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Awe-Dropping Apple Event 2025 Shocks with Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 Air, New Watches & More
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Beyond the iPhone 17: Apple’s Next Big Things – M5 Macs, AI Siri, New iPads and More

14 September 2025
32 mins read

Key Facts Summary:

  • More Apple Products in 2025: After launching the iPhone 17 series in September 2025, Apple isn’t slowing down. Rumors point to a wave of new devices before 2025 ends – including revamped Macs, iPads, wearables, home gadgets, and even a next-gen mixed-reality headset macrumors.com macrumors.com.
  • Apple Embraces AI: Apple’s services are set for a major AI boost. A “revamped Siri” powered by Apple’s new “Apple Intelligence” platform is in the works, aiming to narrow the gap with smarter assistants from Google and Amazon macrumors.com reuters.com. Apple is even exploring an AI-driven search engine for Siri, codenamed “World Knowledge Answers,” to rival tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT bloomberg.com.
  • Upgraded Hardware Across the Board: Expected highlights include M5 chip upgrades in Macs and iPad Pro macrumors.com macrumors.com, the first refresh of Apple Vision Pro with faster silicon macrumors.com, a redesigned AirPods Pro 3 with better sound and health sensors macrumors.com, and new Apple Watch features like potential blood pressure monitoring macrumors.com. Many devices will also integrate new Apple-designed wireless chips (Wi-Fi 6E/7 and Ultra Wideband) for faster connectivity macrumors.com macrumors.com.
  • Competition Heats Up: Apple’s upcoming releases respond to intensifying competition. Its Vision Pro headset will take on Meta’s VR/AR offerings in a battle of price vs. innovation. The Siri overhaul comes as Google’s Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa have raced ahead with generative AI smarts reuters.com reuters.com. In wearables and audio, Apple is pushing new health and satellite features to stay ahead of rivals like Samsung and Garmin.

In the sections below, we break down what’s known so far about Apple’s post-iPhone 17 product roadmap – spanning Macs, iPads, Apple Watch, Vision Pro, AirPods, home devices, and Apple’s evolving services – all in clear language for the general tech enthusiast. We’ll compare Apple’s rumored moves with competitor trends and include insights from analysts and tech experts along the way. Let’s dive into Apple’s next big things.

Macs: Next-Gen Apple Silicon and Possible New Form Factors

Apple’s Mac lineup is gearing up for another leap, though patience will be required. No new Mac models launched alongside the iPhone 17, and multiple reports suggest Apple’s next high-end MacBooks won’t arrive until 2026 macrumors.com. The key reason is the timing of Apple’s M5 chip. Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo notes that MacBook Pro models with M5-series chips are now expected “in 2026” rather than late 2025 macrumors.com. In fact, Apple is considering pushing the M5 MacBook Pros to early 2026 according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman macrumors.com. This means 2025 could be a quiet year for flagship Mac updates, as Apple focuses on developing the M5’s cutting-edge processor tech.

  • MacBook Pro (M5) in Early 2026: The delayed MacBook Pro refresh will likely bring the first M5 Pro/Max chips, but with minimal other changes macrumors.com. Big design overhauls like OLED screens and slimmer builds are rumored to be held back until the M6 generation in ~2027 macrumors.com. So, the 2026 M5 MacBooks should deliver faster performance but may look similar externally. Tech journalists advise power-users that if you can hold off until those 2027 models, they promise more dramatic upgrades (like OLED displays and possibly even smaller screen bezels or no notch) macrumors.com.
  • MacBook Air and Others: In the meantime, Apple’s lighter Macs are seeing iterative improvements. In March 2025, Apple quietly updated the MacBook Air with new M4 chips (following a spring pattern similar to the M3 Air launch the year prior) macrumors.com. The design stayed the same, but the internals got a performance bump. An M4 iMac (24-inch) could also be on the horizon – the 24″ iMac was last updated with M3 in late 2023, so a refresh to M4 in late 2024 or 2025 would keep it current. Apple’s desktop Mac Mini and Studio already received M4-family upgrades in late 2024/early 2025 (with the Mac Studio gaining an M4 Max option) macrumors.com. Thus, by mid-2025 much of the Mac lineup (Air, Mini, Studio) will likely be on M4, setting the stage for an M5 jump in 2026.
  • Mac Pro and iMac Pro – Coming Back? Apple’s most powerful Mac, the Mac Pro, transitioned to Apple Silicon in 2023 with the M2 Ultra. The next update is pegged for early 2026, when Apple is expected to introduce a version with the highest-end M4 chip (internally codenamed “Hidra”), possibly an M4 Ultra or even an “Extreme” variant macrumors.com. This souped-up chip could support up to 512GB of unified memory, targeting professionals who need extreme performance macrumors.com. As for a larger iMac, rumors persist that a 32-inch iMac or iMac Pro could eventually arrive to fill the gap left by the old 27-inch iMac macrumors.com. However, plans there remain unclear and no firm timeline is known – it’s a “maybe” beyond 2025 macrumors.com. If it happens, it could coincide with new display tech (some speculate microLED or OLED for a big iMac down the road).
  • New Displays: Apple hasn’t forgotten standalone monitors. A second-generation Studio Display 2 with a mini-LED backlight (for better contrast and HDR) is in development, aimed for late 2025 or early 2026 macrumors.com. This timing likely aligns with the MacBook Pro and Mac Pro schedules – if high-end Macs slip to 2026, the display might launch around the same time macrumors.com. On the ultra-premium end, a successor to Apple’s Pro Display XDR is also rumored, but details and timing are still unknown macrumors.com.

