Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio.

MacBook Air (Early 2026)

The ‌MacBook Air‌ will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The ‌MacBook Air‌ will get the same M5 chip that Apple introduced with the 14-inch MacBook Pro.


Apple might also add the same SSD upgrades that it included in the M5 ‌MacBook Pro‌.

Low-Cost MacBook (Early 2026)

Apple is going to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026 that's cheaper than the $999 ‌MacBook Air‌. The low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 inches in size, so it could be slightly smaller than the 13.6-inch ‌MacBook Air‌.


Apple is planning to use its A18 Pro chip in the MacBook. We first saw the A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro models. The chip is built on Apple's second-generation 3-nanometer process, featuring 8GB RAM and support for Apple Intelligence.

The low-cost MacBook will have a standard LCD display with no mini-LED technology or ProMotion refresh rate. It could come in bright colors like the iMac, with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggesting Apple will offer it in silver, blue, pink, and yellow. The low-cost MacBook won't replace the ‌MacBook Air‌, and will instead join the Mac lineup as a new affordable option.

Apple is expected to debut the low-cost MacBook in the first half of 2026.

MacBook Pro (Early 2026)

Apple already introduced the 14-inch M5 ‌MacBook Pro‌, but higher-end models with faster M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are expected around the same timeframe as the ‌MacBook Air‌ and low-cost MacBook.


The M5 Pro and M5 Max will have more CPU cores and better GPUs for improved performance, with the chips available in both 14-inch and 16-inch machines. Apple is also expected to add faster SSDs.

Mac Displays (Early to Mid-2026)

Apple hasn't released a new display since the Studio Display launched in 2022, but there are apparently two new models that are in development and slated for release in 2026.


The next-generation version of the Studio Display could feature the same 27-inch screen size, but with mini-LED technology instead of LCD. mini-LED means better HDR, brightness, contrast, and colors. The current Studio Display has an A-series chip inside, and the next-generation version could get the A19 Pro that Apple used in the iPhone 17 Pro.

There are actually two displays in development, but it's unclear if that's the next Studio Display in two sizes, or a Studio Display and a more expensive Pro Display XDR successor. It's also possible Apple designed two Studio Displays and will only launch one model.

Mac mini (Mid-2026)

An updated version of the Mac mini could come out sometime around mid-2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The ‌Mac mini‌ will get M5 and M5 Pro chips, but there are no design changes rumored as of now.

Mac Studio (Mid-2026)

The ‌Mac Studio‌ could come out during the same timeframe as the ‌Mac mini‌. Apple didn't release an M4 Ultra chip so there was never an M4 Ultra ‌Mac Studio‌, but there will be an M5 Ultra model.


Sometime around the middle of 2026, the ‌Mac Studio‌ will get M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip technology. The M5 Max will offer much faster CPU and GPU performance than the M5, and the M5 Ultra will double the M5 Max.

We haven't heard any other rumors about the ‌Mac Studio‌, so it may only get internal updates.

OLED MacBook Pro (Late 2026)

While there's an M5 Pro and M5 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ refresh planned for early 2026, there's another update in the works. Apple is developing a revamped OLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ that uses next-generation M6 chip technology and also features a touch screen. It's not yet clear if the machine will come out in late 2026 or early 2027, but 2026 remains a possibility.


If Apple does debut the OLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ in 2026, it will be a year with two ‌MacBook Pro‌ refreshes. Apple has done that once before in 2023, but it is rare.

Rumors suggest that the OLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ will feature a hole-punch camera without a notch, maximizing the available display area. Touch integration will be added to the Mac's screen for the first time, and Apple plans to adopt a reinforced hinge that stays stationary when the display is touched.

The design of the MacBook will also be updated, and it will have a thinner, lighter chassis. There will be a keyboard and trackpad as usual, with the touch gestures augmenting existing functionality.

The M6 could be built on TSMC's 2-nanometer process, introducing speed and efficiency improvements for impressive gains in battery life without compromising power. The OLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ could also be the first MacBook to incorporate 5G connectivity, with Apple including a C2 chip in the device. The C2 chip is Apple's rumored second-generation in-house modem that will support mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G speeds.

Mac Pro (Timing Unknown)

Apple is probably going to release a new Mac Pro at some point, but it's unclear when. Bloomberg originally said a ‌Mac Pro‌ would come before the end of 2025 with some kind of M4 chip, but that didn't happen, so now 2026 or later is the only option.


It's possible the ‌Mac Pro‌ will get a refresh with the M5 Ultra chip when the ‌Mac Studio‌ does, but we haven't heard confirmation of that.

The next ‌Mac Pro‌ will get Thunderbolt 5, and it will likely support at least 512GB RAM and 16TB storage, because that's what the M3 Ultra chip supports.

iMac (Timing and Status Unknown)

The ‌iMac‌ is expected to get an M5 update in 2026, but timing isn't clear. We haven't heard anything about the ‌iMac‌ in some time, and there are no rumors of design changes or major updates on the horizon.


