Wait. Stop for a second. If you’ve been holding onto that iPhone 14 or 15 Pro because you’re waiting for the "next big thing," 2026 is basically the year Apple decides to stop playing it safe. We aren't just talking about another slightly faster chip or a new color that looks suspiciously like the old one. We’re looking at a complete hardware pivot.
Honestly, the rumor mill has been churning out a lot of noise about the iPhone 17 Pro and the supposed "iPhone 18" leaks, but right now, in January 2026, the real action is happening in the early-year releases and the software overhaul that’s about to change how you talk to your phone.
The Siri Glow-Up: Gemini and the $1 Billion Deal
Let’s be real: Siri has been a bit of a joke for years. You ask for a timer, and it gives you a web result for "time in Timbuktu." That is finally ending. Apple just locked in a massive $1 billion-per-year deal with Google to integrate Gemini models into Apple Intelligence.
This is huge. It means your iPhone is moving away from basic "if-this-then-that" commands and toward actual context.
Imagine asking Siri, "When does my mom's flight land and where are we eating?" and having it pull the flight number from your email and the reservation from a text thread without you opening a single app. This "Context-Aware Siri" is rumored to drop as early as iOS 26.4 this spring, or as a tentpole feature for iOS 27 in June.
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It’s not just a chatbot. It’s a "proactive companion." It will suggest meeting summaries before you even open your calendar. It will know when you’re traveling and prep your navigation and reminders automatically. Basically, Apple is trying to make the iPhone as intuitive as it was back in 2007, but with AI doing the heavy lifting.
The Hardware Shakeup: M5 Macs and the iPhone 17e
If you’re a power user, circle January 28 on your calendar. Rumors are swirling—and fairly reliably from sources like 9to5Mac—that Apple is about to drop the high-end M5 MacBook Pro models.
We already saw the base 14-inch M5 late last year, but the 16-inch monster with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips is expected any day now. Why January 28? Because that's the launch date for the new Apple Creator Studio subscription. It makes perfect sense for Apple to pair their most powerful creative software with their most powerful hardware.
But for the rest of us? The iPhone 17e is the sleeper hit of the year.
Expected this spring, the 17e is essentially the "budget" flagship. It’s rumored to ditch the notch entirely for the Dynamic Island and sport a slimmed-down bezel design. It gives you the modern look of the iPhone 17 Pro without the $1,000+ price tag.
- Chip: A19 Bionic (plenty fast for 99% of people).
- Camera: Center Stage front camera for better video calls.
- Design: Ultra-slim, modern aesthetic.
The "Fold" in the Plan
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the iPhone Fold.
People have been screaming for a foldable iPhone since the first Samsung Galaxy Fold landed. 2026 looks like the year it actually happens. But don't expect it to be cheap. Early supply chain leaks suggest a price point between $2,000 and $2,500.
It’s a book-style design—think a 7.6-inch display when open, looking very much like an iPad Mini, but folding down to a 5.3-inch phone. Apple is prioritizing thinness here, aiming for just 4.5mm when unfolded. If they pull that off, it will be the thinnest device they’ve ever made.
What’s Happening with the Watch?
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11 are already out there, but if you’re looking to upgrade, you might want to see what 2026 brings in the fall. We are hearing about Touch ID coming to the Watch (finally!), and a completely redesigned sensor array on the back.
The goal? Better signal quality for health tracking. While non-invasive blood glucose is still the "holy grail" that feels a few years off, the new sensor layout is expected to significantly improve heart rate accuracy during high-movement workouts and offer better "Sleep Scores" using algorithms trained on millions of nights of data.
Mac and iPad: The OLED Takeover
Apple is slowly killing off LCD and Mini-LED. The iPad Mini is expected to get an OLED screen this year, and the MacBook Pro is next in line.
Why do you care?
- Infinite Contrast: Blacks are actually black, not dark gray.
- Battery Life: OLED is more efficient for dark mode users.
- Brightness: The new "Tandem OLED" tech (like in the iPad Pro M4) is coming to the laptops, meaning 1,000 nits of SDR brightness. You’ll actually be able to work outside without squinting.
Should You Buy Now or Wait?
It depends on what you’re holding.
If you have an iPhone 15 or 16, stay put. The AI features coming in iOS 26.4 will run on your hardware just fine. However, if you are on an iPhone 12 or 13, the jump to the iPhone 17 Pro (with its vapor chamber cooling and 12GB of RAM) or the upcoming iPhone 17e will feel like moving from a bicycle to a rocket ship.
For Mac users, if you need a machine today, the M4 models are incredible. But if you can wait two weeks, the M5 Pro/Max announcement on January 28 is worth the patience.
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Next Steps for You:
Check your current iPhone's battery health in Settings > Battery. If you’re below 80% and using an older model, start looking at the iPhone 17e leaks coming out this March. If you're a creative professional, hold off on any Mac purchases until the January 28 window clears to see if the M5 Pro 16-inch arrives.