Analyst Insight: “The mention of 2026 MacBooks with M5 chips is the latest clue that the MacBook Pro might not be updated this year after all,” Kuo observed macrumors.com. In other words, Apple seems willing to break its usual upgrade cadence to ensure the M5 is truly ready. Tech watchers see this as Apple prioritizing a big leap in chip manufacturing (likely moving to a 2-nanometer process for M5) over rushing out minor updates. This strategy could keep Apple’s Macs well ahead of Intel/AMD PCs in performance per watt – but it gives Windows laptop makers an opening in 2025 to tout new form factors (like foldable-screen laptops) while Apple plays the long game macrumors.com.

Competition: Even with a lull in major Mac releases in 2025, Apple’s silicon roadmap keeps pressure on competitors. PC makers are eagerly adopting Intel’s 14th-gen and soon 15th-gen Core chips and experimenting with dual-screen and folding notebooks (a category Apple is rumored to be eyeing for the future macrumors.com). Yet, Apple’s control over its chip and macOS integration often lets even “incremental” Macs punch above their weight. The challenge will be keeping excitement high if outward design changes slow down. By targeting 2027 for more radical MacBook changes (OLED, possibly touchscreens or new form factors), Apple is implicitly betting that customers will wait for the leap. Until then, the Mac story is one of steady refinement – blistering chip advances on the inside, while the outside evolves at a more conservative pace.

iPads: OLED Screens, M5 Power and a Dual-Camera Surprise

Apple’s iPad lineup is poised for significant upgrades, especially at the high end. 2024 saw a major iPad Pro revamp – Apple introduced OLED displays and a much thinner design for the iPad Pro, delivering better picture quality and a sleeker profile macrumors.com. After that big change, the next iPad Pro update is expected in late 2025 and will focus on internal improvements macrumors.com. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the upcoming Pro models will feature Apple’s M5 chip and, notably, two front-facing cameras macrumors.com. Why two cameras on the front? One lens would be placed for portrait orientation use and the other for landscape, so users can video chat or take selfies comfortably no matter how they hold the tablet macrumors.com. This solves a common annoyance where today’s iPad camera is optimized for landscape (horizontal) usage only. With dual front cameras, FaceTime calls would always have you centered, whether the iPad is vertical or horizontal – a boon for usability.

This next-gen iPad Pro (likely the 7th generation Pro if counting from the 2015 original) is expected to be a powerhouse. The M5 chip it carries will put it on par with Apple’s latest Macs in CPU/GPU performance macrumors.com. The current M4-based iPad Pros are already laptop-level fast, so an M5 iPad Pro in 2025 cements the iPad’s role as a true computer alternative. We might also see incremental camera improvements (for the rear cameras), though nothing specific is leaked yet beyond the front camera addition. Apple could use that second front camera as a selling point for improved Center Stage (auto-framing) or perhaps 3D facial recognition in any orientation.

What about Apple’s other iPads? Here’s the rundown:

  • iPad Air: Apple’s mid-range 10.9-inch iPad Air was refreshed in March 2025, gaining the M3 chip and support for a new Magic Keyboard, but otherwise keeping the same design apple.com macrumors.com. This update came three years after the previous M1-based Air. The M3 Air delivers a nice speed boost and ensures the Air remains the “sweet spot” iPad, with enough power for most tasks but a lower price than the Pro macrumors.com. No further Air update is expected in late 2025 – Apple tends not to update the Air annually macrumors.com. We can expect the next Air (perhaps with an M5 or M6) no sooner than 2026.
  • iPad mini: Fans of Apple’s smallest tablet got good news in late 2024: the 7th-generation iPad mini debuted (quietly announced in October 2024) packing an A17 Pro chip – the same chip used in iPhone 15 Pro models – and new features like support for Apple Pencil Pro macrumors.com. This refresh gave the mini a big speed upgrade and longevity with cutting-edge “Apple Intelligence” capabilities in iPadOS 18. With that update released, the mini likely won’t see another until around 2026. Rumors suggest Apple might be considering an OLED display for a future iPad mini, and possibly an A19 chip, but that’s speculative and a couple of years out macrumors.com. So in the near term (2025), the iPad mini 7 stands as the current model.
  • Entry-Level iPad: Apple’s baseline 10th-gen iPad (with a 10.9-inch display and A14 chip) got a refresh in early 2025 as well. In March 2025, Apple updated the low-cost iPad with a newer A16 chip, again without fanfare macrumors.com. This gave the $329–$449 iPad more horsepower for education and basic use cases. The design (which was updated in 2022 to all-screen with Touch ID in the power button) remained the same. This affordable iPad is now closer in performance to the iPhone 14, ensuring it runs the latest apps and iPadOS features smoothly. We don’t expect another update to the base iPad until perhaps late 2026, given Apple’s pattern for this tier.

