Apple Rumors in 2026

AI-generated, human-reviewed.

This year’s Apple rumor mill is busier than ever, with chatter about major changes to the iPhone 18 Pro, a redesigned Dynamic Island, and a new foldable with Touch ID. On episode 1008 of MacBreak Weekly, the panel dissected this week’s most talked-about leaks, helping listeners distinguish hype from reality.

Here’s your essential guide to what was discussed—what’s likely, what’s dubious, and where the speculation seems most grounded.

iPhone 18 Pro: Dynamic Island Under the Display?

On the show, Andy Ihnatko and Jason Snell discussed swirling rumors about a major change to the iPhone’s “Dynamic Island”—Apple’s pill-shaped area for camera and sensors. Some leakers (notably Jon Prosser) claimed Apple is moving the selfie camera to the screen’s edge and hiding the Dynamic Island completely under the display for next year’s “iPhone 18 Pro.”

Counterclaims from supply chain sources and Chinese outlets quickly followed. According to Andy Ihnatko, more reliable industry analysts said only part of the Dynamic Island’s hardware—namely the infrared emitter—would be hidden, shrinking the visual size but not eliminating it.

Key insight:

• It’s unlikely the Dynamic Island will entirely disappear for the iPhone 18 Pro.
• Trusted supply chain insiders expect only a reduction, not full removal.
• Translation errors between Chinese and English sources drive much of the confusion.

The MacBreak Weekly hosts agree: “Fun to speculate now, but don’t expect full under-display tech this year.” Jason Snell noted that hardware decisions are made far in advance, and supply chain leaks this close to launch are usually on the mark.

Foldable iPhone Rumor: Touch ID Instead of Face ID?

Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone is back in the news—this time with claims that it might eschew Face ID for Touch ID.

On the episode, Leo Laporte and Jason Snell explained the logic: Foldables pose a challenge for facial recognition hardware. You’d need Face ID on both the inside and outside displays, which adds cost, thickness, and complexity. By contrast, Touch ID (fingerprint sensor) can be placed on a single button and works whether the device is opened or closed.

Samsung, for example, uses both Face ID and fingerprint on their Galaxy Fold series. Apple, according to the rumor, may keep it simpler for user experience and reliability.

Takeaway:

• Touch ID on foldables makes technical sense and is a credible rumor.
• Apple hasn’t confirmed any foldable product, but supply chain leaks suggest ongoing development.

Timeline for Next Macs: M5 MacBook Air and Display Updates

The podcast also touched on rumors of new hardware arriving sooner than expected.

• M5 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro: Supply chain delays are showing up.
  Andy Ihnatko
  noted that longer delivery times for current models hint that updates—likely with M5 chips—are imminent.
• Studio Display and Pro Display XDR: Rumors point to refreshes, possibly with OLED options. No solid specs yet, but the smart money (per
  Jason Snell) expects improved panels.

HomePod with a Display, Smarter Siri, and AI Features

According to Stephen Robles, he’s closely following Mark Gurman’s leaks about a new HomePod. Expected features:

• Touchscreen display for smart home and recipes
• Deeper integration with a soon-to-be smarter Siri, powered by Gemini AI.

The panel speculates that Apple’s hardware is ready but the AI backend is still in progress, possibly delayed by the slow rollout of new machine learning tools. Apple’s push for AI-driven voice assistants is one of the most anticipated changes.

What You Need to Know

• Dynamic Island shrinking, not disappearing, for iPhone 18 Pro according to reliable supply chain analysis.
• Foldable iPhone likely to use Touch ID due to practicality and cost—Face ID on foldables remains unlikely.
• New M5 MacBook Airs, Pros, and displays are expected soon, based on delivery timeline signals.
• HomePod with a display and advanced AI rumored for late 2026, pending backend integration.
• Most hardware rumors with supply chain backing are usually accurate at this time of year; wild speculation and vague predictions rarely pan out.

The Bottom Line

The MacBreak Weekly team urges listeners to follow rumors for entertainment and planning—but always weigh the source. Supply chain leaks around the Apple hardware refresh cycle (February and March) tend to be most credible, while vague wishlists and dramatic redesign rumors often fall flat.

If you’re keeping an eye on new devices—or just want a window into what’s next in Apple hardware—these are the rumors that matter for 2026.

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