Apple’s not done: 3 more products coming this spring

Apple released no less 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 we can look forward to in the next few months across multiple categories.

Fresh Apple products expected in spring 2026

Some of us remember back 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, plus 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 though 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 twelfth 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.

While Apple Intelligence is currently somewhat anemic, more features are expected in iPadOS 26.5 in May, and iPadOS 27 could bring dramatic improvements. And 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 through Apple’s N1 chip, potentially bringing Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 to the budget-friendly slate.

While the internal specifications are slated for a boost, the iPad 12 is expected to 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 and a chassis nearly identical to the current 11th-generation model.

Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra

Rumors also point to the possibility of a new Mac Studio powered by M5 Max and M5 Ultra configurations coming out of Cupertino soon.  According to supply-chain whispers and analyst speculation, these updated chips will bring notable gains in processing power and graphics performance, reinforcing 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 refreshed desktop model is thought to retain the compact, desk-friendly design of the current Mac Studio. And that means it’ll pack in plenty of ports, such as HDMI, USB-A, 10Gb Ethernet and more.

The current M4 Max/M3 Ultra version of the desktop launched in March 2025, so it might have been part of Apple’s rush of new March 2026 products. It was not, and now a debut at WWDC 2026 in early June seems the likely possibility, as the 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 last update for the Apple TV 4K streaming device was 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. And there’s speculation that Apple Intelligence could be coming to Apple TV devices, though the company has not committed to this.

While the faster chip would undoubtedly make the streamer better at running Apple Arcade games, there’s also the possibility that it might be up to the 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.

And a dedicated N1 networking chip might be a feature of the 2026 Apple TV 4K. This would introduce Wi-Fi 7 support and improved Thread networking for when the device is being used as a HomeKit hub.

While it’s not coming in March, rumors point to a launch of this updated streaming device 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.

There are difficulties in pinning down a release window because these devices reportedly depend heavily on the AI-enabled version of the Siri voice assistant that Apple has been struggling to launch for many months.

But some of the critical pieces could appear in May along with iOS 26.4. That raises the possibility that the so-called “HomePad” might also hit store shelves in spring 2026. Or they could wait until the AI-powered chatbot supposedly coming to Siri appears in the fall.

What’s not coming to Apple in spring 2026

Earlier  this year came a flurry of MacBook-related rumors. Some were about a budget model. Others gave details on the new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro or M5 Max chips. And there was even a few about a touchscreen-enabled macOS notebook.

These are all separate products, but some people mixed them together a came up with the idea that a touchscreen-enabled MacBook  is expected 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 on macOS 27, as significant modifications to the operating system are required. So the device won’t be out before fall, or possibly next winter.

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.