Looking further ahead, Apple is exploring radical new iPad concepts. One persistent rumor is a foldable iPad or even a foldable MacBook/iPad hybrid device with a roughly 20-inch flexible display that folds in half macrumors.com. Current reports suggest Apple is indeed at work on a 17–20 inch foldable notebook (which could serve as a large iPad or Mac), but “it won’t come out for several years yet,” likely not before 2027 macrumors.com. Samsung and others have shown off folding tablet prototypes, and Apple appears to be cautiously researching the tech rather than rushing a first-gen product. If and when such a foldable iPad/Mac materializes, it would represent an entirely new category for Apple – combining the portability of an iPad with the expanded screen of a laptop when opened up. For now, though, that idea remains on the drawing board.

Competitive View: In the tablet arena, Apple continues to dominate the high end. The 2024 OLED iPad Pros put Apple ahead of most rivals in display tech, as few tablets (besides Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8/S9 series) offer OLED’s rich colors and contrast. By 2025, Samsung and other Android OEMs will likely push further with OLED and even larger tablets, but the expected M5 iPad Pro should comfortably outclass competitors in performance. Apple is also addressing user experience nuances (like camera orientation) that set the iPad further apart. With iPadOS gaining more “desktop-like” features each year and Apple Pencil improvements (a new Apple Pencil Pro with interchangeable tips launched in 2024 macrumors.com), Apple is tightening its grip on the creative and productivity tablet market. Microsoft’s Surface line and others will need to keep innovating, but Apple’s tight hardware-software integration and now its foray into AI-powered features on iPad (e.g. on-device language models for smarter autocorrect and dictation) apple.com give it a strong edge.

Apple Watch: Health Monitoring and Subtle Redesigns

Apple’s watch lineup just hit its 10th anniversary (the original Apple Watch was unveiled in 2014), and Apple marked the occasion by refining its wearables with a focus on health and durability. The Apple Watch Series 11 launched alongside iPhone 17 in 2025, bringing modest but meaningful improvements: a brighter display, a faster S9 chip, and new case color options macrumors.com. Notably, there was considerable buzz about Apple finally adding blood pressure monitoring to the Watch – something competitors like Samsung have dabbled in. Indeed, blood pressure tracking “is a possibility” for Series 11 according to supply chain rumors macrumors.com. If enabled, this likely uses advanced optical sensors and algorithms to estimate blood pressure (perhaps requiring calibration with a traditional cuff initially). While not confirmed at launch, Apple is clearly working on such health features, as evidenced by patents and insider reports, so it could debut via a software update or in the next model.

Apple’s rugged wearable, the Apple Watch Ultra, skipped a refresh in 2024 but returned in 2025 with the Ultra 3 macrumors.com. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 maintains the big, robust design for adventurers, but adds whatever new health features Series 11 gets (so potentially that blood pressure sensor) and a headline upgrade: satellite connectivity for off-grid texting macrumors.com. This means an Ultra wearer caught in the wilderness could send an emergency text via satellite, similar to the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature in recent iPhones. It’s a safety and communication tool that fits the Ultra’s outdoorsy mission. Apple is leveraging its partnerships with satellite providers (developed for iPhone) to extend this capability to watches, beating rivals like Garmin, which often require separate satellite communicators. The Ultra 3 may also pack a newer U2 ultra-wideband chip to better interact with AirTags and enable precise Find My tracking of your watch in case it’s lost.

Meanwhile, the Apple Watch SE (the budget model) saw its first update since 2022. The Apple Watch SE 3 launched in 2025, reportedly gaining a larger display and a faster chip (likely the S9 as well) macrumors.com. This keeps the SE attractive to those who want an Apple Watch for core fitness and notification features without the price of the flagship models. The bigger screen (maybe moving from 44mm to 45mm case option) would make the SE 3 more modern-looking and easier to read.

What about the much-rumored “Apple Watch X” redesign? There was speculation that for the 10th anniversary, Apple would introduce a special Apple Watch X edition with a major redesign – possibly thinner, with a new magnetic band attachment system, and even a microLED display for vastly improved brightness and color macrumors.com macrumors.com. In reality, 2024’s Series 10 (if we call it that) and 2025’s Series 11 have been evolutionary, not revolutionary. Mark Gurman had tempered expectations early, saying the anniversary model was “unlikely” to look much different than current models despite being slightly thinner macrumors.com. Indeed, Apple delivered iterative changes: slightly larger screen sizes (the Series 10 introduced 45mm and 49mm options, up from 41mm/45mm macrumors.com), new materials like a jet black aluminum finish, and that brighter display tech. The radical changes (microLED screens, completely new form factors) didn’t materialize and in some cases have been delayed. In early 2024, reports emerged that Apple “killed” its in-house microLED project for Apple Watch, meaning the anticipated microLED Ultra might not arrive for years, if ever macrumors.com. Apple seems to be refining the existing OLED Retina displays for now, pushing incremental improvements in brightness and efficiency.

Looking forward, Apple will undoubtedly continue its health sensor R&D. Besides blood pressure, a long-sought feature is noninvasive blood glucose monitoring for diabetics – Apple has teams working on this, but it’s an extremely challenging technology that might be several years away. Still, each year Apple adds something: body temperature sensing came in 2022 (Series 8) to aid cycle tracking, blood oxygen sensing came in Series 6 (2020), ECG in Series 4 (2018). For 2025’s Series 11 it was strongly hinted to be blood pressure macrumors.com. If it didn’t make the cut at launch, it could appear in the Series 12 (likely fall 2026). Additionally, watchOS updates are making the watch more independent (with widgets and app improvements in watchOS 10/11). By 2025, the Apple Watch is a mature product – Apple leads in global smartwatch share and is making it harder for competitors to catch up in health features and integration.

