Apple’s next event takes place this week, and there’s a bunch of rumoured products expected to make their much-hyped debut during the livestream.
The releases expected are likely to be headlined by the reveal of the iPhone 17 series, which should include four distinct models, including the iPhone 17 Air.
Products that fit into the whole iPhone ecosystem are expected, like new Apple Watch variations and AirPods, while release dates for the various software updates announced at WWDC in June are likely.
But what about the products that we might have to wait a little longer for – or are unlikely to see at all? Here, we round up five Apple releases that are unlikely to arrive this week.
New iPads, including the M5 iPad Pro
New iPads are heavily rumoured to arrive in 2025, although don’t expect to see them unveiled alongside the iPhone 17 range this week.
Apple typically holds an event in October after the latest iPhones are on sale, to focus on tablets, and if we are getting iPads this year, then this event is where we’d likely hear about them.
The biggest rumour surrounding the iPad, specifically the Pro range, is that the two size options will be powered by the M5 chip, rather than the current M4. Apple launched the M4 chip with the huge iPad redesign in 2024, so we may see the latest silicon launched first in a tablet.
Considering how significant the iPadOS 26 redesign is and how much of a laptop competitor it makes the tablet, it makes sense to have a new model to accompany it.
MacBook Pro upgrades
Apple periodically updates its Mac line throughout the year, with the MacBook Air usually arriving in the spring/summer months and the Pro arriving in the autumn.
While we are awaiting a new MacBook Pro – likely powered at least partly by the same M5 chip as the iPad – we would expect to see this announced later in the year, rather than alongside the new iPhones.
iPhone 17e
While we expect to see most of the models of the iPhone 17 range arrive this week, there will likely be one notable absence – the iPhone 17e.
Apple released the iPhone 16e midway through the iPhone 16’s lifecycle, and if we do see an iPhone 17e, it’ll likely come sometime in the early part of 2025.
iPhone 17 Plus
For the past few years, Apple has launched both a standard-sized iPhone and a ‘Plus’ model. The iPhone 16 Plus was a larger version of the iPhone 16, with a bigger screen and battery.
We don’t expect to see an iPhone 17 Plus, though – and there’s a very good reason for that.
Replacing the iPhone 17 Plus is set to be the iPhone 17 Air, the thinnest member of the family and the first iPhone in years with a notable design change.
Considering the 17 Air is set to have a screen similar in size to the older Plus models (and come with a similar price), it would seem odd to have both models on sale.
AirPods Max 2
Rumours are suggesting that Apple will unveil the AirPods Pro 3 this week, but it doesn’t look like we’ll see the follow-up to the AirPods Max arrive.
Apple hasn’t updated the AirPods Max much since they debuted in December 2020, with the cans only moving from Lightning to USB-C and receiving a few new colour choices in that whole time.
When we will see the AirPods Max 2 remains to be seen, but it doesn’t look like it’ll be anytime soon.
