Apple is set to unveil a series of exciting products in the coming weeks, including the highly anticipated iPhone 17e, the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models, and the iOS 26.4 update. This update is expected to introduce a significantly enhanced version of Siri, featuring advanced AI capabilities.
Anticipation Grows for iPhone 17e Launch
Mark Gurman’s recent Power On newsletter indicates that the launch of the iPhone 17e is “imminent.”This aligns with emerging reports from manufacturers within Apple’s supply chain, suggesting that the iPhone 17e could be announced in a press release on Thursday, February 19.
In terms of specifications, the iPhone 17e will likely maintain a 6.1-inch LTPS OLED display, albeit with a standard 60Hz refresh rate. It is also expected to incorporate the A19 chip, offering a performance boost of approximately 5-10% over the A18 chip found in the iPhone 16e.
Additionally, the new budget-friendly iPhone will feature a C1-series modem and will not include the N1 chip. Noteworthy features include “magnetic wireless charging, ”a 12MP front-facing camera, Face ID recognition, and a 48MP rear camera. Pricing is anticipated to match the iPhone 16e at $599, although a base storage increase to 256GB could be part of the offering.
M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro Launch Expected Soon
Shifting focus to the MacBook lineup, Gurman reports that the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models are poised for launch as early as the week of March 2. This timing coincides with the ongoing macOS 26.3 update cycle, which is anticipated to continue through March.
The urgency for a new product release is underscored by dwindling inventories of the M4-series MacBook Pro models. Apple traditionally synchronizes inventory levels with third-party retailers before launching new devices, indicating that a new release is imminent given the current stock levels.
iOS 26.4 and the New Siri Experience
Looking ahead to software, Gurman predicts that the first beta of iOS 26.4 could drop around the week of February 23. This update is particularly exciting as it introduces a redesigned version of Siri, powered by a specialized Google Gemini model. This upgrade aims to enhance in-app actions, personal context awareness, and on-screen interactions, allowing for a broader range of tasks to be performed seamlessly.
Notably, Apple plans to implement a massive 1.2 trillion-parameter custom Gemini AI model on its cloud servers to empower the new AI features in Siri, under a project known as Apple Intelligence. This approach will allow for straightforward AI tasks to be executed on-device, while more complex operations will leverage the capabilities of Apple’s secure cloud infrastructure, utilizing encrypted and stateless data for privacy and efficiency.