Three Upcoming Apple Products Seemingly Spotted in macOS 26.3 Code

[MacRumors]

macOS 26.3 hints at Apple's rumored lower-cost MacBook, and two new Studio Display models, according to Macworld's Filipe Espósito.

Espósito found the following codenames within macOS 26.3's source code, and he revealed the upcoming products that they likely correspond with, based on previous reporting from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and others.

The codenames:

• J700: Lower-cost MacBook
• J427: A new Studio Display
• J527: A new, higher-end Studio Display

This is far from the first time that these codenames have been spotted in Apple's software updates. According to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris, the codenames were also present in updates such as macOS 26.2 and iOS 18.5 last year.

As more and more hints stack up, it is clear that all three products are inching closer to release.

The prevailing assumption is that Apple will unveil the lower-cost MacBook as part of three days of new product announcements in the first week of March. The media would then receive hands-on time with the laptop during the "Apple Experience" in New York, London, and Shanghai on Wednesday, March 4 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time.

The new Studio Displays are expected to be released in the first half of 2026, but it is unclear if they will be part of the announcements in the first week of March.

The lower-cost MacBook is rumored to be powered by a version of the iPhone 16 Pro's A18 Pro chip, rather than an M-series chip. The laptop will apparently be available in a variety of bright colors, such as yellow, green, blue, and/or pink. Other rumored specs include a 12.9-inch display and 8GB of RAM. The starting price remains to be seen, with estimates ranging from $599 to $799 in the United States.

The lower-cost MacBook would be an all-new model positioned below the MacBook Air, and it would mark a revival of the "MacBook" brand (with no "Air" or "Pro" designation). Apple sold an Intel-based 12-inch "MacBook" from 2015 to 2019.

At least one of the new Studio Display models is rumored to feature a 27-inch screen with mini-LED backlighting, up to a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and an A19 chip or A19 Pro chip. No major design changes are expected.

If the next Studio Display receives mini-LED backlighting and HDR support, its maximum brightness and contrast ratio would be higher than the current model. And a newer A19 or A19 Pro chip — up from the A13 Bionic currently — should contribute to performance improvements, camera-related enhancements, and more.

There are no details about the second Studio Display. Presumably, it would be a higher-end model, and we can only dream of a larger 32-inch screen size.

The current Studio Display launched in March 2022, alongside the first Mac Studio. It has a 27-inch screen without mini-LED backlighting, a 5K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits brightness, a built-in camera and speakers, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. In the U.S., pricing starts at $1,599.

Article Link: Three Upcoming Apple Products Seemingly Spotted in macOS 26.3 Code

 

[Yr Blues]

An affordable studio display?

 

[Hank001]

An affordable studio display?

Can't imagine it being affordable: the current one has 64GB of storage.

 

[Biro]

Of course this is just another rumor but putting up to an A19 Pro chip in a new Studio Display while sticking with an A18 Pro for the entry-level MacBook would be a bit off to me.

 

[Lloigorr]

Wait… the ASD will have a more powerful SoC than the low-cost mac?

And they won’t let us use the ASD in standalone mode??

 

[TechRunner]

I'm curious about the sizes of these two rumored ASDs more than any other specs.

 

[0423MAC]

I’m not interested in the lower cost MacBook, but I am worried that the days of great deals on the entry level MBAs might come far and fewer in between.

I believe I’ve grabbed the entry level M2, M3 and M4 MBA for a shade over $700 each brand new not too long after release.

 

[Jamie0003]

Can't imagine it being affordable: the current one has 64GB of storage.

Why lol

 

[kiranmk2]

Going back to an 8 GB RAM Mac is dangerous - Surely Apple will have to make sure these get 4 years minimum MacOS support? That means that they will have to make the 2030 version of MacOS work with 8 GB machines...

 

[centauratlas]

"The current Studio Display launched in March 2022, alongside the first Mac Studio. " It would be nice if this became a trend and an updated Mac Studio (and mini) were announced along side all of this.

 

[Asthmatic Kitty]

Having the new mini-LED Studio Display come in both 27" and 32", while discontinuing the Pro Display XDR, would be an interesting move. Not much reason for the XDR to exist once mini-LED comes to the Studio Display, unless they're ready to jump to OLED (which seems unlikely).

 

[Torty]

Going back to an 8 GB RAM Mac is dangerous - Surely Apple will have to make sure these get 4 years minimum MacOS support? That means that they will have to make the 2030 version of MacOS work with 8 GB machines...

Sounds realistic. Would be 7 major updates for M3 machines which came with 8GB ram.

