Apple’s Spring Hardware Surge Signals a Major AI Push Across iPhone, iPad, and Mac

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Apple is about to flood the market with new gear. According to the latest Bloomberg leaks, we are looking at a massive hardware refresh for the first half of 2026. The real star? The iPhone 17e. This is the new budget king. It’s expected to drop as early as February 19. 

It’s reportedly packing the A19 chip from the flagship line and, about time, adding MagSafe support. At a rumored $599 price point, it’s a clear shot at the mid-range market. People want high performance without that “Pro” price tag. Apple isn't changing the look much, sure. But the internals are a total leap forward. In 2026, silicon is everything.

And the iPads aren't being left behind either. We are looking at a 12th-generation entry-level iPad and an 8th-generation iPad Air. The base iPad is finally moving to the A18 chip. This is actually huge. It brings “Apple Intelligence” and the new AI-powered Siri to the cheapest tablet in the shop. Meanwhile, the iPad Air jumps to the M4 chip. Don't go looking for a redesign here. It’s all about the “brains” this year. The focus is simple: making every single device capable of running the heavy AI features coming to iOS 26.4.

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Macs are on the list, too. The M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros are slated for a March 2 launch. These machines are tied to the release of macOS Tahoe 26.3. Apple wants that performance crown back. We might even see a “low-cost” MacBook with an iPhone-class chip to take on Chromebooks. 

And Siri? She's getting her biggest upgrade ever around February 23. A full conversational, chatbot-style interface. It’s a busy start to the year. Apple is betting that AI hardware at every price point is the only way to win in 2026. If the rumors hold, your "old" M3 Mac might start feeling very slow, very soon.