Apple’s fall iPhone cycle may be the showcase that gets the most attention, but there is always a lot going on beyond the latest smartphone if you know where to look. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has detailed a set of hardware Apple is readying, and the outlines sync with the cadence of company silicon, its drive into the smart home and overall efforts to plant Apple Intelligence over more devices. Here are 10 products to keep an eye on — and why they’re important.
Context helps: the analysts at IDC and Canalys keep talking about longer upgrade cycles for tablets and PCs, while Apple has discussed an installed base of more than two billion devices in public. That scale tilts toward platform features that cut across categories, not just phones. With that, here’s what is next.
M5 iPad Pro
Lookout for the next iPad Pro to make Apple’s M5 chip premiere, along with a bigger Neural Engine for on‑device AI and probably battery efficiency gains through next‑gen fabrication. Gurman has also highlighted a dual-orientation front camera setup — so everyone’s Face ID and video calls look right whether you’re holding it in portrait or landscape mode. A move would assist the iPad in regaining a productivity narrative while premium tablets are finding longer replacement cycles.
Vision Pro Refresh
Don’t expect a complete overhaul just yet. There’s a lighter, cheaper Vision Pro even farther out, but it would make sense to see a more near‑term revision for comfort (new headbands and slightly less ergonomics). A small improvement will expand the potential audience for spatial video, productivity apps and media in general. Particularly as third‑party developers iterate to take advantage of the arm-space mouse-over features.
AirTag 2
Apple’s tracker could use a range and reliability boost. A more advanced Ultra Wideband chip would make Precision Finding in crowded environments better and could improve multi-device coordination across the Find My network. With the network being so large, even small improvements in RF can result in significantly faster item recovery under real-world conditions.
Apple TV With Next Gen Wireless
Expect Apple TV to get a new in‑house connectivity chip for Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth and Thread. That would let the box represent a more powerful Matter hub, while unlocking Apple Intelligence features — like, maybe, on‑device summaries and better voice context and multi‑user awareness — for the living room. It’s a natural bridge between TV, HomeKit devices and Siri.
New HomePod mini
However, a speedier SoC inside the smaller HomePod would reduce command latency, enhance far‑field recognition and fortify Thread routing. Combine this with refreshed Siri models and you have more responsive smart home scenes, and an even sounder handoff from iPhone or Apple Watch.
Latest MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/Max) Redesign
Apple is said to be working on a design refresh for the Pro line as well as M5 Pro/Max chips. Look for emphasis on efficiency under sustained loads, improved NPUs specialized for AI workflows in apps like Final Cut Pro and Logic, and perhaps even some tweaks to thermals. For creative professionals, stability and battery life while working under heavy compiles or renders will likely be the headline metrics.
M5 MacBook Air
The Air has historically followed the base M‑series chip first, and an M5 Air would improve on Apple’s most popular laptop in battery life and certainly wake from suspended mode even faster.
With PC builders advertising “AI PCs,” Appleʼs solution will probably focus on‑device AI that’s silent, power-saving, and deeply tied to Photos, Notes, and your productivity apps.
Two New External Displays
Gurman has his eye on two upcoming monitors, which would be logical successors to the Studio Display and pro‑grade panel. Look for higher refresh rates, better local dimming or a switch to OLED in at least one model and tighter macOS integration of color profiles. Photographers and video editors will likely be looking more for stable calibration and HDR headroom.
iPhone 17e
A new “e” variant will slot in between mainstream and Pro tiers — all four models have Apple designs like the A13 or A14 — but with the same A‑series chip as its flagship counterpart. Iff Apple nails the pricing: This plugs a crucial hole for carriers and emerging markets –current Counterpoint Research suggests mid‑premium segments are what’s driving share growth as users look for longevity without loads of Pro pricing.
Smart Home Hub With Screen
Think miniature iPad meets HomePod: It’s a small (roughly 6 inches) smart display designed for wall mounting with a focus on home control, intercom and video calling plus widgets. With Thread/Matter, that could be the foundation for automations that stick around even when your phone isn’t home. If Apple ships camera‑aware features and private on‑device processing, then it’s a strong play against Echo Show and Nest Hub.
Collectively, this roadmap matches Apple’s broader game to the plan: leverage custom silicon to push AI features on‑device, make the TV and speakers a better home hub, and give enough of an attractor for pros and tablet users to upgrade. As always, timelines can slip — but the vector is clear.
Sources: Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter, supply‑chain notes from Display Supply Chain Consultants, and market forecast insights from IDC and Counterpoint Research.
