Apple may have just wrapped up one of its biggest product launches in years, but the company is unlikely to be finished with new hardware in 2026.
Following the arrival of iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Duo, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5, attention is already turning to the products Apple could introduce during the final months of the year.
Several devices that had been linked to Apple’s fall roadmap were absent from the September event, with reports continuing to point toward new Apple TV and HomePod hardware alongside a broader push into the smart home.
New Apple TV 4K
A new Apple TV 4K remains one of the strongest candidates for release before the end of 2026. The Apple Post reported in July that Apple was preparing an updated model for the fall, with the refresh expected to focus heavily on performance and Apple’s new generation of Siri.
The current Apple TV 4K was introduced in 2022, leaving the set-top box increasingly overdue for an update. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple has been trying to introduce a new model since 2024 but held it back while waiting for its new Siri technology.
With Siri AI now arriving, Gurman says he expects the updated Apple TV this fall with Siri AI support and a faster processor. Previous reports have also linked the device to Apple’s newer wireless technology, potentially improving Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Thread connectivity.
HomePod mini 2
HomePod mini could finally receive its first major hardware update since the original model launched in 2020.
An earlier report claimed that Apple’s next HomePod mini had already been finished for months and was in active use by employees at Apple Park, with its launch apparently tied to the readiness of Apple’s more capable Siri experience.
The next-generation model has been linked to a considerably newer processor, improved audio, upgraded Ultra Wideband capabilities and newer wireless connectivity. A refresh would also give Apple an opportunity to position HomePod mini more prominently within its expanding smart-home strategy.
Apple’s smart-home hub
The biggest potential announcement still waiting in Apple’s pipeline is its long-rumored smart-home hub, a new product expected to combine a display with Siri, Apple Intelligence, FaceTime and Home controls.
The Apple Post recently looked at the possibility of another Apple event in October, with the smart-home device providing perhaps the strongest reason for Apple to hold another presentation rather than simply announcing products through press releases.
Apple’s retail preparations have added to the interest around its home plans. Apple Stores have reportedly been preparing new areas for upcoming Home products, suggesting the company is planning a broader expansion of the category.
Whether the hub actually makes it to customers before the end of 2026 remains less certain than the Apple TV and HomePod mini. Siri delays have repeatedly affected Apple’s home roadmap, meaning the product could still move into 2027 if the company decides the experience is not ready.
Apple’s first game controller
Apple is also developing game controllers for the iPhone, according to Gurman, with the accessories likely to be launched under the Beats brand rather than Apple itself.
The controllers have reportedly been in development for more than a year as Apple looks to compete with established third-party iPhone gaming accessories. Beats is said to be leading the product’s engineering and conception, giving Apple room to enter the category without positioning the controller as a premium Apple-branded accessory.
A firm release date has not been reported, so the controller is less certain for 2026 than Apple’s expected home products. But its appearance in Apple’s software and Gurman’s reporting suggest the project is well underway.
Could there be more Macs?
Apple has traditionally used October and the final months of the year for Mac announcements, although its 2026 roadmap is less straightforward after the company refreshed Mac mini and Mac Studio in August.
That does not rule out further Mac launches. Apple continues to develop new Mac hardware, but the remaining 2026 picture currently appears less clear than the company’s Home lineup. Any additional Mac announcements could also arrive through Apple Newsroom rather than a dedicated event.
What probably won’t arrive in 2026
Some major Apple products are already looking more likely for 2027. The standard iPhone 18 is expected to form part of Apple’s new split iPhone release schedule rather than joining the Pro models in September, while other products further out in Apple’s roadmap are unlikely to be squeezed into the final months of this year.
For now, Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2 look like the safest bets. The smart-home hub is the product that could make the remainder of 2026 considerably more interesting, particularly if Apple decides it is significant enough to anchor another event.
As The Apple Post reported following Apple’s September event, the absence of several heavily rumored products did not mean they had disappeared from Apple’s roadmap. September may have delivered Apple’s biggest launches of the year, but there could still be plenty to come.