Apple set to kick off 2026 with iPhone 17e, A-series MacBook?
2026 is set to be a busy year for Apple. While rumours of the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and foldable iPhone persist, those are set for the second half of the year. In the meantime, it seems that Cupertino is set to announce a slew of entry-level products first.
The first of these is the iPhone 17e. Their entry-level iPhone won’t be too different from the current iPhone 16e, but it will at least get some major upgrades in terms of performance. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple will be giving the iPhone 17e the A19 chip from their iPhone 17. On top of that, the iPhone 17e will likely be getting MagSafe charging too, something that was missing on the iPhone 16e.
Currently starting at just RM2,999 for the iPhone 16e base model with 128GB of storage, the price tag is likely to remain the same for the iPhone 17e. This means that those looking to switch to iOS, or perhaps replace an aging iPhone, can now opt for the iPhone 17e with more features than before. Indeed, that seems likely to be Apple’s pitch, as Cupertino plans to push the iPhone 17e hard in smaller countries as well as enterprise customers.
As for the iPad, a refreshed base model iPad and a new iPad Air is also due to arrive soon. Gurman claims that while there won’t be too much in terms of new designs, you can at least expect the new iPad Air to get an M4 chip, while the iPad Mini will get an OLED display too. The base iPad meanwhile is set to get the A18, which also means it’ll now be able to support Apple Intelligence, which again seems to be the main marketing push for Apple here.
Lastly, Apple’s new lineup of Macs will see new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros along with an M5 MacBook Air, while the Mac Studio with upgraded hardware should arrive soon after that. Refreshed Mac Minis and even a new Studio Display is expected down the line too.
However, it will be their new entry-level, budget friendly MacBook with an A-series chip from an iPhone that will likely grab headlines. This 13-inch laptop is set to compete against budget Windows laptops as well as Chromebooks, and should be a great alternative to anyone considering a switch to the Apple ecosystem without looking to fork out for the more expensive MacBook Air.
Once again, this will be pushed hard in emerging economies and in enterprise environments, probably paired well with the new iPhone 17e too. While current Apple users may not see much benefit in these lower-powered and lesser specced devices, for those with smaller budgets wanting a taste of what Cupertino can offer it will likely be a compelling option. For those wanting a bit more of a flagship product, you’ll have to wait for later in the year when the foldable iPhone and perhaps even a MacBook Pro with an OLED display debuts.
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