There have been nebulous rumors of an ‌iMac‌ with a larger display, but there's no sign that such a Mac is still in active development.

Read More

For more on Apple's 2026 product plans, we have a dedicated product timeline guide.
This article, "Apple's 2026 Mac Plans" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Fans of new Apple TV series Pluribus can download a chapter of historical (and fictional) romance novel "Bloodsong of Wycaro" from the Apple Books app today. Written by Pluribus main character Carol Sturka, Bloodsong of Wycaro recounts the adventures of Lucasia as she sails on the Mercator, dreaming of her lost love Raban.


Played by Rhea Seehorn, Carol Sturka is a fantasy romance author who hates writing non-serious books and can't stand the fans obsessed with her characters, but the Winds of Wycaro series pays the bills.

Bloodsong of Wycaro plays an important role in the first two episodes of Pluribus, and Apple is using the fake book excerpt to promote the show. The excerpt features eight pages from the middle of Carol's book, along with a letter from the author.

The first two episodes of Pluribus debuted on November 7, and the third episode is available as of today. It is the latest ‌Apple TV‌ series, created by Breaking Bad's Vince Gilligan. In the series, Carol Sturka is one of the sole survivors of a mysterious virus that infects the world's population.


Pluribus can be watched on ‌Apple TV‌, Apple's streaming service. ‌Apple TV‌ pricing starts at $12.99 per month, but there is a free 7-day trial available.
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Popular iPhone accessory maker Belkin has issued a recall for three of its products, including the Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro, the Belkin BoostCharge USB-C PD Power Bank 20K, and the Playa USB-C PD Power Bank 20K.


The Auto-Tracking Stand Pro has a model number of MMA008, the BoostCharge Power Bank has a model number of BPB2002, and the Playa Power bank has a PB0003 model number. Model numbers are located on the back or side of each product. The charging stand and both power banks were sold in black, while the Playa model was also available in white. Affected devices were sold on the Belkin website and through third-party retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.

Belkin says that a manufacturing defect can cause the lithium-cell batteries in the devices to overheat, resulting in fire and burn hazards to customers. The recall is also listed on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

There were approximately 83,500 units sold in the U.S., along with 2,385 in Canada, but the CPSC does not include international sales. There has been one report of a fire in the United States, and 15 reports internationally. Two people received minor burn injuries, and property damage totaling $37,765 was reported outside the U.S.

Customers who own an affected model should stop using the protect, disconnect it from power, and contact Belkin. The devices should be kept in a safe, dry location away from anything flammable or anything that can damage the power bank, and they should not be placed in waste or recycling bins.

Belkin is offering full refunds or store credit, and is asking for copies of receipts and proof of ownership. An image of the product showing its serial number is required, and if a receipt is provided, the purchase price on the receipt will be refunded. If no receipt is available, Belkin will offer the average sales price for the model. Customers can also opt for a Belkin store credit worth 20 percent more than the average sales price of the device.
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Apple and OpenAI were not able to get a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk's xAI startup dismissed, reports Bloomberg. Texas District Judge Mark Pittman said today that Apple and OpenAI will need to continue on with the lawsuit and submit filings arguing their case.



xAI sued Apple and OpenAI in August 2025, accusing the two companies of conspiring to dominate the AI market. The lawsuit came after Musk complained that his apps X and Grok had not been featured in the App Store's "Must Have" apps section.

The lawsuit claimed that Apple was "blindsided by major innovations in AI," leading it to team up with OpenAI in a "desperate bid to protect its smartphone monopoly." It referenced Siri's ChatGPT integration, because Apple has not established deals with other companies for ‌Siri‌ integration. xAI said that if iPhone users want to access a generative AI chatbot, "they have no choice but to use ChatGPT, even if they would prefer to use more innovative and imaginative products like xAI's Grok."

‌iPhone‌ users can, of course, download any chatbot app from the ‌App Store‌, but xAI said that apps do not have the same "functionality, usability, and integration" as ChatGPT does with ‌‌Siri‌‌. The lawsuit also accused Apple of "deprioritizing" the apps of competing generative AI chatbots, and depriving Grok of data from billions of ‌iPhone‌ users because Grok isn't integrated with ‌Siri‌ like ChatGPT. The lawsuit claims that xAI "sought an integration" with Apple Intelligence, and was denied.

In a filing earlier this month, Apple and OpenAI both argued that the lawsuit is flawed because there is no exclusivity deal that prevents Apple from integrating other chatbots into ‌Siri‌.

xAI has asked the court to put a stop to Apple and OpenAI's "anticompetitive scheme," and help it "recover billions in damages."
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Apple today provided public beta testers with the second beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.2 update for testing purposes. The public beta comes a day after Apple provided the beta to developers.


After signing up for beta testing on Apple's beta site, public beta testers can download the updates using the Software Update section in the System Settings app.

macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta 2 adds an Edge Light feature for video calls. Edge Light provides a light border around the edges of the Mac's display, mimicking the look of a physical ring light to improve lighting in darkened rooms.

