Apple News 3 Days

Last updated: June 29, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Apple Product Pricing and Deals

Apple has enacted significant price increases across a majority of its product lineup, with only the iPhone and Apple Watch spared from the hikes unprecedented price increases. These adjustments, which range from 10-20 percent and in some cases up to 50 percent, have impacted Macs and iPads prominently massive price hikes. Despite these increases, promotional activity has offered consumers opportunities for savings. Amazon's month-end deals provide discounts of up to $650 on current 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro configurations featuring M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips Apple's latest MacBook Pros. Additionally, some Prime Day discounts have persisted, allowing consumers to still find record-low prices on Air Pods, Air Tag, Apple Watch, and MacBook Pro models over the weekend still grab record low. A particularly steep discount of $850 was available on a 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Max chip, though this deal was tied to the end of Prime Day M5 Max MacBook Pro. Further deals included $110 off the MacBook Neo and discounts on Air Pods Pro, Apple Watch Series, and Air Tag 2 as Prime Day concluded Last chance Prime Day.

Software and Services Updates

Apple's operating systems are seeing ongoing development and refinement. iOS, expected to be unveiled soon, is described as an incredible update, with early testers highlighting its improvements iOS 27. Specifically, the Shortcuts app within iOS 27 is noted for becoming much less intimidating and more accessible for casual users, aided by the integration of Apple Intelligence features iOS 27 makes Shortcuts. Beta testing of iOS 27 has revealed over 200 new features and changes, with a select ten favorites identified for iPhone users over 200 iOS 27 features. New functionalities in iOS 27 are also being considered for the Home Pod, particularly enhancements to the Photos app iOS 27 features for HomePad. On the Mac side, a guide has been released on creating a bootable mac OS Golden Gate USB installer, useful for system upgrades mac OS Golden Gate USB. In terms of services, Apple TV is offering a promotion allowing free access to all its Formula 1 streaming content within the United States for a limited time watch Formula 1 for free.

Hardware and Future Products

Rumors and developments suggest future iterations of Apple's hardware. A project has successfully recreated the Apple II Plus entirely in hardware, bypassing emulation for a more authentic experience homebrew Apple II skips. The company is reportedly petitioning the U.S. administration to permit the purchase of Mac RAM chips from a Chinese supplier previously blacklisted, aiming to mitigate price pressures buy RAM Chinese supplier. the 2027 MacBook Pro is anticipated to undergo a significant overhaul, potentially featuring a redesigned chassis and an OLED touchscreen 2027 MacBook Pro overhaul. For iPhones, the lower-end iPhone 18 models slated for a spring 2027 release are expected to increase their DRAM to 9GB, up from the current 8GB, according to analyst predictions iPhone 18 models get. The pricing for the iPhone 18 Pro is also a point of discussion, with potential price increases being debated iPhone 18 Pro pricing problem. Furthermore, persistent rumors suggest Apple is developing a smart ring, tentatively called 'iRing,' to compete with existing products like the Oura Ring Apple 'iRing' rumor re-emerges. In the realm of accessories, the Mag Safe battery pack, reintroduced for the iPhone Air, offers a slim design at $99, though its capacity is noted as being less robust compared to Qi2 alternatives MagSafe battery banks.

Apple @ Work and Third-Party Integrations

Apple's ecosystem continues to be a focus for both internal development and third-party applications. The company's commitment to its professional users is highlighted in an article appreciating the integrated features of mac OS when compared to deploying a new PC appreciate everything Apple built. For those seeking high-resolution displays for their Macs, the LG Ultra Fine 6K monitor is reviewed as a premium option, especially following Apple's discontinuation of the Pro Display XDR LG UltraFine 6K Review. In the smart home sector, the Switch Bot Weather Station is noted for bringing an e-ink calendar and climate dashboard to Apple Home Kit, with the author expressing a wish for Apple to produce its own e-ink devices SwitchBot Weather Station. However, concerns have arisen regarding the future of Apple Home Key locks, as Assa Abloy, the parent company of Level, has laid off most of its staff, leaving the long-term functionality of these locks uncertain Level Lock team gutting. On the software front, an indie app called 'Mirage' allows users to extend their Mac display to an iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro, and other Macs Mirage app extends Mac. For Apple Vision Pro users interested in PC gaming, a guide explains how to stream Steam VR games to the headset using ALVR play Steam VR games.

Industry Moves and Content

The competitive landscape for artificial intelligence is intensifying, with significant personnel shifts occurring. OpenAI has reportedly hired Paul Meade, who was previously the head of Apple Vision Pro and smart glasses development OpenAI poaches Vision Pro. Within Apple's own content platforms, issues have emerged regarding AI-generated content. Joanna Stern has called out Apple Books for continuing to host AI-generated knockoffs of her book, despite her efforts to address the problem AI-generated knockoffs on Apple Books. In the realm of Apple TV content, a question has been raised about the platform's absence from the game show genre and the likelihood of its future involvement Apple TV doesn't do game shows. This week also marks the announcement of Apple's first film of the year to receive a theatrical release, following a successful theatrical run with F1 last year first film this year.

Other Developments

Apple's commitment extends to humanitarian efforts, with the company donating to relief initiatives in Venezuela following devastating earthquakes donating to relief efforts Venezuela. In less positive news, signals from Air Pods were instrumental in solving two separate crimes: one involving a woman refusing to leave an Apple Store and another concerning the theft of a Bangladeshi presenter's iPhone AirPods solved two crimes. For those looking to stream personal media collections, a price increase for Plex's lifetime pass is set to take effect on July 1, from $249.99 to $749.99, making immediate purchase advisable for interested iPhone users Plex lifetime pass price hike. The company is also exploring hardware advancements, with a rumor resurfacing about a potential 'iRing' smart ring Apple 'iRing' rumor re-emerges. Finally, Apple's accessibility features on the iPhone are highlighted as practical tools that can enhance everyday tasks for users iPhone accessibility settings.