Competitive View: Apple’s closest competitors in smartwatches, like Samsung’s Galaxy Watch and Google’s Pixel Watch, have been trying to catch up on health and battery life. Samsung introduced a form of blood pressure estimation in its watches a few years ago, but it requires periodic traditional measurements to stay calibrated and isn’t FDA-approved. If Apple perfects a convenient blood pressure monitor, it could set a new standard. Garmin and Polar dominate with athletes for battery longevity and niche metrics, but the Ultra line is clearly aimed at chipping away there by adding hardcore features (depth gauge for diving, dual-frequency GPS, etc.) plus now satellite texting. In sum, Apple is playing to its strengths: leveraging its powerful chip (the S9 is based on the A15 Bionic and enables on-device Siri requests and faster processing), and tightly integrating hardware with services like Fitness+ and Health app coaching. While the look of the Apple Watch might not change drastically year to year, its capabilities keep expanding, which for many consumers matters more.

Vision Pro: Apple’s AR/VR Ambitions Beyond the First Generation

Apple made waves by debuting the Apple Vision Pro headset in 2023, a ultra-premium “spatial computer” that finally launched to consumers in early 2024 at a whopping $3,499. By September 2025, this first-gen Vision Pro was still rolling out (in very limited quantities and only in the U.S. initially). So what comes after the first Vision Pro? It appears Apple is already preparing a second-generation Vision Pro, possibly slated for late 2025. Famed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts Apple will release a “next-generation version of the Vision Pro in 2025” macrumors.com. The design is expected to stay largely the same – Apple likely won’t overhaul the look so soon – but the internals will get a bump. Specifically, Apple may swap the current M2 chip for an M5 chip in the headset macrumors.com. That would be a huge jump in processing power and efficiency, considering M5 will be two generations beyond M2. The boosted chip could help the device handle more advanced graphics and machine learning tasks, or possibly drive a higher refresh rate for even smoother visuals.

Other potential improvements for the next Vision Pro include comfort and aesthetics. Rumors suggest Apple is testing a new head strap design that improves comfort macrumors.com, addressing one of the common pain points of VR headsets (weight distribution on the head). There’s also talk of offering the device in a new color – possibly a Space Black option in addition to the original aluminum/silver look macrumors.com. A darker color could appeal to those who want a more discreet-looking headset (and it might hide the array of sensors and cameras a bit better).

Importantly, Apple might introduce this updated model as a spec-bump Vision Pro 2 at roughly the same price point, rather than immediately aiming for a cheaper version. The Vision Pro is Apple’s stake in the ground for AR/VR, and it’s targeting professionals, developers, and enthusiasts first. That said, multiple sources indicate Apple has longer-term plans for a more affordable headset – sometimes dubbed in rumors as “Vision Air” or simply a non-Pro version. That device could forego some features to hit a lower price (for instance, using fewer external cameras, a lower-resolution display, or an older chip). However, any “budget” Vision model is likely several years out. Kuo’s roadmap suggests 2027 might be when a truly mainstream, glasses-like AR product (Apple Glasses, so to speak) could emerge, potentially at half the price of Vision Pro uploadvr.com. For now, through 2025 and 2026, Apple appears focused on refining the high-end product and getting developers on board to build the ecosystem.

The AR/VR ecosystem is critical. By late 2025, visionOS (the operating system for Vision Pro) will have gone through a couple of iterations (visionOS 2 was announced at WWDC 2025 macrumors.com). Apple is likely to expand the library of apps and experiences – from 3D educational content to immersive FaceTime, gaming, and productivity tools. They’ve partnered with Disney, Adobe, and other big names for launch apps. The success of Vision Pro will hinge on killer use cases that justify strapping a computer to your face. So far, early reviewers praised its stunning display and interface, but also noted its current limitations (like short 2-hour external battery life and that steep price).

Competitive View: On the competition front, Apple’s entry has already shaken up the industry. Meta (Facebook’s parent) has been the leader in VR with its Quest headsets, which cost a fraction of the Vision Pro (the Meta Quest 3 starts at just $499). While Apple is not aiming for the same market segment, there is overlap in AR/VR ambitions. Mark Zuckerberg reportedly remarked that Apple’s approach, while high-quality, didn’t reveal any magical solutions to the perennial problems of cost and weight in AR headsets – essentially validating Meta’s strategy of affordability and approachability. Still, the Vision Pro’s capabilities (like full-color passthrough AR, super high resolution, and seamless hand/eye tracking) set a new bar technologically. Meta’s forthcoming headsets, along with Sony’s PlayStation VR and others, will be compared against the benchmark Apple has established. We might see Meta try to incorporate more mixed reality (they’ve already added color passthrough in Quest 3) and improve comfort to narrow the gap.

