Apple’s not waiting around for September anymore—new gear’s dropping year-round now. If you’re into Apple like I am, 2025’s shaping up to be a nonstop thrill ride.
Apple’s moving away from its annual product update cycle. Which means more frequent launches and fewer big delays. I can imagine how tech journalists feel—writing a blog at 2 a.m. sounds rough. But hey, as a fellow tech fan, I’m thrilled there’s more to look forward to. I’m especially pumped because Apple’s stepping into a brand-new device category. And guess what? There are plenty of more new Apple products coming in 2025.
Below, I’ve rounded up the latest rumors on what’s ahead. If you’re like me and love staying up-to-date with Apple gear, stick around—this ride’s getting wild!
1st half of 2025
Apple’s latest release, the iPhone 16e, is officially available for pre-order. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The company is gearing up for a big year in 2025, with plans to launch an entire lineup of new products.
1. M4 MacBook Air (out now)
These new MacBook Air models come in the usual 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, starting at $999 and $1,199. That’s $100 less than the M3 versions.
Apple improved performance and lowered the price, but I expected more. The design hasn’t changed. It still has the same keyboard, no speaker grills, MagSafe charging, 2 USB-C ports, a headphone jack, a notched 60Hz LCD, and a thin aluminum body. Okay, fine—battery capacity did increase slightly, from 52.6 watt-hours to 53.8.
2. 11th-gen iPad (out now)
In early March, Apple refreshed its low-end iPad, giving it an 11-inch screen and the A16 chip. That’s a solid step up from the previous A14 model, with Apple claiming a 30% speed boost.
“A16 makes the updated iPad up to 6x faster than the best-selling Android tablet,” says Apple in a press release.
I love that it works with a stylus, such as the Apple Pencil, or a keyboard case for a laptop-like setup. It’s easily the best all-around tablet for most people. You can grab the Apple iPad for $329 with a 6% discount.
3. 7th-gen iPad Air (out now)
Apple drops a new iPad Air only 10 months after the last one. The only real change? A chip upgrade. Everything else—display, size, and build—stays the same.
You still get the same 11-inch and 13-inch options, starting at $549 (8% off) and $738.08 (8% off). The big switch is from the M2 to the M3 chip, which Apple says makes it twice as fast as the M1 version from a few years back.
A 13-inch iPad might not sound that different from an 11-inch one, but those extra 2 inches make a huge impact. If you watch movies a lot or need to hold it in one hand, the 11-inch is the better pick. But if you’re into digital art, the bigger screen is the way to go—it gives you more room to work with a pencil.
Haven’t gotten my hands on the new Air yet, but I’m sure the M3 version will hold up well. Apple’s M-series chips are rock solid and stay fast for years.
4. iPad Air Magic Keyboard (out now)
I used to laugh at tablets with physical keyboards and trackpads. But once I tried one, I felt how it worked in my hands, and my opinion changed. It’s actually useful to some extent.
Until now, the Air’s keyboard dock was the only one without function keys, which was just weird. Adding a row for volume, playback, app switching, and locking the device instantly makes the Air a decent laptop replacement.
Even better, the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air ($269) is compatible with older models. So if you have an M2 Air, it’ll work just fine.
5. Mac Studio with M4 Max and M3 Ultra (out now)
Apple finally refreshed the Mac Studio after nearly 2 years, but the updates created some confusion in the lineup.
It’s pretty weird to see Apple put last-gen’s highest-end chip in a new product as the top option while also using the latest-gen chip in the same product as a lower-tier choice. That doesn’t happen often.
Now that the Mac Studio has the M3 Ultra, Apple could roll out a newer chip in the next Mac Pro to justify its premium pricing. Apple claims the M4 Max Mac Studio is 3.5 times faster than the 2022 M1 Max version, while the M3 Ultra model is 2.6 times quicker than one with the M1 Ultra.
So, should you get the M3 Ultra ($3,999) or the M4 Max ($1,999)? It depends on your workflow. If you’re into software development or machine learning, the M3 Ultra makes more sense. The M4 Max has higher single-core speed (which is crucial for gaming), but the M3 Ultra handles large projects better. Either way, both are niche picks that will serve you well for years.
2nd half of 2025
Did you know that Apple’s entering a whole new product category? It looks like the smart home market might heat up with some major competition soon!
6. iPadOS 26
Apple rolled out one of its boldest software changes ever. It looks like they want to give the whole experience a fresh start and pull in a new crowd.
