Apple Plans Touch-Screen MacBooks and New Home Hub for Late 2026
Apple is preparing a significant wave of hardware updates, including the first touch-enabled MacBooks and a smart-home display, aiming to integrate its AI assistant more deeply into its ecosystem.
Apple has a substantial product pipeline ready for late 2026, with the most notable changes being touch screens on MacBook Pro models and a new smart-home hub. According to reports from GN technics/smarthome (en-US), these devices are part of a broader strategy under CEO John Ternus to expand the reach of the Siri AI assistant across the company’s hardware lineup.
The company aims to close the gap with competitors in artificial intelligence by embedding these features into everyday devices. However, as with many Apple roadmaps, the specific launch dates remain fluid, and some products may face delays or be canceled before reaching the market.
Touch screens arrive on MacBooks
The most significant hardware shift involves the MacBook Pro, which will receive OLED panels and touch screens for the first time. This marks a major design change since 2021 and pairs the new display technology with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. An entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro will also be updated with the M6 chip, keeping the current form factor while improving performance.
Smart home hub faces timeline uncertainty
Apple is also developing a square smart-home hub that can sit on a speaker base or mount on a wall. It will run a new operating system, support video calls, and use facial recognition to personalize content. While Apple had considered announcing it recently, the timeline is now aiming for as early as October, though repeated delays suggest the date is not guaranteed.
This device represents a key step in Apple’s push to make its AI assistant more central in the living room. It will be accompanied by updates to the HomePod mini and Apple TV, both of which will receive new chips to power the overhauled Siri experience. These refreshes are already being tested with upcoming software updates.
Broader device updates in 2027
Looking ahead to the first half of 2027, Apple plans to refresh its iPad and iPhone lines. The iPad Air will get its first OLED screens, while the iPad Pro will adopt vapor-chamber cooling similar to the latest iPhones. The standard iPhone 18 will shift its release window from fall to spring, focusing primarily on an A20 chip upgrade.
The iPhone Air 2 is expected to be more substantial, featuring a 2-nanometer chip and a second rear camera. Meanwhile, the MacBook Air will move to the M6 chip. These updates suggest Apple is balancing radical redesigns with necessary refresh cycles to keep its entire ecosystem current.
