with calendars and reminders, and other household tasks.

It’ll naturally handle smart home devices, too, acting as a central control point for everything from HomePods to smart locks, to security cameras.

September: Operating Systems

Since WWDC, Apple has been holding developer beta testing of its next generation of operating systems. Since it releases them to coincide with the introduction of new products, you can anticipate the beta tests ending and the public getting to use the final releases.

While there are many changes in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27, the biggest is Siri AI. Apple’s major overhaul of its digital assistant, designed to compete with other AI rivals like ChatGPT and Claude.

September/October: AirPods Pro, sans cameras

An obvious accessory to the iPhone would be AirPods. Therefore, you would expect there to be a new version launching alongside the new smartphone models.

However, this is where things get a bit difficult to determine.

Apple has long been working on AirPods Pro with cameras, providing users with AI features similar to smart glasses, complete with computer vision elements. Except without the frames and the glass.

AirPods Pro in a charging case

While Apple was close to getting them out the door in 2026, the production schedule works against that from happening. It’s more likely they will come out in 2027.

That said, there has been a report or two indicating another product in the range may see a launch in 2026. On August 2, it was claimed that a device codenamed B790 was further along in development at the same time as the camera-equipped versions.

That particular model is expected to launch as early as 2026, if claims about Apple’s internal roadmap are true.

As for what this other model will bring, it’s probably going to be a general improvement to the current versions, rather than adding cameras to the mix.

October: MacBook Pro

Apple habitually makes its Mac announcements separate from the iPhone ones, usually in a second event one month later. While there is always a small chance of a September launch, it’s more likely for an October event to occur.

The most likely introduction in the MacBook Pro lineup is a new entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro. There’s not a massive amount to expect here, except for the usual spec-bump update to the M6 generation.

Expect a very short M6 MacBook Pro generation.

It’s an interesting release, since the M6 is believed to have a very short generational lifespan. Apple’s apparently keen to move to the M7 quickly, which promises massive AI processing improvements.

As for how short, Apple’s teeing up multiple MacBook Pro and iPad Pro launches for early 2027 using the M7 range.

There is a small chance of something exciting happening in the MacBook Pro space, though. The long-awaited shift to an OLED MacBook Pro is finally going to happen as part of a major refresh.

However, we don’t know if that will take place in late 2026, or if it will slip to early 2027. The conventional wisdom on this is for it to arrive in the fall, coinciding with other major launches.

October: Desktop Macs

There’s a strong possibility of a Mac mini update this fall, since it is usually associated with the low-end chip updates of Apple Silicon. Rumors in March also said it was a possibility, as well as a macOS Tahoe leak shared with AppleInsider hinting at a summer update.

That summer refresh has probably translated into a fall update. As usual, you can probably expect a spec-bump update to M6 for the Mac mini.

An M5 Ultra Mac Studio is a very real possibility

There have also been rumblings about an update to the 24-inch iMac. Again, a spec-bump update to M6 is anticipated, as well as some color changes.

One product that may not make it to M6 just yet is the Mac Studio. In July, Apple was reportedly testing the Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips.

If true, it would bring a fitting end to the M5 generation.