Furthermore, the enterprise AR sector (think Microsoft’s HoloLens or Magic Leap) is watching Apple closely. Vision Pro in some ways encroaches on that space by offering powerful AR visuals that could be used for design, medical imaging, engineering, etc. Apple’s advantage is its silicon and software prowess – by 2025, the M5-powered Vision Pro 2 will likely dwarf the computing power of any standalone competitor device. Apple also controls the platform and can entice iOS/macOS developers to adapt their apps for AR easily. The challenge for Apple is volume: whereas Meta might sell tens of millions of Quests by targeting gamers and casual users, Apple will initially sell in the low hundreds of thousands of Vision Pros due to price mingchikuo.craft.me. For the general public, AR glasses will only really take off when prices come down and form factors slim down. Apple knows this, and while it leads with a luxury product now, its longer game is to make AR glasses that one day could be as ubiquitous as the iPhone. It’s just a matter of time – and advanced optics – before that vision (no pun intended) is realized.

AirPods: New Pro Models with Health Features and Better Audio

Apple’s AirPods line remains hugely popular, and 2025 is expected to bring the next big upgrade to AirPods Pro. The current AirPods Pro 2 were introduced back in 2022 (with a slight case refresh to USB-C in 2023), so by late 2025 they’ll be three years old. Enter the AirPods Pro 3, which are rumored to launch in 2025 with significant changes macrumors.com.

According to MacRumors’ sources, Apple is planning a new design for AirPods Pro 3 macrumors.com. It’s unclear exactly what the design will look like – some reports suggest a more compact form (possibly eliminating the stem, or reshaping the earbuds for even better fit). Better audio quality is of course expected, thanks to new drivers or improved acoustics macrumors.com. Active Noise Cancellation will also see improvements, likely through upgraded algorithms and perhaps extra microphones to cancel out noise across a wider frequency range macrumors.com. Crucially, Apple is developing a new H3 chip to power these earbuds macrumors.com. This chip will succeed the H2 and provide faster processing for noise cancellation and adaptive sound features, while being more energy efficient (which could mean longer battery life). The H3 might also enable on-device Siri processing for voice commands, leveraging Apple Intelligence so that simple Siri requests don’t need to be sent to the cloud, similar to how recent iPhones and Macs handle some Siri queries on-device.

One of the most intriguing possibilities for AirPods Pro 3 is the inclusion of health monitoring features. Rumor has it Apple is testing adding sensors to measure things like body temperature and even heart rate from the ear macrumors.com. The ear is a great place for measuring temperature accurately (better than the wrist, in fact), so AirPods could double as a continuous thermometer, alerting you if you’re running a fever or tracking your baseline temp trends. Some earbuds on the market (like those from JBL and Amazfit) have dabbled in heart rate sensing via the ear, and Apple has patents in this area as well. If AirPods Pro can check your heart rate, they could complement the Apple Watch by monitoring your pulse during workouts or even helping detect stress (heart rate variability). These features might not all arrive at once, but Apple clearly sees AirPods as more than just audio devices – they’re wearable sensors too. In fact, Apple’s VP of Technology, Kevin Lynch, has hinted that AirPods could be part of Apple’s health ecosystem, potentially assisting with hearing health and more.

Beyond the Pros, regular AirPods (3rd generation) were last updated in 2021, but got a minor refresh in 2023 to add USB-C charging to the case. It’s possible that standard AirPods 4 could appear by 2024 or 2025, though no strong rumors have surfaced (the 3rd-gen design might stick around a while). Similarly, the AirPods Max (Apple’s over-ear headphones) have not seen a true update since their 2020 debut – aside from a USB-C version of the charging port in late 2024. Audiophiles are hoping for an AirPods Max 2 with a lighter build, better noise canceling, and the H2/H3 chip, but Apple has kept mum. Given that Apple did give the Max a small refresh with the new port and maybe new colors in 2024, a full overhaul might not come until 2025 or later. When it does, expect lossless audio support (possibly via an Ultra Wideband wireless connection to iPhones), since Apple hinted at a new wireless protocol to enable higher-quality sound beyond Bluetooth apple.com apple.com.

Competitive View: Apple’s AirPods face competition from all corners – from premium offerings by Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser to the ecosystem plays like Samsung’s Galaxy Buds and Google Pixel Buds. Bose and Sony, for example, often edge out AirPods Pro in pure noise-cancellation or sound quality in reviews, but Apple’s tight integration (instant pairing, spatial audio with head-tracking in Apple TV+, etc.) keeps many users hooked. With AirPods Pro 3’s expected upgrades, Apple will likely catch up or surpass rivals in ANC and audio fidelity, while adding unique health features others lack. It’s a classic Apple move: use custom silicon and sensors to differentiate. The new H3 chip and health monitoring could make AirPods Pro 3 the go-to earbuds for fitness and daily wear, not just for convenience but for wellness insights too. Also, Apple’s push into features like Live Translation with AirPods (a feature announced for iOS 17/Apple Intelligence) shows how AirPods are becoming an interface for real-time assistance macrumors.com. This live translation, powered by on-device AI, can translate conversations in your ear – a futuristic capability that very few competitors offer natively macrumors.com. If Apple can navigate regulatory hurdles (note: the EU initially blocked the live translation feature due to privacy regulations macrumors.com), AirPods Pro could turn into a must-have travel companion for breaking language barriers.

In summary, AirPods are evolving from a music gadget into a multi-purpose wearable. The rumored 2025 AirPods Pro 3 encapsulate that evolution: high-fidelity sound, smarter noise cancellation, and perhaps a window into your health – all in something that slips into your pocket.

