After refreshing AirTags in January, Apple appears set for another active month, with February shaping up to bring notable updates across both its iPhone and Mac product lines. Industry reports suggest that Apple could unveil the iPhone 17e as the next iteration of its affordable iPhone series, while also expanding its MacBook Pro lineup with more powerful M5 Pro and M5 Max variants.
Apple is expected to follow up its January updates with at least two major hardware announcements in February. These launches could span both consumer-focused devices and professional-grade machines, reflecting Apple’s strategy of staggering product releases across the first quarter of the year.
The most anticipated announcements include the iPhone 17e and higher-end MacBook Pro models that were notably absent from Apple’s October Mac refresh.
The iPhone 17e is expected to continue Apple’s recent trend of bringing current-generation hardware to its more affordable models. Following the iPhone 16e, which adopted the A18 chip, the iPhone 17e is expected to upgrade to the A19 processor, the same chip that debuted with the iPhone 17 lineup.
This upgrade is expected to deliver improvements across performance, display processing, and neural engine capabilities, enhancing both everyday usage and AI-driven tasks.
According to a report by Macotakara, the iPhone 17e may also debut Apple’s newer C1X modem, which is said to offer higher speeds than the C1 modem used in the iPhone 16e. The device is also expected to feature Apple’s in-house N1 networking chip, handling Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread connectivity.
These changes would further reduce Apple’s reliance on third-party connectivity components while improving efficiency and performance.
On the design front, Apple is expected to retain the existing form factor of the iPhone 17e. This means the phone is likely to continue using a notch rather than the Dynamic Island and will feature a single rear camera setup.
Hardware refinements may include slimmer bezels, while maintaining the same 6.1-inch display. The screen is still expected to be a 60Hz panel, without ProMotion support or an always-on display.
Camera upgrades may be modest but meaningful. The iPhone 17e is expected to add Apple’s 18MP Centre Stage front camera, improving framing during video calls. The rear camera is likely to remain a single 48MP unit.
In addition, the phone is expected to finally add MagSafe support, bringing it in line with Apple’s broader iPhone ecosystem.
Apple introduced the base 14-inch MacBook Pro with the standard M5 chip in October, but the more powerful Pro and Max variants were notably missing. The company is now expected to complete the lineup with models powered by the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
These higher-end versions are also expected to include larger display options, catering to professional users who need additional screen real estate.
The upcoming MacBook Pro models are believed to be linked to the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which is currently in beta and could be released later this month. This timing suggests a possible February launch window.
However, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple could instead push the release to the first week of March, leaving the exact launch timing uncertain.
Beyond the expected performance improvements delivered by the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, no major design changes or new hardware features are currently anticipated. Apple is likely to keep the existing MacBook Pro design, focusing instead on raw performance gains, efficiency improvements, and software optimisation.
Conclusion
If reports hold true, February could be an important month for Apple, with meaningful updates across both its affordable iPhone lineup and its professional MacBook Pro range. The iPhone 17e appears set to offer modern internals and improved connectivity while maintaining a familiar design, while the upcoming M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros could deliver a significant performance boost for power users. Together, these launches would reinforce Apple’s strategy of refining core products with steady, incremental upgrades rather than radical redesigns.