Apple’s next device cycle could have buyers thinking twice before upgrading.
A redesigned entry-level MacBook Pro, faster iPad Pro models, and the first foldable iPhone are all in Apple’s hardware plans, according to reports from Bloomberg and Nikkei Asia. The devices are expected across a busy 2026-to-2027 cycle, with the tech company also preparing new chips as memory and silicon shortages leave some launch schedules unsettled.
Anyone planning a purchase may soon have to decide whether the next available model is enough or whether a larger hardware change is worth waiting for.
MacBook Pro and iPad Pro updates split between design and performance
MacBook shoppers may get a processor update before the bigger design change.
According to Bloomberg, a revamped 14-inch entry-level MacBook Pro, code-named K104, is being prepared for as early as the first half of 2027 with a new design connected to higher-end touchscreen MacBooks also in development.
A base MacBook Pro with an M6 chip may arrive first while keeping the current look. Buyers would then be choosing between a nearer-term speed upgrade and a later model with a different design.
Performance appears to be the main focus of the iPad Pro upgrade. Four models are being tested for spring 2027, keeping the 11-inch and 13-inch sizes while adding faster chips and possible cooling improvements for steadier use under heavy workloads.
Apple is also working toward its first M7 processor while tuning its chips for tougher AI workloads.
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Foldable iPhone adds a new form factor
The iPhone’s roadmap includes at least five new models across late 2026 and early 2027, including two premium iPhone 18 devices, a standard iPhone 18, a new iPhone Air, and the company’s first foldable phone.
Supplier targets for the foldable model have increased. Partners have been asked to prepare for about 10 million foldable iPhones this year, up from a previous forecast of 7-8 million, Nikkei Asia reported.
Production may still ramp slowly. Engineers have made progress on hinge issues, but large-volume output may come later because foldable phones remain difficult to manufacture consistently.
Buyers face price and timing risk
A MacBook purchase may come down to a new design versus an M6 refresh. iPad Pro users may be watching for cooling, longer device life, and better performance for AI-heavy work.
iPhone customers could face the widest choice if standard, premium, Air, and foldable models launch close to one another. A first-generation foldable also raises a separate question: whether to buy early or wait for the design to mature.
Recent Mac and iPad price increases show the memory crunch has already reached customers. Supply pressure could still affect launch timing and availability, with future pricing still uncertain.
Apple’s next MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and iPhone lineup may bring larger hardware changes than a standard yearly update. Lower prices and smooth launches are far from guaranteed.
The iPhone 18 Pro leak story is getting messier as alleged drop-test videos vanish and questions grow over where the footage came from.