The release of iOS 26.3 looks to be right around the corner with the highly anticipated iOS 26.4 update following right behind it, so Apple software rumors have been big in the news this week.
Hardware hasn’t been left out, though, as we’re still waiting for a few early-year launches like the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro, while also looking ahead to major new products coming later in the year like the first foldable iPhone, so read on for all the details on those stories and more below!
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iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 will add these new features to your iPhone
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available to beta testers ahead of the public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely at least a week away. After beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Be sure to check out our recap of iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features known or rumored so far to get ready for the updates!
First foldable iPhone design details revealed
Apple’s first foldable iPhone will feature relocated volume buttons, an all-black camera tray, a smaller Dynamic Island and more, according to design leaks from a well-known Weibo leaker.
A separate leak suggested that the foldable iPhone could feature the largest iPhone battery to date, rivaling the Eclipse with a capacity of over 5,500mAh. This would make it the largest capacity of any iPhone current or previous, as the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the largest battery to date at 5,088 mAh.
Apple CarPlay Ultra will expand to these vehicle brands later this year
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin’s latest luxury cars, but that should change fairly soon.
In May 2025, Apple stated that many other vehicle brands plan to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, and Turn on newsletter this week BloombergMark Gurman said he’s been told CarPlay Ultra will come to at least one major new Hyundai or Kia model “in the second half of this year.”
It is not clear if he is referring to the upcoming Hyundai IONIQ 3 as previously reported or if it will be a different model.
Apple is changing the way you order Macs
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro.
There used to be a few standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you have to configure your Mac from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an iPad.
The new MacBook Pros are reportedly launching alongside macOS 26.3
Apple plans to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips along with macOS 26.3, according to Bloombergis Mark Gurman.
“Apple’s faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle,” Gurman wrote in his Power On newsletter this week. “I’m told the new models — codenamed J714 and J716 — are for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from February to March,” he explained.
This occurs as third-party sellers experience dwindling inventory of existing models.
Apple gives final warning to home app users
In 2022, Apple unveiled a new Apple Home architecture that is “more reliable and efficient,” and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching.
In an email this week, Apple gave customers one last reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who don’t upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automation, or lose access to their smart home in the app altogether. Additionally, users who don’t upgrade will miss out on newer features like robot vacuum support and won’t receive important security fixes and performance improvements.
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