Home & Accessories: Apple TV, HomePod, AirTag and More on the Horizon

Apple isn’t just updating its flagship devices – the company has a range of home and accessory products slated for refresh after the iPhone 17, catering to the smart home, audio, and tracking categories. Late 2025 could see a flurry of these smaller (but still significant) launches, often via press release if not a full event macrumors.com macrumors.com. Let’s break down the expected upgrades:

  • Apple TV 4K (Next Generation): Apple’s set-top box is due for an update, and rumors point to a new Apple TV 4K model by end of 2025 macrumors.com. The device is expected to get a faster processor, specifically an A17 Pro chip, which is a big jump from the A15-based model currently sold macrumors.com. This more powerful chip will not only make the interface snappier but is designed to support next year’s revamped Siri, leveraging the on-device AI capabilities of Apple’s “Intelligence” engine macrumors.com. In practical terms, that means the Apple TV will be ready for more advanced voice commands and smart recommendations. Additionally, Apple is said to be including their own custom Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip in the new Apple TV, adding support for Wi-Fi 6E or even Wi-Fi 7 for faster wireless streaming macrumors.com. An intriguing wild-card feature: a built-in FaceTime camera. There’s long been talk of Apple integrating a camera for TV video calls. A FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, though it’s unclear if 2025’s model will include it macrumors.com. If it does, your Apple TV could double as a living room video conferencing device – imagine taking FaceTime calls on your big screen, using your TV’s audio and camera to chat with family. Whether or not the camera lands this round, the new Apple TV will be a more future-proof hub for Apple’s home entertainment and smart home (it doubles as a HomeKit hub) with cutting-edge wireless and AI features built-in.
  • HomePod mini (2nd Generation): The HomePod mini, Apple’s compact smart speaker, hasn’t seen an update since its introduction in 2020. Come late 2025, a new HomePod mini is anticipated macrumors.com macrumors.com. Expected upgrades include a faster chip – likely an Apple S-series chip, perhaps the S9 or newer, to boost performance macrumors.com. This will help Siri responses and home automation tasks run quicker. Like the Apple TV, the HomePod mini 2 is also rumored to get an Apple-designed Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip with Wi-Fi 6E/7 support for more robust connectivity macrumors.com. Audio quality might see a bump too – even if the size stays the same, Apple could tweak the acoustic design for richer sound or louder volume. Also on the wish list are more color options: there’s talk that Apple might offer new colors such as red, adding to the fun hues the mini already comes in macrumors.com. Importantly, this speaker will also support Apple’s upcoming Siri improvements. In fact, the HomePod mini and Apple TV seem to be key in Apple’s strategy to spread its “Apple Intelligence” Siri upgrades across the home macrumors.com. By giving them powerful chips and on-device AI capabilities, Apple ensures your smart speaker can handle more complex queries (like smart home routines or general knowledge Q&A) without always pinging the cloud. This is crucial, as Apple prepares to compete with the likes of the new Amazon Echo devices and Google’s Nest speakers which have been adding AI features too.
  • AirTag 2: Apple’s little Bluetooth tracker tag has been a quiet hit for keeping track of keys, bags, and more. A second-generation AirTag is expected in 2025 and will bring some welcome enhancements macrumors.com macrumors.com. Most exciting is a dramatic increase in range: the AirTag 2 could have “up to 3× longer” tracking range than the current model macrumors.com. This likely comes from a new Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip (the U2 chip) and improved Bluetooth, meaning your iPhone could locate the tag from much farther away. Imagine finding your lost bike several houses down the street, whereas today’s AirTag might only ping when nearer. The new UWB will also make Precision Finding faster and more accurate. Apple is also addressing some criticisms – the AirTag 2 will feature a more tamper-proof speaker macrumors.com. (The speaker is what emits the sound to help find the tag, and in the first-gen, some bad actors disabled the speaker when using AirTags for stalking. A tamper-proof design will prevent disabling that alert sound easily, enhancing safety.) Additionally, “very low” battery alerts are expected macrumors.com – perhaps the AirTag 2 will notify you more reliably when its coin cell battery is running low, so you don’t have it die unexpectedly. All in all, AirTag 2 should be a nice refinement: greater range addresses the core function (finding things over distance), and the other tweaks improve user experience and safety.
  • Others – Smart Home Display: Apple is reportedly also working on an entirely new category: a Smart Home Command Center display macrumors.com. Think of a device similar to an iPad or smart display that mounts on your wall or sits on a stand, dedicated to controlling smart home devices, showing calendars, and doing FaceTime calls. Rumors suggest this could be like an iPad-like screen that serves as a hub for HomeKit – controlling lights, thermostats, cameras – as well as running key apps and video calling macrumors.com. In essence, Apple might join Amazon (Echo Show) and Google (Nest Hub) in offering a home-focused tablet. The timing on this is uncertain: it was initially expected in 2024, but reportedly delays in Siri’s “Apple Intelligence” features have pushed it to late 2025 or early 2026】 macrumors.com. That makes sense: a product like this would shine brightest with a smarter Siri that can truly act as a home concierge. We might hear more about this Home Display (or possibly an iPad-based HomeKit Dock concept) at a future event.

