Apple News 8 Hours

Last updated: July 21, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Apple's Leasing Programs and Device Management

Apple is reportedly winding down its long-standing iPhone Upgrade Program, which has offered users a way to finance new iPhones with Apple Care for over a decade. This shift coincides with the upcoming launch of a new "Apple Upgrade" leasing program, expected next week in the U.S. in partnership with Klarna. Concurrently, code discovered in the iOS 27 beta suggests Apple is developing a system to restrict leased devices following missed payments, indicating a potential change in how Apple manages financed hardware.

iPhone and iPad Updates and Rumors

Rumors suggest Apple is working on a second-generation iPhone Air, which could address current model limitations. This follows speculation about the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and companion models, anticipated to be unveiled this fall, with the standard iPhone, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 expected in spring 2027. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to feature display upgrades in two key areas, though screen sizes will remain consistent with predecessors. In other hardware news, a sale is offering $160 off all iPhone Air models during Best Buy's Black Friday in July event. Separately, Amazon is offering the A16 iPad at its best price since June, with Wi-Fi models starting at $399.00 June's Hike.

Apple Services and Security

A vulnerability in Apple's Hide My Email feature, which could expose a user's actual Apple Account address, has been a persistent issue. While Apple claimed to have fixed the flaw around July 3rd, the vulnerability was reportedly reproducible two weeks later. The issue was ultimately patched more than a year after it was initially reported, following coverage from 404 Media. In other service updates, the Apple Invites app has been updated with minor features for RSVPing, allowing hosts and guests to react with emoji. Apple also updated its Test Flight app, adding a search field for beta-tested apps and including bug fixes and performance improvements.

Apple TV+ Content and Hardware Features

Apple TV+ has released the trailer for the second season of "Women in Blue," with the premiere just a few weeks away. Additionally, a new Ben Stiller comedy film, "The Dink," is set to premiere on Apple TV. In hardware design, Apple is reportedly researching ways to improve the portability of the iMac, potentially by adding a removable dock or handle. Apple also highlighted the SOS feature of the Apple Watch through a success story video featuring a man who used the feature after a mountain biking accident Apple Shares