The last few years of Apple holiday ads have revolved around iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods. For 2026, the new holiday film “The Dreamer” diverts from tradition and instead puts the spotlight on the Mac, specifically the MacBook Neo … although even the iPhone 3GS gets a cameo appearance.
Watch the new ad after the break …
In the ad, you see a child with a passion for art and drawing. As he grows up, though, a combination of self-consciousness and peer pressure means he hides his passions away.
The ad culminates with his parents gifting him as a teenager a new MacBook Neo, which he uses to animate his drawings into a cartoon.
In its description of the film, Apple says “sometimes all it takes to remember what makes us special, is someone who believes in us”.
As previously mentioned, the iPhone 3GS is briefly shown in a flashback sequence, and there’s a shot of a 2010-era iMac too.
Here’s the Apple holiday film for 2026:
This is a personal take, but it might be the company’s best in years.
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