[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Apple is preparing a large-scale product update across iPhone, MacBook and iPad models in 2026. It first introduced AirTag 2 and a Creator Studio subscription service for independent creators, but an analysis says a full-scale launch of new hardware products is only at an early stage.

Ars Technica on Feb. 9 (local time), citing Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, reported Apple plans to sequentially roll out a lower-priced iPhone 17e in March, a MacBook Pro powered by the M5 chip and an iPad lineup overhaul centered on processor upgrades.

iPhone 17e to keep $599... concerns over price overlap with existing models Apple is preparing to launch the iPhone 17e in March, a new version of its base iPhone. The model is expected to support the A19 chip and MagSafe wireless charging, while keeping a single-lens camera and a notched display without Dynamic Island. The price is likely to be set at $599, the same as the iPhone 16e (about 870,000 won).

Some assessments say a price freeze is positive at a time when demand is rising for RAM and storage as artificial intelligence features expand. Others point out that the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus offer a dual camera and Dynamic Island and sell for about $100 more, which could create positioning confusion among products in the $600 to $800 price range.

MacBook Pro to switch to M5 Pro and M5 Max... design to stay The MacBook Pro lineup with the latest processor is also expected to be released in March. The M4 Pro and M4 Max chips used in the 14-inch and 16-inch models are set to be replaced by the M5 Pro and M5 Max. With shipments of current M4-based models taking longer, some observers say a new-product launch is close.

There are also rumors that a MacBook Pro with an OLED display and touchscreen is in development, but this M5 version is likely to keep the same design as the M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pro released in late 2021. Mac Studio, Mac mini and Studio Display are also expected to be updated within the year.

Apple is also moving to release a lower-priced MacBook to fill a gap in its notebook lineup. Its recent experience selling the M1 MacBook Air for $599 through Walmart in the United States is interpreted as a backdrop for reviewing such a strategy.

iPad overhaul... differentiation with A18, M4 and OLED The iPad lineup is also set to be reshaped around processor upgrades and is expected to be unveiled in March. The entry-level $349 iPad (about 500,000 won) will move from the A16 to the A18 chip, with support for Apple Intelligence and the possibility of including 8GB of RAM being discussed. The A18 chip is the latest chip first used in the iPhone 16 series in late 2024.

The iPad Air will be upgraded from the M3 to the M4 chip, a move seen as a strategy to maintain competitiveness by adopting the latest chip rather than focusing on performance gains. The iPad mini is expected to be released at year-end with an OLED display and is expected to be unveiled sequentially after the iPad Air and the entry-level iPad.

Some in the industry say Apple is tightening up its lineup from low-end to high-end through this generational change and is moving to strengthen its hardware competitiveness for the AI era.