Overall, Apple’s home and accessory updates show the company fortifying its ecosystem’s foundation. A faster Apple TV and HomePod mini mean Siri and media work better together across your home. A more capable AirTag bolsters the Find My network that Apple’s built (which already vastly outperforms Tile and other trackers in network size, thanks to every iPhone doubling as a finder). And new devices like a wall-mounted Home display indicate Apple wants a bigger presence in the smart home control space, which is currently dominated by Alexa devices. By integrating its custom silicon and AI across these products, Apple can ensure that whether you’re talking to Siri in your living room, or hunting for lost keys, or streaming a 4K movie, the experience is fast, reliable, and deeply integrated with your iCloud and Apple services.

Competitive View: In streaming devices, Apple TV’s main rivals are Roku, Amazon’s Fire TV, and Google Chromecast/Google TV. Apple TV has long been the priciest option, justified by its powerful chips and seamless Apple ecosystem integration. With the 2025 model’s A17 Pro chip and potential camera, Apple is doubling down on performance and adding unique features (FaceTime on TV could outdo Amazon’s Echo Show 15, for example). HomePod mini competes with Echo and Google Nest speakers; the addition of better Siri and possibly more audio prowess will help, but the key differentiator is privacy and sound quality – Apple will continue to market that Siri on HomePod doesn’t share data beyond what’s needed and that the mini can out-sound other tiny speakers. AirTag’s competition (Tile, Samsung’s SmartTags) will have a hard time matching Apple’s range and network; Samsung’s new SmartTag2 improved range and features for Galaxy users, but Apple’s advantage is the millions of iPhones anonymously detecting AirTags. The planned Matter smart home standard also means Apple, Google, and Amazon devices will interoperate more, which actually benefits Apple – you might use Siri to control a Matter-enabled smart bulb regardless of brand. By beefing up hardware, Apple ensures it remains a central player in the home, not ceding everything to Alexa.

Services and AI: Siri’s Overhaul, “Apple Intelligence,” and What It Means for Users

Beyond hardware, some of Apple’s most consequential changes in the post-iPhone 17 era will happen in software and services – particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence and how we interact with Apple’s ecosystem. Apple has sometimes been perceived as lagging behind rivals in AI (especially “generative AI” like chatbots), but 2025–2026 could be when that narrative changes, as Apple rolls out the results of years of behind-the-scenes AI development.

The Siri Revolution – Finally?

Siri was introduced way back in 2011, and while it has improved over time, it’s no secret that “Siri has historically been less capable than Alexa and Google Assistant” at complex queries and integrating with apps reuters.com. Apple knows this, and in 2023 it launched an internal initiative nicknamed “Apple GPT” to catch up in the AI race. At WWDC 2024, Apple teased a new foundation for Siri called “Apple Intelligence.” Fast forward to WWDC 2025 (June 2025), and Apple officially unveiled updates under the Apple Intelligence banner apple.com. Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief, highlighted that Apple has developed an on-device large language model (LLM) – essentially a mini AI brain that can run on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac without sending data to the cloud apple.com. This on-device model is designed to be “powerful, fast, built with privacy, and available even when users are offline,” Federighi said apple.com. In practical terms, that means your device can understand and generate language in a more human-like way, all while keeping your data private.

One of the first user-facing features of Apple Intelligence is Live Translation, which Apple demoed as a way for AirPods and iPhones to translate conversations in real time on-device apple.com apple.com. Another is Genmoji and Image Playground, creative features that use generative AI to make fun images and emojis based on text prompts – even using ChatGPT integration for certain styles. These are glimpses of Apple’s strategy: incorporate AI in ways that feel like natural extensions of what people already do (messaging, phone calls, making memes), rather than launching a standalone AI chatbot.

The bigger change will be when Siri itself gets this upgrade. Apple is working on a “revamped version of Siri” that leverages these advanced AI models macrumors.com. The new Siri is expected to handle multi-step requests and personal context much better – for instance, you could ask, “Hey Siri, plan a hike for me this weekend and invite friends, then turn it into a recurring event if the weather looks good,” and Siri might actually follow through across apps. This overhaul was initially planned for 2024 but “was pushed back by a year due to engineering setbacks” reuters.com. That implies we might see it in 2025 or 2026 (likely alongside iOS 19 or 20). Apple appears to be taking its time to ensure it’s right.

Interestingly, Apple is not going it entirely alone. In August 2025, Bloomberg reported (and Reuters confirmed) that Apple is in early talks with Google to potentially use Google’s new Gemini AI model to power Siri reuters.com reuters.com. This is a surprising twist – Apple rarely partners on core tech like this – but it shows how serious they are about supercharging Siri. Gemini is Google’s upcoming answer to GPT-4, a very powerful generative AI. Apple has also reportedly explored tie-ups with Anthropic (makers of Claude) and even OpenAI in case partnering makes sense reuters.com. As of late 2025, Apple hadn’t decided whether to stick with an in-house model or integrate a third-party one reuters.com, but either route suggests Siri’s brain is going to get a lot smarter soon.

One concrete initiative is Apple’s plan to launch an AI-powered web search tool integrated into Siri, internally codenamed “World Knowledge Answers.” Mark Gurman revealed that Apple intends to roll this out in 2026, enabling Siri to answer general questions by searching the web with AI, much like how Bing’s chatbot or Perplexity.ai works bloomberg.com. This would let Siri give conversational answers to things you’d normally have to look up, all within Siri’s interface. It’s a move to compete with the likes of ChatGPT and the new AI assistants popping up everywhere. In essence, Apple is aiming to transform Siri from a simple voice command system into a true AI assistant that can converse, reason, and provide in-depth help. Given Apple’s emphasis on privacy, expect their solution to try to do as much as possible on-device or with anonymized data, to differentiate from Google’s cloud-based approach.

