Apple prepares for a historic year: the 4-wave plan for its 50th anniversary

Apple will celebrate its 50th anniversary on April 1, 2026, and according to a new report by Mark Gurman (Bloomberg, Power On), the company is preparing one of the biggest launch years in its history.

Included in the lineup: Mac M5 and M6, iPad, foldable iPhone, new smart home products, and smart glasses.

Apple’s Roadmap for 2026: A Packed Year

Mark Gurman outlines a full year of new products, organized into four major waves.

Early 2026: The Mac and iPad Wave

As early as the first months of 2026, Apple is expected to launch:

• MacBook Air M5 OLED
• MacBook Pro M5 Pro/M5 Max
• New Apple monitors
• iPad Air M4
• Entry-level iPad with A18 chip
• iPhone 17, a more affordable model aimed at broadening the lineup

The goal is to refresh the entire range before introducing more ambitious products.

March–April 2026: The First Apple Smart Displays

Apple is finally expected to enter the smart home market with two intelligent displays:

• A desktop model with speaker base (similar to HomePod Display)
• A slimmer wall-mounted version

These products will be the centerpiece of a new smart home strategy, focused on AI and a revamped Siri, just before the WWDC in June.

June 2026: WWDC and AI Revolution

During WWDC 2026, Apple will showcase:

• iOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27
• Significant advancements in Apple Intelligence (AI integrated across all devices)
• A radically improved Siri, more contextual and autonomous

This moment will signify the complete integration of AI into all Apple products — from Macs to iPhones, including connected accessories.

Fall 2026: The Blockbuster Launches

This will be the highlight, with the most anticipated launches:

• The first foldable iPhone (likely part of the iPhone 18 lineup)
• iPhone 18 Pro featuring an Apple-designed 5G modem
• A preview of Apple Glass AR eyewear
• Major enhancements for Apple Intelligence on iPhone

The foldable iPhone is expected to be a “book-style” model with a visible crease-free inner screen — an achievement not yet fully realized by Samsung and Google.

End of 2026: The Future MacBook Pro

To conclude the year, Apple is planning a major redesign of the MacBook Pro:

• M6 Pro/M6 Max chip
• Thinner and lighter design
• Integrated OLED touchscreen (a first for a Mac!)

This will herald a new generation of Apple laptops.

Expected Secondary Products Throughout 2026

• Updated iPad mini
• Mac mini M5
• Mac Studio M5
• Security cameras and smart home accessories
• Pre-release of the Apple Glass AR glasses

Why This Roadmap Is Historic?

Summary of Apple’s 2026 Roadmap

Apple is not settling for a cycle of updates: it is preparing a full-scale offensive. In just one year, the company is taking on Samsung (foldables), Google and Amazon (smart home), Meta (AR glasses), and Microsoft (generative AI and ARM PCs).

This grand plan aims to celebrate the brand’s 50 years while laying the groundwork for the next decade of Apple. “This is not just a celebration; it’s a show of strength: Apple wants to dominate the upcoming platforms — foldables, AI, and augmented reality,” declares Mark Gurman.

The Riskiest Bets

Among these launches, some remain risky:

• Foldable iPhone: Apple arrives late but could “legitimize” the segment.
• Apple Glass: a long-term bet that could be revolutionary… or overly ambitious.
• Smart Displays: Apple enters a market dominated for 10 years by Amazon and Google.
• MacBook Pro OLED touchscreen: a radical change for professionals, but a huge technical challenge.

What This Means for Apple

2026 could become the most decisive year for Apple since 2007, the year of the iPhone. The company aims to demonstrate that it can redefine all technological segments it enters — even those where it arrives late.

In essence, Apple celebrates its 50 years not by looking back but by laying the foundations for the next 50 years.

If even 70% of these announcements come to fruition, 2026 will be a historic year for Apple — and likely the most expensive for fans.