2026 Mac preview: This could be the biggest year for the Mac since 1984

After a somewhat tame 2025 that was largely marked by processor upgrades, 2026 is poised to be a huge year for the Mac, possibly the biggest since Apple unveiled the very first Macintosh in 1984. It all starts with the rumored release of Apple’s first new MacBook in years and could end with a huge bang as the MacBook Pro gets a major overhaul. If you’re planning to buy a Mac in 2026, you’re in for a treat. Here’s what to expect from the Mac next year.

Early 2026

M5 MacBook Air

2026 is likely to start slowly, as Apple’s most popular laptop is slated to get a chip upgrade to the M5 in the early part of the year. The current M4 MacBook Air was released in March 2025, so look for the M5 update to come around the early part of spring.

There likely won’t be any surprises here. Apple released the M5 chip with the MacBook Pro in October 2025, and benchmarks show that the M5 offers a bit of a boost with CPU performance but makes bigger inroads with GPU speed. This update will be a chip upgrade; the rest of the laptop features will likely be the same as they are now. Learn more about the upcoming M5 MacBook Air.

M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro

The M5 Pro and Max versions of the MacBook Pro are expected in the spring of 2026, possibly at the same time as the M5 MacBook Air. And like the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro upgrades are expected to be chip upgrades only. However, the chips could be significantly upgraded.

According to reports, Apple will introduce a new chip design with the M5 Pro and Max, where the CPU and GPU are on separate blocks. This will allow for more customization options; for example, a customer can get a chip with the base configuration of CPU cores and maxed-out GPU cores. Learn more about the upcoming M5 Pro/Mac MacBook Pro.

Low-cost MacBook

Here’s where things start to get really interesting. Reports have swirled for months that Apple is developing a cheap MacBook that can compete in the market with Chromebooks and Windows laptops. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that this laptop will ship during the first half of 2026.

The cheap MacBook will reportedly use an iPhone chip, possibly the A19 Pro. Reports have said it will have a slightly smaller display than the 13-inch MacBook Air, and we expect it could lack some features found in the MacBook Air, including multiple Thunderbolt 4 ports and HDR.

With the current MacBook Air starting at $999, we expect this new model to cost as low as $699. Learn more about the low-cost MacBook.

Mid 2026

Mac Studio

The M5 Max and M5 Ultra Mac Studio are on Apple’s 2026 release schedule, according to Gurman. Apple could release these Macs in March, but a June release at WWDC seems more likely.

The Mac Studio isn’t going to see a design change, and its update may be only with its chip. Reports state that Apple is using a new chip design with the high-end M-series chips that features the CPU and GPU on different blocks, allowing more customization options with CPU and GPU cores. Mac Studio customers may be able to, say, buy a model with a maxed-out GPU, for example. Learn more about the upcoming Mac Studio.

Studio Display and Pro Display XDR

According to reports, Apple is finally going to update its Studio Display, some four years after it debuted. Code numbers for the new Studio Display have been uncovered in a pre-release version of iOS 26, with references to a 120Hz refresh rate, support for SDR and HDR modes, and an A19 chip for controlling Spatial Audio and the built-in webcam. Apple debuted the original Studio Display alongside the Mac Studio in 2022, so it could be released at the same time.

As for the Pro Display XDR, Gurman reported that Apple had two new displays in development, but it was unclear if both displays were different models of the Studio Display or if one was a Pro Display XDR. However, since it’s been more than six years since the Pro Display was released, it would make sense for Apple to update it at the same time with ProMotion.

macOS 27

Apple will preview macOS 27 at WWDC in June, and since macOS 26 featured major UI changes, reports say it will be a maintenance release with a focus on performance and stability and a minimal number of new features. One thing to keep an eye out for: Apple is rumored to launch its first touchscreen MacBook Pro (see below), so it’s possible macOS 27 has some subtle UI updates that make on-screen elements easier to use with a touch interface.

Late 2026

Touchscreen MacBook Pro

Despite a relatively minor speed bump early in the year, Apple may still have a huge update planned for the MacBook Pro in the second half of the year. Next year is the 20th anniversary of the MacBook, and Apple is reportedly planning a major celebration. Along with the M6 family of processors, Apple expected to introduce two key enhancements to at least the higher-end MacBook Pro models: An OLED touchscreen display and the first new design in five years. Learn more about the upcoming M6 MacBook Pro.

The rest

M5 iMac

The M4 iMac was released about a year ago, but we haven’t gotten any reports about a 2026 update to the iconic all-in-one desktop Mac. Apple may have the iMac on a longer upgrade cycle, so an upgrade may not happen until the M6 is available. Depending on the timing, an M6 model could arrive in late 2026 or early 2027.

We’ll probably start hearing rumors around WWDC time, but if you’re thinking about buying an iMac, the current M4 model is a great buy. Its M4 chip is speedy, it comes with 16GB of RAM, a 12MP Center Stage camera, and a Nano-texture glass option.

M5/M5 Pro Mac mini

According to reports by Gurman, the M5 and M5 Pro Mac mini are on Apple’s release schedule for 2026. Since the M6 is expected in the second half of 2026, the M5 Mac mini will probably be released in the first half of the year.

The current M4 Mac mini, which features the smallest footprint of any Mac, was released a year ago. Apple is unlikely to change the design that was only just introduced last fall, so the chip will basically be all that’s new. Learn more about the M5 Mac mini.

M5 Ultra Mac Pro

Gurman reported that Apple “has largely written off” the Mac Pro and believes that the Mac Studio addresses the needs of users who need workstation performance. It’s still running an M2 Ultra processor, and if it doesn’t get a 2026 or early 2027 update, we’ll be watching and waiting for when it disappears from Apple’s lineup.