Apple’s WWDC Next Week: What New Hardware to Expect

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is nearly here, and while the event is traditionally a showcase for the next iterations of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, the company has a history of slipping in a new device or two. Back in 2017, the original HomePod made its debut at WWDC months before it actually shipped. The redesigned Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR were revealed in June 2019, and more recently, the 15-inch MacBook Air, the M2 Ultra Mac Studio, and the first Apple silicon Mac Pro all launched at the conference in 2023.

So what can we realistically expect from WWDC 2026? The honest answer is probably not much in the way of new hardware. Apple has already been unusually busy this year. The AirTag 2, iPhone 17e, and a new iPad Air with M4 have all arrived, alongside refreshed M5 MacBook Air and M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro models.

March was particularly packed. The Studio Display XDR hit the market with mini-LED backplane technology and a 120Hz refresh rate, the standard Studio Display got a Thunderbolt 5 upgrade, and Apple stunned the industry with the $599 MacBook Neo. It even quietly refreshed the AirPods Max with an H2 chip.

Despite that flurry of spring releases, Apple reportedly has more products ready to go. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has stated that new models of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini are “ready to go” and have been “for months.” That raises the obvious question: why the delay, and will they appear at WWDC?

The reality is, it’s highly unlikely we will see either of these products announced during the conference. The primary reason Apple is holding them back is the wait for a more personalized version of Siri and other Apple Intelligence upgrades expected later this year. While we will undoubtedly see previews of these software features at WWDC, they won’t be released to the public until mid-September. It simply isn’t reasonable to expect the new Apple TV and HomePod mini to launch before that software is ready.

The same logic applies to other rumored products like smart glasses, AirPods with cameras, and the mysterious smart home hub or “HomePad.” All of these devices depend on an enhanced Siri and a version of Apple Intelligence that finally delivers on its promises. Until those improvements go public in the fall, the hardware will stay in the wings.

Mac Updates? Unlikely

The outlook for Mac mini or Mac Studio updates arriving anytime soon is also grim. Apple is grappling with a global memory chip shortage driven by hyperscalar companies building out AI server facilities. The squeeze has already led Apple to remove desktop Macs from its online store. Mac mini models with 32GB and 64GB of RAM are no longer available for purchase, nor is the M3 Ultra Mac Studio with 256GB of RAM. Apple even removed the Mac mini with 256GB of SSD storage, leaving the 512GB model as the minimum option. CEO Tim Cook has admitted that the Mac mini and Mac Studio could be hard to get for months.

Perhaps the best we can hope for is a hardware preview of Apple’s smart home accessories. Beyond that, the safest assumption is to expect no hardware-based product launches at all until Apple’s new software updates mature to a point where its AI-based features no longer carry the “beta” badge. There is no sign that is about to happen anytime soon.

WWDC 2026 kicks off with Apple’s keynote on Monday, June 8 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage of all the announcements.