I suppose we are able to hardly complain. Apple’s mid-October launches weren’t teased with over-designed invites. They didn’t have groan-worthy pun taglines. They didn’t contain Apple executives doing ill-advised “skits” and bouncing round on a digital stage. In different phrases, they weren’t overestimated as any sort of occasion past a social media tease the day earlier than, and so the fair-minded observer wouldn’t anticipate them to be thrilling.
And thrilling they definitely weren’t. What we received as a substitute, by way of press launch fairly than press occasion, was a trio of what could be the most workmanlike product refreshes in historical past. The brand new MacBook Professional, iPad Professional, and Imaginative and prescient Professional every acquired a brand-new M5 processor and little or no else: a snug new headband right here, a C1X modem there, however nothing elementary or groundbreaking aside from the chips.
Typically an easy refresh is precisely what a product line wants, and the highly effective M5 is definitely price having even should you don’t share Apple’s obsession with AI. The very last thing we’d need is for Apple to carry off on making essential part bumps as a result of the corporate is ashamed to unveil a machine that hasn’t been utterly redesigned. It does really feel like Apple followers have been getting greater than their justifiable share of simple refreshes in recent times… however the iPhone Air earns fairly just a few radicalism factors, so let’s lower the corporate some slack.
Nonetheless, my ideas have shortly moved on from these uninteresting however essential updates to the opposite launches that lie in Apple’s nearish future. And even after the launches in September (iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods Professional) and October there’s loads nonetheless to come back for this fall and winter. That is what occurs whenever you spend the remainder of the yr launching virtually nothing.
The 2nd-gen AirTag must be with us earlier than lengthy, primarily based on hints in iOS 26 code, and it seems this can be extra dependable at sustaining a Bluetooth connection than its predecessor. The brand new AirTag might have Precision Discovering at an extended vary and is predicted to achieve new battery options of some type, though it isn’t clear what these will entail. Prime of my want record can be a chargeable battery, since changing the watch battery within the 1st-gen AirTag is a ache and probably harmful, nevertheless it’s extra probably that we’ll preserve the battery format whereas rising its longevity: maybe lasting so long as two years. Chuck in audio system which can be more durable for stalkers to tamper with and this seems like an enormous improve for considered one of Apple’s oldest equipment.
And what of the even-older HomePod mini? I’m an enormous fan of the full-size HomePod, however the mini is even higher and a far simpler product to advocate. (Sure, the sound is weaker, however you will get a stereo pair for lower than a single large HomePod.) The issue is that it got here out 5 years in the past and hasn’t had an replace since then, aside from new colours.
That lengthy wait is predicted to finish quickly, however what’s going to the HomePod mini 2 have to supply? On condition that the primary mannequin’s single greatest weak spot is Siri’s infuriating inaccuracy, let’s hope it features a chip able to supporting Apple Intelligence, thus placing the HomePod mini ready to learn when Apple lastly types out its voice recognition tech. Improved wi-fi must be on the playing cards too, and probably help for Hello-Res Lossless. I’d additionally vote for extra colours, since HomePods are extra suited to an ornamental function than most different Apple gadgets. The orange is great, however I’d like to see one in sage.
Lastly, there’s a good probability we’ll see the subsequent Apple TV mannequin this fall. That is anticipated to function an A17 Professional chip, a serious improve from the A15 within the present mannequin which is able to unlock the flexibility to play a far wider vary of AAA video games and add help for Apple Intelligence. Positive, it’s only a chip bump just like the M5 gadgets, nevertheless it skips a era for a extra significant improve.
It’s fascinating to check these three launches, all to “lesser” product strains that Apple has fairly uncared for, with the flagship launches earlier this month. The MacBook and the iPad are on the very forefront of Apple’s id as an organization, and the Imaginative and prescient Professional is its, properly, imaginative and prescient of the longer term. However the AirTag, HomePod mini, and Apple TV all look set for a lot extra profound and fascinating change. Possibly it’s exactly as a result of they get up to date much less usually, though the iPhone 17 and clearly the iPhone Air demonstrated final month that an yearly refreshed product can nonetheless get worthwhile new options.
What stays to be seen is how Apple will current these new merchandise: they’re (in all probability) going to be (comparatively) main upgrades, however to merchandise that are much less able to grabbing headlines.
It actually does really feel like the corporate might have mixed the large names of the M5 gang with the large modifications of those three different merchandise and turned the set into a correct occasion: lead with the M5 (specializing in the MacBook Professional and iPad Professional, since I’m undecided anybody cares in regards to the Imaginative and prescient Professional), then discuss in regards to the house merchandise on the undercard. I’d make time to observe an occasion like that. However perhaps everybody was busy. Or perhaps they couldn’t consider any good puns.
Foundry
Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which incorporates all of the Apple information you missed final week in a useful bite-sized roundup. We name it Apple Breakfast as a result of we expect it goes nice with a Monday morning cup of espresso or tea, nevertheless it’s cool if you wish to give it a learn throughout lunch or dinner hours too.
Trending: Prime tales
Apple’s M5 Mac chip is only a large A19 Professional, and that’s a great factor.
Apple’s new M5 iPad Professional is terribly near the MacBook hybrid we’ve at all times wished.
The Pixel 10 Fold is identical to the iPhone Air (besides it bends, breaks, and explodes).
Elevate your iPhone 17 selfie sport with these 6 new options.
Alex Blake reveals 7 extra iOS 26 options that you just might need missed, from pictures to AutoMix.
Need to eliminate Alexa adverts in your Echo Present? Simply purchase a HomePod, advises the Macalope.
A mournful Roman Loyola writes a love letter to Launchpad on the Mac.
Podcast of the week
Apple launched new Apple Watches, and within the newest episode of the Macworld podcast, we take a detailed have a look at each. Which one do you have to purchase? The reply might shock you!
You’ll be able to catch each episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our personal website.
Critiques nook
The rumor mill
Report: Apple’s upcoming sensible house pill gained’t be as costly as feared.
Code leak hints at long-overdue improve for considered one of Apple’s highest-priced merchandise.
Apple’s touchscreen MacBook Professional is reportedly coming subsequent yr, and gained’t have a notch.
Neglect the M5, Apple’s different rumored fall upgrades can be way more thrilling.
Video of the week
Apple simply introduced three new merchandise, and the upgrades are so primary that Jason Cross can describe all of them in lower than one minute. Get pleasure from all our short-form video on TikTok or Instagram.
Software program updates, bugs, and issues
In the event you discover an Apple vulnerability, you might stroll away with $2M.
The macOS Tahoe 26.1 beta modified the Macintosh HD icon, nevertheless it nonetheless seems to be fallacious.
And with that, we’re finished for this week’s Apple Breakfast. In the event you’d wish to get common roundups, join our newsletters, together with our new e mail from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous tackle the most recent information and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You may as well observe us on Fb, Threads, Bluesky, or X for dialogue of breaking Apple information tales. See you subsequent Monday, and keep Appley.
