What Apple Didn't Announce, and When It's Coming

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Apple’s October 2025 product launches were fantastic. A new MacBook Pro 14”, two new iPad Pros, and a refreshed Vision Pro, all with the new M5 chip, provide real upgrade value across the board. But what about the products that weren’t announced, and when are they coming?

As per usual with Apple, they’re tight-lipped about it all. There is information out there, though, sandwiched between complete speculation and high probability, that helps lay out the potential roadmap for Apple’s next products.

Least Likely For 2025 Release

Let’s start out with the products that don’t look to have a launch before the end of the year.

The "No" List

MacBook Air with M5

Apple just released the 13” and 15” MacBook Air models with the M4 chip in the spring of 2025. It would be highly unlikely, but not impossible, for Apple to refresh the Air lineup with the M5 before the end of 2025 under those circumstances.

There’s nothing in the supply chains to suggest that a refresh of the M5 is imminent either. It’s just too early for it with the M4 still on shelves and selling well.

Estimated release: Spring 2026
2. Mac mini and Mac Studio

As Apple released only the base M5 chip in their October 2025 drops, there’s no Pro chip to put in a Mac mini and no Max or Ultra chip to put in a Studio. Sure, Apple could release an M5 base Mini. It makes a lot more sense that both the base M5 and the M5 Pro would be released at the same time.

Nothing in supply chains suggests that there are updates to either the Mini or the Studio in the immediate future. Makes sense, as there are no Pro or Max chips to put in them. The Mini with the M4 chips is only 11 months old at present, and the Studios with M4 Max and M3 Ultra were Spring 2025 releases. They’ll both be on shelves through the remainder of 2025 and beyond.

Estimated release: Summer 2026

iPad Air and iPad mini

Both the Air and the Mini received notable refreshes in the spring of 2025. The Air received the M3 chip, and the Mini the A18. Both are highly capable chips and are ready for ongoing feature releases and updates to Apple Intelligence.

Both the Air and the Mini are readily available at retail and have no supply chain indications that refreshes are imminent. These two have no chance of getting late 2025 updates, nor should they. But look for them to go on and off sale, often up to 20% off. That makes for a great deal for highly competent tablets.

Estimated release: Spring 2026 to Summer 2026

The “Hard-Maybes”

1. HomePod mini

One of Apple’s oldest active products, the HomePod mini, debuted in November 2020. It’s about to pass the five-year mark without any hardware updates, and in day-to-day use, it shows.

My daily arguments with my two HomePod Minis to get them to play the right music I ask for, turn lights on and off, and do, well, anything right, are real. It’s great that Apple continues to support them with software updates, such as the new HomePod Software 26 (also known as audioOS internally at Apple). But it hasn’t changed or improved my daily life frustrations with them.

There is no way to sugarcoat it: the HomePod mini is outdated. It uses the S5 chip, originally used in the Apple Watch Series 5. Yeah.

Fortunately, an update seems imminent. There’s chatter that Apple’s planning to launch a new HomePod mini with a chip somewhere between the S9 and S11. That probably wouldn’t make it a super great device for Apple Intelligence, but it might empower the Minis to run a newer version of Siri. Anything would be better at this point than the current version.

Supply in stores seems to be getting low, a sign that a refresh just might be on the horizon. My best estimate is that Apple will wait until the newer Siri is ready.

Estimated release: late 2025 to early 2026.
2. AirPods Max 2

This one’s tricky. Apple just refreshed (barely) the AirPods Max in 2024, albeit only with a USB-C port instead of the dreadful Lightning port and some new colors.

But that USB-C port turned out to be meaningful for more than just modern charging. It also allowed Apple to activate Lossless audio on the AirPods Max, giving them the highest degree of audio fidelity of any Apple device. That’s super valuable to audiophiles that crave and demand the best music listening experience.

Thing is, the AirPods are otherwise a relatively old product in the Apple lineup, having been released otherwise unchanged since December 2020. They’re due. It’s just a little hard to predict a concrete timeline, as AirPods Max headphones are still readily available both at Apple and in third-party retailers. It’s possible a version two will hit shelves for the 2025 holiday season, but I’m not staking my flag on that hill yet.

Estimated release: Late 2025 to Summer 2026.

