Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple's 2026 Mac Plans

darkblu said:
Re entry-level models, I just hope Apple never return to 8GB for macos devices. My upgrade cycle on Apple Silicon has been 8GB -> 16GB -> 32GB, as I've been trying to stick to the minimal viable RAM size for hitting that elusive Apple price-competitive spot, and 8GB is not cutting it even for a web driver nowadays.
Click to expand...
My 2012 iMac 27" was 32GB on day 1 hence it being serviceable for a dozen years.

2019 MBP 16" is default 16GB so somewhat snug 6 years later.

Mac's storage and memory upgrades are severely overpriced. I would've maxed it out it even if it was just 2x off the shelf PC parts equivalent.
 
  • Like
Reactions: darkblu, TVreporter, UnbreakableAlex and 1 other person
My wish list for 2026
iPhone Fold (If camera is proper)
MacBook Pro Touch screen
aWatch

That will replace
iPhone 13 Pro
iPad Pro M4
MacBook Air M4
aWatch 6gen

I am still hopeful to see some aGlasses coming out as I am not keen on the Vision Pro, meta Quest, Samsung, Xreal or any of this. But the rumors on the apple glasses, I am very keen …

Let’s see …
 
It is weird that iMac not getting some sort upgrade but the Displays are. My iMac is from late 2017 amazed it still works compared to previous iMacs I had this lasted almost 9 years by next year.
 
Allen_Wentz said:
$20k is very cost-competitive for the LLM world that such heavily loaded Studios are made for. I want to see what Apple does with M5 and the Mac Pro; it is time.
Click to expand...
There is no denying that the hardware is decent for MLX use, incredibly decent; but also don't forget that NVidia's DGX spark with 128GB of memory (200 billion parameter size @ FP4 1 petaFLOP) is US$4,000

The Apple advantage is lower power use.
 
SFjohn said:
Apple would have to alter macOS to be more like the iPad to have a touch screen, it makes absolutely no sense on a Mac display. I don’t believe this rumor for a second. It’s plain stupid. 😱
Click to expand...
It would seem that's what they've already set in motion with macOS Tahoe. Sliders are larger, buttons are bigger, padding on sidebar items is greater, corner radiuses on the windows are larger to make them easier to distinguish and grab hold of with your fingers... maybe it's just me, but it really seems like the die has already been cast towards accommodating touch operations with Liquid Glass.

Now all they would need is a Mac that supports touch.
 
  • Sad
  • Like
  • Disagree
Reactions: SpotOnT, 01cowherd, Sandstorm and 4 others
kerr said:
The A-chip MacBook is likely to be a flop, Apple doesn’t know how to price a budget phone, I doubt they know how to price a budget laptop.
Click to expand...
What, in your mind, would be difficult about pricing a budget laptop? Maybe you can give Apple some pointers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KeithBN
mmm is it worth upgrading my 2022 Macbook air M2 with 8gb ram to the MacBook M5 pro now (base model with 16gb ram) or worth waiting for the MacBook Air M5 or the M6 pro (base model)?

I started running virtual machines and MacBook Air M2 with 8gb ram feels a little sluggish (otherwise great machine)
 
The cutdown MacBook will be so neutered, it’ll be the new iPhone Air. They won’t want to cut into MBA sales.
 
JohnC1959 said:
It's pretty much just for folks that need to insert some special PCI card.
Click to expand...
And don't want to or cannot use an external PCIe enclosure. Which would cost less than the price difference between a Mac Studio and a Mac Pro.
 
The last time I had money I was considering a colourful iMac, just as the first M1 iMac was released. Being stuck at 24" made that plan go away. If instead they had a 27" or better a 32" version, I would be running an M1 iMac for all these years now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandstorm
The article is of what I call the rinse, wash and repeat variety. Trot it out once a month or so, change the chip names or dates and republish. There is not a sp[eck of new news in it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Riot Nrrrd and sos47
aa27154 said:
mmm is it worth upgrading my 2022 Macbook air M2 with 8gb ram to the MacBook M5 pro now (base model with 16gb ram) or worth waiting for the MacBook Air M5 or the M6 pro (base model)?