Services and Content

While AI is the flashiest aspect of Apple’s services future, the company is also expanding its more traditional services. Apple TV+, Apple’s streaming video service, continues to grow with original shows and sports content (such as their Major League Soccer streaming deal and Friday Night Baseball). By 2025, Apple TV+ has scored some big hits (like the Oscar-winning CODA and popular series like Ted Lasso and Severance), and Apple is investing heavily in new content to compete with Netflix/Disney. There aren’t specific “rumors” for TV+ beyond “more content coming,” but it’s worth noting Apple’s likely to announce bundles or new features – for example, integrating spatial video captured on iPhone 15 Pro into Apple TV+ content for Vision Pro users. As Apple’s hardware like Vision Pro opens new formats, Apple’s services will follow.

On the music front, Apple Music might leverage AI for improved recommendations or even AI-generated playlists. Apple hasn’t talked about AI DJ features (as Spotify has), but they did introduce an Apple Music Discovery Station in 2023, and one could imagine a more AI-curated experience soon. Also, Apple’s classical music service (Apple Music Classical) launched in 2023 to cater to that niche.

Fitness+ and Health services: Apple’s subscription fitness service Fitness+ is tightly integrated with Apple Watch. As the Watch gains new sensors (like possibly blood pressure or glucose in the future), Apple could introduce new wellness programs or coaching services. In fact, insider reports earlier in 2023 mentioned Apple’s working on a health coaching service (codenamed Quartz) that uses AI and data from your devices to create personalized workout and nutrition plans. That hasn’t launched yet, but perhaps in late 2025 or 2026, once the AI groundwork is laid, we might see something like “Apple HealthCoach,” a subscription that gives you tailored advice and motivation using your Health app data.

iCloud and Privacy: Apple may also enhance iCloud services with AI, such as smarter photo organization (imagine an AI curator that can create photo albums for you), or email/schedule management with Siri. And with the new yearly OS naming scheme (iOS 26, macOS 26, etc.) introduced in 2025 macrumors.com, Apple signaled a shift to more incremental, continuous improvements rather than massive yearly overhauls. This could allow features – especially AI-driven ones – to roll out when ready, rather than waiting for a big annual release.

In summary, Apple’s services after iPhone 17 are gearing up to be much more intelligent and personalized. The company that was once viewed as behind in AI is leveraging its strengths (tight integration, hardware acceleration, privacy) to offer AI features that are seamlessly baked into the user experience. As one tech commentator put it, for Apple, “the next year will decide Siri’s future” – it’s a critical window to prove that Siri can evolve and remain a central part of the Apple experience medium.com. If Apple succeeds, users will benefit from devices that understand them better, anticipate their needs, and safeguard their data while doing so.

Competitive View: Google, Amazon, and even Microsoft (with its OpenAI partnership) have set a high bar in AI. Google’s Assistant is deeply integrated with search and can answer almost anything, Amazon’s Alexa excels with smart home commands and third-party skills, and Microsoft is weaving ChatGPT-like features into Windows and Office. Apple’s strategy differs in that it emphasizes on-device processing and privacy. This means Apple might not launch a flashy public chatbot, but instead will make your iPhone/Watch quietly smarter in ways you notice over time. A victory for Apple would be if, by 2026, people start saying “Siri has gotten really good!” – handling complex queries it used to fumble, doing things like drafting messages or summarizing documents for you, and controlling devices with nuanced understanding. At that point, the competition shifts: Apple’s advantage is its vertical integration (they control the hardware, software, and now the AI chips like the Neural Engine), while competitors might have an advantage in web knowledge or an open ecosystem. It will be fascinating to watch, but one thing’s clear: the age of AI as a core feature is here, and Apple is determined not to be left behind. Their huge investments (rumored to be billions on AI R&D) will start paying off for users in the form of tangible features and smarter services in the months and years after iPhone 17 reuters.com.

Conclusion

From powerful new Macs and iPads on the horizon, to health-savvy wearables, to immersive AR devices and AI-powered services, Apple’s roadmap after the iPhone 17 showcases a company firing on all cylinders. The competitive landscape will only get more intense, but if the rumors and reports hold true, Apple is preparing not just iterative updates but some paradigm shifts – especially in how we’ll interact with our devices via Siri and AI. As always, the proof will be in the products: some will likely arrive by the end of 2025, while others are a bit further out. Tech enthusiasts should keep an eye on Apple’s October events and spring announcements, where many of these surprises could be revealed. One thing is certain: the ecosystem Apple is building – spanning silicon, software, services, and an expanding array of device categories – is setting the stage for an even more connected and intelligent experience for users in the post-iPhone era. The iPhone may remain Apple’s centerpiece, but as we’ve explored, the devices and innovations beyond the iPhone 17 are poised to be game-changers in their own right – and they’ll all work together in ways that continue to differentiate Apple’s world. Stay tuned, because the story doesn’t end with iPhone 17; in many ways, it’s just the beginning of Apple’s next chapter macrumors.com macrumors.com.

Sources:

Apple Intelligence in iPhone 16 series #iphone16 #apple #ai
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Marcin Frąckiewicz

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