Mark Gurman got his hands on early versions of Apple’s new design language, Liquid Glass. He tried it across all platforms—iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, and even tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS. Bloomberg’s chief correspondent says the design works best on OLED screens where your fingers do the work and colors jump off the screen. Out of all of them, I think iPadOS feels like the best match. Its big display gives the design room to breathe.
But here’s where things get weird—you still deal with tablet apps on iPad. They look fine but don’t give you much depth. Honestly, I’d take a full version of Safari and stronger background tools over more polish. Apple did add Final Cut Pro, which felt like a step, but creators still reach for Macs when work gets serious. iPads just don’t cut it yet.
iPadOS 26 release date
Apple showed off iPadOS 26 during WWDC25 and handed it to developers to start testing. A public beta drops in July. After that test run wraps up, the full release lands in September 2025.
7. Wi-Fi access
One of the most annoying parts of traveling? Trying to find Wi-Fi that works—and getting it to connect on everything you’re carrying. I still remember a hotel stay in Barcelona where I needed internet for work. My laptop handled it fine, but once I switched over to my phone, I hit that dreaded splash page. Typing in all your info on a small screen? Not fun. I’ve always wanted a way around it.
Now, Apple’s got something in the works that should help. According to Gurman, once you fill out a captive Wi-Fi form on one device, Apple will save the info and sync it with the rest of your gadgets. It works like a browser that stores your name, email address, and payment info so you don’t have to keep entering it. So next time you’re trying to hop on a new network, things should go a lot smoother.
8. Apple smart home display
Apple’s getting ready to launch a wall-mounted display. It can control smart home gadgets, manage video calls, and use AI for app navigation.
The wall tablet sports a 6-inch screen, shaped like a square iPad. Imagine 2 iPhones side by side, with a chunky bezel. Up front, there’s a camera, plus built-in speakers and a rechargeable battery. Apple supply chain expert Ming-Chi Kuo speculates it might tie into the HomePod ecosystem, but that’s still a guess.
CEO Tim Cook has made this project a priority, pushing for its release after more than 3 years of development. Apple wants it to compete with Amazon’s Echo Show and Echo Hub, as well as Google’s Nest Hub.
Funny enough, I once had an old iPad mounted in my kitchen, running an app that showed crypto market trends, soccer updates, and more. Honestly, it worked like a charm. Though discontinued, you can recreate this setup today using home screen widgets. My desk iPad does exactly that (even with a Gadget Flow widget). Yes, Apple’s upcoming device sounds neat. But if you’ve got an old iPad collecting dust, why not DIY something similar already?
Apple smart home display release date
Earlier, Gurman revealed Apple’s plan to introduce its smart home hub as early as March, but he now says the wait might be longer. The device runs on a new operating system called Pebble, which ties into iOS 18.4 and iOS 19. Because of that, the hardware might not be ready to launch right away.
Apple has already pushed back production of its smart home hub (HomePod 3, if you go by what Ming-Chi Kuo says) a few times. First, it was supposed to launch in 2024, then early 2025, and now it’s looking more like late summer or early fall 2025.
Kuo expects Apple to ship around 500,000 units in the second half of 2025. And if folks really like it, that number could climb to a million per year.
9. iOS 26 rumors
Apple’s flipping the script on how it names iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. Instead of the usual version numbers, it’s switching to a year-based format. So forget iOS 19—next up is iOS 26.
Before WWDC25, I had a feeling something would shift. With all the buzz around AI—Gemini, ChatGPT—it looked like Apple might miss the moment. But instead of diving into AI hype, Apple showed off something different: Liquid Glass. It’s a new see-through design coming to iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.
In iOS 26, every app icon gets a small refresh. The lock screen shows a large glass-style clock that adjusts to what’s behind it. Once you swipe into your phone, nothing looks wild, just more refined.
What stands out to me? The time blends into your photo, while your wallpaper shifts and moves in 3D. It feels fresh without screaming for attention. Apple found a way to keep things clean, fun, and just a little more alive.
iOS 26 release date
Apple showed off iOS 26 at WWDC in June. Later in the summer, everyone can try the public beta. Once testing is done, iOS 19 officially drops in September.
10. macOS Tahoe
Since 2013, Apple has picked iconic California locations to name each version of its Mac operating system. Right now, we’ve got macOS Sequoia, a nod to the famous forest. Next up, Tahoe’s taking the spotlight. It’s more than a beautiful destination. A lot of Apple’s team hangs out there, so it feels personal.
macOS 26 Tahoe brings a fresh design and tools for power users. Spotlight gets a big upgrade. I have always liked using it, and now it feels more useful. You can search for apps, files, and emails. It also pulls up news, sports, weather, and stock updates. You can ask it to play a podcast, start a voice memo, or even begin writing an email.