I started running virtual machines and MacBook Air M2 with 8gb ram feels a little sluggish (otherwise great machine)
Click to expand...
8 GB is pretty minimal for a Mac that runs a virtual machine, isn't it.

I run Windows 11 via Parallels Desktop on a MacBook Pro M1 Pro with 16 GB RAM, and it works all right for general productivity apps, but I can't imagine doing the same on an 8 GB machine and getting satisfying performance.
 
  • Like
Reactions: artifex and Riot Nrrrd
johnsawyercjs said:
I agree, especially when I'm eating and have stuff on my fingers. I think Apple sees this as just providing another user input option for people who might also have gotten familiar with using an iPad or other tablet. It won't replace the usual trackpad and keyboard input methods. And if someone uses the touchscreen option, it'll be on them to keep their screens clean.

But I can imagine that occasionally, when someone's fingers are clean, eye/hand coordination and motor reflexes might favor just reaching up and touching the screen to quickly press a button or do something else that might be a little more work using the clickpad.
Click to expand...
Except, then the UI needs to cater to touch as well. I don't want my icons bigger like they have been getting. I want information density. MacOS should remain unmolested with touch interface styling and cater to keyboard/mouse/trackpad only. I like my iPad, but when I want to get serious about something I want a real desktop OS.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: johnsawyercjs, jchap, SpotOnT and 3 others
Whatever they release, it's going to be tempting to finally ditch Macs for good due to the overpriced and non-upgradeable RAM and Hard Drives. It's borderline highway robbery what Apple charges for these upgrades. And starting some Macs at 256 GB SSD just adds insult to injury. If the basic specs were at least decent so you would only need to do 1 upgrade for $200, that's one thing, but if you're looking at multiple upgrades then the price really adds up.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: TVreporter, UnbreakableAlex, Sandstorm and 2 others
Not sure what to make out of this touchscreen rumors - I would like a machine, that runs MacOs, when used with a Keyboard/Trackpad and iPadOS, when used without.
The current iPad Pro seems to be the best candidate for that hardwarewise - why push the convergence from two sides, without having solved this.
Currently an iPad can also be a laptop with limited capabilities - why making a MacBookPro, that is also a bad tablet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SpotOnT and Sandstorm
HVDynamo said:
Except, then the UI needs to cater to touch as well. I don't want my icons bigger like they have been getting. I want information density. MacOS should remain unmolested with touch interface styling and cater to keyboard/mouse/trackpad only. I like my iPad, but when I want to get serious about something I want a real desktop OS.
Click to expand...
Fully agree - I would still love a machine, that can do both, when traveling, to carry less stuff around.
But the rôles should be separated - you cannot make a one-fits-all OS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HVDynamo, 01cowherd and dmi
AusMness said:
Do we really need a chip that rivals the M3 in power inside.. the Studio Display? Seems kind of overkill - an A18 at most feels more appropriate
Click to expand...
I imagine they'll stick in the cheapest chip that also helps meet their buying requirements from TSMC (even if it's overpowered). An older chip may/or may not be that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KeithBN
If Apple releases a new M5 Mini next year I might bite. I still use my 2018 Mini and I have no problems with Sequoia. I could wait it out for an M6 Mini.
 
Waiting to see the next iMac and M6 MacBook Pro. Hope the colors on iMac continue to be bright. Will be fantastic if there is a bigger non Pro iMac. I will be very happy if cellular connectivity comes to MacBook Pro. Overall it looks like the M6 MacBook Pro will be a great computer. Also waiting to see the new low cost MacBook.

I have the M4 mini and the M4 MacBook Air and they are great computers. The next version will no doubt have the regular speed improvements. For me, I am extremely satisfied with my M4 mini and I am not going to upgrade.

Will be great if Apple can have one nice bright color for each product.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandstorm and mganu
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back