Apple has kept users waiting for new hardware this week as well, as we have yet to see any of the major product launches we expect in the first months of the year.
News on the software side has been a bit of a mixed bag this week as iOS 26.3 and other updates have finally seen their public releases, although they focus mainly on security fixes with only a few changes that affect users. And the highly anticipated iOS 26.4 coming next may not come with everything many users were hoping for, so read below for all the details on these stories and more!
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iOS 26.3 Features: Everything new in iOS 26.3
After nearly two months of beta testing, Apple finally released iOS 26.3 and related updates to the public this week.
As is common with x.3 updates, the changes are quite mild, although there are a number of security improvements and a few new features, such as an easier iPhone to Android phone transfer tool, some Weather wallpaper changes and more.
The new Siri is running into problems, features could be ported to iOS 26.5 and iOS 27
With iOS 26.3 out the door, the first iOS 26.4 beta should arrive soon, but there may be a catch. While we expected iOS 26.4 to include major improvements to Siri with a new, more personalized experience, it now sounds like we might not get it until iOS 26.5 or even iOS 27.
According to BloombergMark Gurman, Apple has run into trouble over the past few weeks testing the new Siri, and recent internal betas suggest that Apple is moving many of the new features from iOS 26.4 to iOS 26.5.
Apple Stores See iPhone 16e, iPad Air shortage as new models near
We’re expecting several Apple hardware releases in the relatively near future, and the rumored lack of iPhone 16e and iPad Air models at Apple retail stores may indicate that these products are very close to receiving updates.
In particular, the new iPhone 17e was seen as “imminent” and should bring several improvements over the iPhone 16e, including support for MagSafe charging.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy Another MacBook Pro
While the entry-level MacBook Pro was updated with the M5 chip last October, we’re still waiting for higher-end machines with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
These new models should arrive soon, but if you’re interested in cutting-edge technology, you might want to skip these machines. The M5 Pro and M5 Max will largely be just the higher-speed versions of the current generation, but there will be a major upgrade later this year with an all-new design, touchscreen-capable OLED display, and more.
Apple expects to launch these 10+ products over the coming months
While the iPhone 17e and updated iPad Air seem to be within reach with new MacBook Pro models not far behind, Apple has even more on its near horizon with at least ten new products expected in the next few months.
Many of these are iterative updates of existing products, but we expect a few brand new ones in the mix as well. The potential delay of an improved Siri may affect the timing of some of these, including the new smart home hub and ecosystem, so we’ll have to wait and see how that timing plays out.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is said to provide a next-level battery
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is already the king of battery life, but the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max could push things even further if a known leak is correct. A recent report claims that Apple will be looking to cram a bit more battery capacity into this year’s larger Pro model, pushing it up to 5,100-5,200mAh.
Apple is also reportedly working on implementing several camera improvements to this year’s iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, including a variable aperture on the main camera and a wider fixed aperture on the telephoto lens.
These potential improvements come at a time when Apple is reportedly trying to hold the line on prices despite significant increases in the cost of some key components.
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