Commentary: Apple is leaking itself this time
Various internal information from Apple became known around the turn of the year. What does this mean for the product year 2026?
Apple logo as a gift: A lot is expected in 2026.
(Image: Apple / Bearbeitung: heise medien)
Secrecy is part of Apple's DNA. What the company in Cupertino is planning for the coming months is usually only revealed bit by bit through well-informed analysts. But shortly before the turn of the year, Apple itself unintentionally laid its cards on the table. An accidentally released Kernel Debug Kit contained various codenames and processor details for upcoming products. And the hand the company is holding indicates some of the most exciting hardware products in a long time.
Expected and Surprises
The fact that the code contains a reference to an iPhone 18 Pro is not a surprise at first. This is, of course, a given within the scope of annual updates, as is an Apple Watch Series 12 and new MacBook Airs with M5 chips. Its M5 Pro and M5 Max variants are likely to soon find their way into MacBook Pros, possibly also on the desktop in the Mac mini and Mac Studio, perhaps even as M5 Ultra.
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The code contained hints of a faster entry-level iPad and a new iPad Air with M4. Many had speculated about an update for the aging Apple TV 4K as early as 2025, but according to code snippets, we can expect it soon. The same applies to the Studio Display, which could take a step forward with HDR and 120Hz technology.
These innovations alone will cause leaps of joy, but there is even more exciting stuff on the agenda: In addition to the M5 chips, there is already talk of MacBook Pros with M6. If the accompanying rumors are to be believed, a major redesign is imminent for the notebooks, with an OLED display, no annoying notch, perhaps even with a touchscreen. However, buyers will likely have to wait even longer for this.
A budget MacBook with an iPhone chip could appear much sooner – possibly in the first half of the year. Whether the manufacturer will really set the price so low while memory costs are exploding worldwide remains to be seen; rumors suggest less than 1000 US dollars.
Exciting Hardware Year
Apple has obviously not completely forgotten the smart home either. The code provided hints of new home hubs and an ominous table robot. All of this could give Siri a comeback, along with a revamped Apple Intelligence.
Even if one or the other launch is delayed, Apple has several aces up its sleeve instead of just one “one more thing”. Let's look forward to one of the most exciting hardware years, hopefully.
This commentary first appeared as an editorial in Mac & i 1/2026 – now fresh on the newsstand and in the heise shop.
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(mho)