High Probability of 2025 Release

Apple TV

If there’s any one product that seems like a surefire release before the end of 2025, it’s an updated Apple TV. Not the service—which itself just went through a rebranding—the set-top box and remote.

The current model, the Apple TV 4K, was released in November 2022. It features the A15 Bionic chip, now four generations behind the current A19 generation of chips. With Apple’s ongoing development of Apple Intelligence, it seems highly likely they’d be ready to put out hardware that can support it in a robust manner. Either an A18 (already in the iPad mini) or an A19 can do just that.

Apple also has a recent push to get deeper into gaming, having launched its new Apple Games app. The best way for Apple to inch its way deeper into the console gaming market, especially with the recent decline and gamer dissatisfaction surrounding the Xbox ecosystem, would be a set-top box that can play AAA titles. An A18 or A19 Apple TV would be capable of producing the quality of graphics and sound that would make AAA titles shine on the big screen.

Supply chains suggest that a new Apple TV is imminent. They’re getting harder to find at retail outside of Apple, suggesting that inventories are getting thin. That’s a strong indicator that either a new model is on the way or the product line is discontinued. We know it isn’t discontinued, so a new one is likely right around the corner.

Couple low inventory of the current-generation Apple TV 4K with the rebranding of AppleTV+ to Apple TV and the launch of Apple Games, and this is the one I’ll plant my flag upon.

Estimated release: November 2025 to December 2025.

Buy Now or Wait?

Here’s my list of which Apple products are safe choices to buy right now, as they’re set for the immediate future, along with my list I’d wait just a bit to buy.

No-Brainers:

MacBook Air 13” and 15” with M4

The MacBook Air with the M4 chip is not only one of the best MacBooks, it’s one of the best laptops you can buy anywhere. This is, without a doubt, the easiest recommendation to buy right now.

Get the 13” here (Amazon link):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZD9S5GC?tag=blainelocklai-20&gbOpenExternal=1

Get the 15” here (Amazon affiliate link):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZDBDCFH?tag=blainelocklai-20&gbOpenExternal=1

iPad Air 11” and 13” 2025 with M3. Go for it, but check pricing and be a little bit patient. These often go on sale for $150 off MSRP. You can buy a lot of apps for your shiny new iPad with $150.

Get the 11” here (Amazon affiliate link):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZ76BN5D?tag=blainelocklai-20&gbOpenExternal=1

Get the 13” here (Amazon affiliate link):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZ76QBLQ?tag=blainelocklai-20&gbOpenExternal=1

iPad mini 2025

Yep, another easy call. Go for it, just check current pricing, as it tends to drop 20% or $100 off MSRP.

Get it here (Amazon link):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK3W6TV6?tag=blainelocklai-20&gbOpenExternal=1

The 50/50 Club

AirPods Max

Well, confession time: I just traded in my Lightning AirPods Max at the beginning of the month for the current USB-C model in blue. It was worth it, if for nothing else than the convenience of USB-C charging and the Lossless audio.

It’s entirely possible that an AirPods Max 2 is on the near horizon. But the current generation are really great in their own right, and they’re certainly getting firmware updates on the regular. Look for sale prices on them and you’ll be happy with your purchase—just don’t pay the eye-watering $549 MSRP.

Get the AirPods Max here (Amazon affiliate link):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGJC52FP?tag=blainelocklai-20&gbOpenExternal=1

Mac mini with M4 / M4 Pro

I’m a little more on the fence about this one. It’ll hit the one-year mark next month, which is right around the corner. Go for the base model, as it’s often on sale and an insane value. At $499, it’s the best bang for the buck you can get, and its small form factor is a marvel to behold.

Get the Mac mini with M4 here (Amazon affiliate link):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLBTPDCS?tag=blainelocklai-20&gbOpenExternal=1

No Way

HomePod mini

Plain truth? They kind of suck nowadays. I still have them, but unless you like arguing with robots, wait for the next generation, which is likely coming very soon.

Apple TV 4K

Thing is, the Apple TV 4K, even at three years old, is still a highly competent device with a great price and a world-class OS and interface. I love mine. But it’s clear that a new model is imminent. Like, weeks away, maybe. Just wait a bit and get the new model. It’ll be much more future-proof and give you access to the latest tvOS 26 media and gaming features.