Another big change is the Phone app coming to Mac. Macs do not have a cell modem, but they can take calls from your iPhone. The app adds new features from iOS 26, like call translation, contact photos, and call screening.
macOS Tahoe will be the last update for Intel Macs. From here on out, macOS will run only on Apple Silicon.
macOS Tahoe release date
Apple usually rolls out the first macOS developer betas right after the Worldwide Developers Conference. The full software updates drop in the fall. So, macOS Tahoe should show up around September.
11. iPhone 17 rumors
Apple is gearing up for late 2025 with its usual splashy launches—new iPhones and Apple Watches. Let’s start with the iPhones.
Regular leaker Digital Chat Station claims this year’s iPhone designs will see a major overhaul. The rumored iPhone 17 Air might feature a “horizontal, bar-shaped” rear design—think a sleek, stretched camera strip. Meanwhile, the Pro models could introduce a “large horizontal matrix design.”
Last week, Jon Prosser shared a render of the “iPhone 17 Pro.” Its 3 rear cameras retain the classic triangular layout but are housed in a bold new rectangular bar that stretches edge to edge across the back.
The ultra-slim “iPhone 17 Air” is also expected to sport that horizontal camera bar. It’ll be about 0.08 inches thinner than current iPhones and could feature Apple’s first in-house modem (code-named Sinope). It might not top the sales charts, but I see it becoming the buzziest launch this fall. The “Air” brand still carries weight—just look at the MacBook Air’s legendary reputation. Everyone I know with a MacBook Air loves it for its speed and style.
Meanwhile, for iOS users, nothing revolutionary has been announced yet regarding storage cleanup features. For now, you’ll still need to rely on tried-and-true cleaner utilities like Clever Cleaner: Free AI Cleanup App to keep your device optimized.
iPhone 17 release date
Apple sticks to a predictable schedule for iPhone launches. Every numbered iPhone for over a decade has debuted in September, except for the iPhone 12, which was delayed by a month due to COVID-19. That means the iPhone 17 series will almost certainly arrive in the first 2 weeks of September 2025.
12. Apple Watch 11 rumors
Ah, here we are at the last product series! The SE model is getting a fresh design, but the Series 11 and Ultra 3 will likely stay the same. Apple already made the Watch 10 bigger and slimmer in 2024, so a major redesign in 2025 doesn’t seem likely.
The real excitement is in the new features. The Ultra 3 will hook you up with satellite connectivity and 5G RedCap access. Oh, and both the Ultra and Series models might soon help you keep tabs on high blood pressure. Neat, right?
Apple Watch 11 release date
Looks like the Apple Watch Series 11 will debut in September 2025. If Apple keeps up its usual routine, the gadgets should arrive just in time for the holiday shopping season.
The timing is perfect—but also dangerous. Holiday shopping always tempts me, especially with all the cute decorations. I love this season, but every year, I end up exhausted, stressed, and broke… and now there’s another gadget to add to the list!
13. M5 Apple Vision Pro
The Vision Pro still hasn’t found solid ground. Meta holds a huge lead, locking in 74.6% of the XR market in 2024. Apple trails at just 5.2%. To change that, the Cupertino company is gearing up for a new push—the M5 Apple Vision Pro.
Gurman mentioned back in April that new models are on the way. Now, Ming-Chi Kuo follows up with more specifics. Apple’s working on a version with an M5 chip. That’s a jump from the M2, but everything else stays the same, which doesn’t move the needle much.
One area that keeps coming up is the field of view. The FOV feels narrower than what other headsets offer. That stands out more when the Vision Pro runs as a virtual 4K+ display. Users often need to shift their heads just to keep text in focus.
Without big upgrades, Apple expects the Vision Pro to stay in niche territory. The current focus appears to be on holding market presence, building out the ecosystem, managing parts supply, and exploring more XR applications.
M5 Apple Vision Pro release date
Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple plans to begin mass production of the M5 Vision Pro in the third quarter of 2025. They expect to ship around 150,000 to 200,000 units by the end of the year.
Bottom line
What hooks me most isn’t just the new Apple products coming this year—it’s seeing how Apple’s rhythm reshapes the whole tech vibe. Will rivals scramble? Will my wallet survive? Either way, I’m tuning in. Change keeps things spicy, and 2025’s lineup feels like the start of a wild new era. Let’s see where this ride goes!