 

[jeroenvip]

Cupertino, CA — March 4, 2026 — Apple today redefines everything you thought was possible with displays and foldables: the Studio Display Fold – One-Time Fold Edition – Fits in Your Pocket (Sort Of). A 27-inch 120 Hz ProMotion behemoth, it folds 10 times… but only once, because attempting a second fold is scientifically, philosophically, and legally discouraged.

“We think you gonna love it.”

Ten Folds, One Miracle​

• 27-inch Retina XDR Foldable Display — engineered to fold 10 times, theoretically, but in practice one fold is enough.
• Pocket Mode — technically it could fit in a very, very large coat pocket… if your coat weighs as much as a small human.
• Desk Mode — instantly transforms into a full Studio Display experience, complete with HDR, spatial audio, Center Stage tracking, and A19 Bionic ultra-power.
• ProMotion 120 Hz — buttery smooth scrolling, so your oversized widgets glide as if gravity didn’t exist.

Power & Performance​

• A19 Bionic Ultra Max Chip — same processor rumored in the next-gen Studio Display, now controlling your impossibly large foldable.
• iPadOS 20 XL Mega Edition — Stage Manager finally has a workspace worthy of its ambition.
• Center Stage 27 — tracks your face, your posture, your coffee cup, and occasionally your existential dread.

Apple Pencil XXL​

• Desk-to-Canvas Mode — draw, annotate, or fend off coworkers with the Apple Pencil XXL, now so large it requires two people to operate, and could double as a mini baseball bat.
• Perfect for measuring, casting spells, or attempting to launch small objects across your office.

FaceTime & Stage Manager Like Never Before​

• 27-inch FaceTime — see everyone, including the barista you FaceTimed three months ago.
• Spatial audio speakers — fills the room, your neighborhood, or a small country with cinematic sound.

Pricing & Availability​

• Starting at $9,999.
• Ships March 4, 2026, with Apple’s rumored product lineup.
• Optional Desk Anchor XL Pro sold separately to prevent catastrophic tipping.

 

[ab2c4]

I don't need a new computer but I am very curious to see the new low cost laptop.

 

[MayaUser]

Going back to an 8 GB RAM Mac is dangerous - Surely Apple will have to make sure these get 4 years minimum MacOS support? That means that they will have to make the 2030 version of MacOS work with 8 GB machines...

A18 pro has 12 gb ram...so it will come with 12 or 16gb

 

[MRSugarD]

A 32'' display is amazing and so much precious space to work with. Once you go 32, you never wanna go back to anything smaller. It will feel absolutely cramped then. Looking forward to this huge Apple display.

 

[MayaUser]

A 32'' display is amazing and so much precious space to work with. Once you go 32, you never wanna go back to anything smaller. It will feel absolutely cramped then.

wheres the limit then? if you go 40" you never go back....if you go 100" you never go back...i wonder wheres that limit when you want to go back

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Why lol

They reused iPhone parts. The A13, and included storage, is in the current model.

wheres the limit then? if you go 40" you never go back....if you go 100" you never go back...i wonder wheres that limit when you want to go back

Well that's not true. I had a 32" for about a month, and went back to a 27"... 32" was too big for my taste. I don't want a monitor in front of me that requires me to look up.

 

[Abydos]

reminds me of Kremlin watchers

 

[StrangeNoises]

is it ridiculously naïve to think the "27" in both of those studio display product codes probably relates to the size?

And therefore that the difference between them is something else. maybe one has ridiculous refresh rates for gamers and one has actual passthrough thunderbolt or something (current one just has downstream usb ports). or one is like the current but more budget for people who just want a nice high-res screen and the other has those extra toys.

 

[ShivneelSingh]

I hope they release the low-cost MacBook models in vibrant colors instead of the current muted pastels.
I'd LOVE a pink model to surf the web, journaling, or some light work during travels.

 

[RowellE]

My wallet is ready for this new MacBook.

 

[Farquar]

An affordable studio display?

You're funny.

Sadly, the new Studio displays will be neither affordable nor competitive.

Apple has typically tried to have the "best" displays on the market, whether that means features or build quality, so that they can charge far more than they're worth. Right now though, the offerings from ACER, Dell, and LG are so good, including ones that haven't shipped yet, that buying anything from Apple would be an egregious waste of money.

 

[whatta]

Wait… the ASD will have a more powerful SoC than the low-cost mac?

And they won’t let us use the ASD in standalone mode??

Indeed. Good point. In fact ASD is an iMac..

 

[Astuces iOS]

This low cost MacBook might not have MagSafe, the four speakers audio system and a 12mp cam (might also be 720p like m1 lol)

For the Studio Display well I wonder why it cannot run macOS ?? Mate it has A19 ???? It should be able to run macOS if the lower cost MacBook has A18 Pro??? Why I need to buy a Mac mini ??? Mate…

New Mac Studio is cool, Mac Pro is now dead !