Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: June 26, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Apple Product Pricing & Market Performance

Apple experienced its worst stock market performance in over a year, dropping significantly following widespread price increases across its product lines, including Macs and iPads. The company has acknowledged the hikes on 14 products, citing various factors. Despite the increased costs, Amazon's Prime Day sale continues to offer discounts on Apple gear, with deals on the M5 15-inch MacBook Air for $1,149 and the M5 MacBook Pro 14-inch model for $1,549, representing savings of up to $450. Apple's upcoming Back to School promotion, expected to launch by next week, may offer some relief to students and educators looking to offset the new pricing announced for Macs and iPads.

New Product Rumors & Development

Rumors of an Apple-developed smart ring, tentatively dubbed the 'iRing', have resurfaced, potentially positioning it as a competitor to existing wearables like the Oura Ring and Samsung Galaxy Ring according to leakers. In other hardware developments, Apple is reportedly planning to skip the M6 Pro and Max chips in favor of AI-focused M7 chips for its 2027 Mac lineup, aiming to accelerate the deployment of chips designed for artificial intelligence workloads. The company may also be preparing to launch an updated 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip as soon as this year, while a high-end M5 Ultra Mac Studio with up to 768GB of RAM is still anticipated for 2026 despite recent price adjustments across the Mac line.

Software Updates & Features

The second developer beta for watch OS 27 has been released for the Apple Watch Ultra, offering access to improved Siri AI features and other optimizations as detailed by developers. iOS 27 continues to introduce new functionalities, with recent updates to Messages and Notes, including a notable feature for power users in the Notes app that is rare elsewhere. The latest Xcode 26.6 update now includes support for Google Gemini as a coding assistant within Apple's integrated development environment software according to developers.

Apple Vision Pro & Gaming

Users can now stream Steam VR games to their Apple Vision Pro using ALVR, a tool that facilitates the transmission of VR gameplay from a Windows PC over Wi-Fi, providing new immersive options.

Corporate & Philanthropic Efforts

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the company will donate to relief efforts in Venezuela following a catastrophic earthquake that recently struck the country as reported by various outlets. The company has also been a significant purchaser of memory, with a Micron executive implying that Apple's aggressive buying tactics may have contributed to the current memory shortage according to industry reports.

App Store & Regional Matters

Russia has requested an explanation from Apple regarding the removal of several applications developed by the state-controlled tech company VK from the U.S. App Store as detailed by officials.

Refurbished Products & Deals

Apple has added more 2026 Macs and a Studio Display 2 to its refurbished store, including the MacBook Neo, which became available for purchase a day after significant price increases were announced for new models. However, one report suggests that purchasing the refurbished MacBook Neo might not be advisable following the price hike.

Promotional & Entertainment Content

Amazon's Prime Day sale features significant discounts on Apple Watch models, with prices dropping as low as $199 for the SE, Series, and Ultra, though these deals are ending today according to deal trackers. Additional Prime Day deals are available on other Apple accessories, including Air Tags, Air Pods, and Mag Safe chargers, with some reaching all-time low prices. The second season of "Camp Snoopy" is now available on Apple TV, continuing the platform's recent streak of successful programming as noted by reviewers.

Other Software & Service Updates

WhatsApp is rolling out a channel search feature to iPhone users, approximately eighteen months after its introduction on Android according to app updates. Meanwhile, Notion is shutting down its AI-powered email client, Notion Mail, including its Mac and iOS applications, this fall as announced by the company.