It looks like 2026 is going to be one of Apple’s biggest product years ever. A new report details a massive roadmap for the company’s 50th anniversary, touching everything from M5 and M6 Macs to brand-new categories like foldables.
What’s Apple planning for its 50th birthday?
The spring is when things get really new, with the reported launch of Apple’s first smart home displays, which will tie into a big AI and Siri push at WWDC in June. But the second half of the year is where the real headline-grabbers are. The report points to the fall launch of Apple’s long-awaited foldable smartphone, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro (which will finally use Apple’s in-house modems). We might even see a preview of Apple’s smart glasses. To cap off the year, a late 2026 revamp of the MacBook Pro is rumored, bringing M6 chips and, yes, an OLED touch screen.
Apple’s rumored 2026 product roadmap
Here’s a look at what the report claims is on the schedule:
Early 2026: A big Mac and iPad refresh, including an M5 MacBook Air, M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros, new Mac monitors, an M4 iPad Air, and an A18 entry-level iPad. The iPhone 17e is also slated for this window.
- March-April 2026: The launch of Apple’s first smart displays (in two versions), kicking off its new smart home strategy.
- June 2026 (WWDC): The debut of iOS 27, macOS 27, and watchOS 27, alongside major updates to Apple Intelligence and Siri.
- Fall 2026: The main event, featuring Apple’s first foldable smartphone and the iPhone 18 Pro (which will reportedly use Apple’s in-house modems).
- Late 2026: A new MacBook Pro revamp with M6 Pro/Max chips, a thinner design, and an OLED touch screen.
- Sometime in 2026: A new iPad mini, an M5 Mac mini, an M5 Mac Studio, a broader smart home security lineup (like cameras), and a potential preview of Apple’s smart glasses.
This lineup is a mix of major refreshes and entries into entirely new categories. The spring launch of the smart display, tied to the AI push at WWDC, is clearly a major focus. But the second half of the year, with a foldable and a touch screen Mac, is where the real fireworks are.
Why is this roadmap such a big deal?
The next MacBook Pro might be completely overhauled. | Image credit — Apple
Take the foldable. Samsung has been refining its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip devices for years, and Google has its own Pixel Fold. Apple’s entry will either legitimize the entire market or feel painfully behind the curve.
Then there are smart glasses. This is a true “next big thing” gamble, competing with products like Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses but likely aiming for something much more advanced. And as we’ve discussed, the smart home push is a direct, if delayed, assault on Google and Amazon. This 50th-anniversary plan isn’t just a celebration; it’s an attempt to set the stage for Apple’s next decade of dominance by invading all of its rivals’ turf at once.