Edge Light uses the Neural Engine for positioning, so it is optimally placed around your face in the video frame. Light color can be adjusted from warm to cool, and the feature is available in video conferencing apps alongside other options like backgrounds, Portrait mode, and Voice Isolation. It is available on Macs that support Apple silicon.

The macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta is limited to developers and public beta testers right now, but it won't be a long testing period. We'll likely see Apple release the update right around mid-December given past launch timelines.
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Satechi today announced the launch of a new OntheGo 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter, which provides access to seven ports in a pocket-sized enclosure that's ideal to bring along when traveling.


The hub is similar in size to a hockey puck, and it includes a magnet so it can be attached to the back of a MagSafe iPhone or to a magnetic iPad case. Along with a USB-C port that offers up to 100W of passthrough charging, Satechi's adapter has the following ports:

• HDMI 4K/60Hz


• USB-A (5Gb/s)


• USB-A (5Gb/s)


• SD card reader (up to 104MB/s, up to 2TB)


• microSD card reader (up to 104MB/s, up to 2TB)


• Gigabit Ethernet

With the magnetic connection, the adapter can be connected to the back of an ‌iPhone‌ and used to access storage on an SD card or connected USB-A storage device. The adapter is compatible with iPhones, iPads, Macs, PCs, Android devices, and more.


For devices that don't have an included magnet, there is an adhesive ring to attach the adapter to the product, keeping it out of the way. Satechi includes a braided USB-C cable that wraps around the adapter.


Satechi's OntheGo 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter can be purchased from the Satechi website for $60.
This article, "Satechi Launches New 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is expanding availability of its new 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max to several countries that use type G plugs. The new variant of the adapter features a three-prong folding design that is distinct from the initial two-prong versions that launched in September alongside the iPhone 17 models.


The new 40W Dynamic Power Adapter design is available for purchase in the UK, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia.

Apple previously launched the Dynamic Power Adapter in the U.S., Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

The 40W Dynamic Power Adapter is the same size as Apple's 20W charger, but it is able to deliver 40W for faster charging. It also provides up to 60W in short bursts to speed up charging even further.

In the United States, the Dynamic Power Adapter is priced at $39, but prices vary in other countries.

(Thanks, Akarshan!)
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Apple today updated its Apple Store app for the iPhone and iPad, introducing a new icon that better matches the Liquid Glass design changes added in iOS 26 and iPadOS 26.


The new version of the icon features a Liquid Glass shopping bag on a blue gradient background. The prior version of the icon had a blue shopping bag on a white background.

Apple also adopted Liquid Glass design elements for the rest of the app, adding a transparent, rounded navigation bar with a Liquid Glass slider, and an updated search interface. Aside from these design changes, the content in the app is the same.


The ‌Apple Store‌ app features Apple products and accessories, as well as quick access links for support. It can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
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Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and ‌AirPods 4‌ firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October.


There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, ‌AirPods 4‌ with ANC, and ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are both set to get expanded support for Live Translation in the European Union in iOS 26.2, which is being beta tested.

The firmware could be related to that upcoming functionality, or it could add bug fixes and performance improvements.

To install the new firmware, make sure your AirPods are in range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. From there, put your AirPods in the Charging Case and connect the Charging Case to power. Keep the case closed and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware update to install.
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Apple plans to incorporate Major League Soccer (MLS) content into its Apple TV streaming service starting in 2026, reports The Hollywood Reporter. MLS will no longer be a separate subscription, and games will instead be available as part of the base ‌Apple TV‌ service.


As of now, MLS games are accessible through the MLS Season Pass, which is priced at $14.99 per month or $99 for the season. The MLS Season Pass will be eliminated for the 2026 season, and soccer fans will have access to games through the standard $12.99 per month ‌Apple TV‌ subscription.

The MLS board of governors will need to approve the new deal between Apple and the MLS, but the aim is to expand the MLS fanbase and make MLS content easier to access. Apple's services chief Eddy Cue said that Apple is "thrilled to bring MLS to more fans around the world" next season.

Apple recently established a deal for Formula 1 rights in the United States, and F1 races will also be available to all ‌Apple TV‌ subscribers as Apple works to increase its live sports content.
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Volkswagen today announced that it is bringing Apple Watch support to the myVW app, allowing Volkswagen owners to access key vehicle functions from their wrists.


The myVW ap is available for most MY20+ ICE and electric vehicles that have an applicable connected vehicle service plan. Volkswagen has several paid plan options, like Remote Access, VW Vehicle Insights, and Safe and Secure.

Some of the features available through the Apple Watch app include Lock/Unlock, Honk and Flash, Vehicle Status, and Lock Status. For EVs, Remote Charging, Charge Status, and Climate Start/Stop are available. ICE models have access to Remote Start/Stop and Fuel Status.

To use the app, vehicle owners will need to download the myWV app, accept the myVW terms of service, add their vehicle to the virtual garage, and subscribe to a paid or included Remote Access or VW Vehicle Insights plan.
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