Mac pipeline not yet complete: These further computers Apple plans for 2026
Apple had a product fireworks display last week, but there are still update gaps. An overview.
Some Macs from Apple: There's more to come.
(Image: Apple)
“Apple Week” is over, and there were plenty of new products. But when it comes to the Mac, this year won't just be about the MacBook Neo, the MacBook Air M5, or the MacBook Pro M5 Max and M5 Pro. Apple still needs to bring other models up to the M5 standard. Furthermore, a completely new notebook product category with a touchscreen is expected, likely in the fall.
Desktops need an upgrade
By mid-year, Apple will likely address its somewhat neglected desktop product lines. Here, the devices are all still on the M4 standard or below. The popular Mac mini M4 was launched in November 2024, as was the iMac M4, which was hardly changed except for the chip. In contrast, the Mac Studio, which Apple equipped with an M4 Max and, confusingly, an M3 Ultra a year ago, is comparatively new. Well-informed market observers like Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman assume that there will be upgrades for these devices by mid-year.
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The Mac mini and iMac are likely to remain unchanged in terms of form factor, although the iMac might get new colors. The hope for a 32-inch “Pro” model of the all-in-one Mac is also not entirely gone – although Apple recently removed its only 32-inch device, the Pro Display XDR, from the market and stuck with 27 inches for both variants of the revised Studio Displays. In terms of chips, it will likely be M5 and M5 Pro (Mac mini) and M5 (iMac). For the Mac Studio, it will be interesting: Will Apple manage – in addition to the expected M5 Max – to make the leap to an as-yet-unreleased M5 Ultra? The company can hardly continue selling the M3 Ultra.
The question of the Mac Pro
Finally, Apple still has a completely neglected desktop model in its lineup: the Mac Pro. This is still stuck at the M2 Ultra, at still hellishly high prices. Only a few professionals are still interested in the hardware since the Mac Studio. Whether it will be discontinued entirely or receive an upgrade is unclear. The PCIe slots can be useful for directly installing a lot of SSD or hard drive archive storage, as well as special cards for audio and video. However, even graphics cards no longer fit in the devices. So the hardware is only for specialists. With an M5 Ultra, it would at least get a bit more lifespan.
In the fall, Apple will finally introduce a new MacBook model, according to consistent reports, currently referred to in the rumor mill as the MacBook Ultra. It is said to feature new M6 chips and, for the first time in a Mac, a touchscreen and an OLED display. However, this is unlikely to happen before October.
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