Apple Rumors | The Verge

Apple’s reported ‘HomePad’ may launch as early as October

2026-07-28T10:52:11-04:00

For years, we've heard rumors of a new home hub device from Apple, meant to take on smart home devices like the Google Nest Hub Mini and Amazon's Echo Show. Besides "HomePod with a screen," details have been sparse. But now, a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman sheds some light on the alleged device, as well as a potential release window.

According to Gurman, the new smart hub will feature a 7-inch square display and a brand-new operating system based on Apple's tvOS, with "grids of icons, widgets and apps" reminiscent of iOS and even WatchOS. It will reportedly feature the revamped Siri AI at its core, along with video chat, security, …

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Apple is banking on privacy to set its smart glasses apart

2026-07-27T05:12:14-04:00

Meta’s AI glasses have been the focus of controversy. | Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

According to Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to reveal its first smart glasses at WWDC next June, with an expectation that they'll launch by the end of 2027. Part of the hold-up may be around the company's efforts to get its privacy features and messaging in order. Smart glasses in general, and Meta's in particular, have ignited controversy over their ability to stealthily capture photos and videos. As Gurman points out:

The company has spent more than a decade making privacy one of its defining product messages. Simply entering the same category as Meta risks undermining that reputation, regardless of how Apple's approach differs.

Apple …

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iOS code could reportedly let Apple cut off apps when users miss iPhone payments

2026-07-22T15:13:21-04:00

Code found in an iOS 27 beta would allow Apple to put a financed iPhone in "Restricted Mode" if it detects any missed payments, 9to5Mac reports. The finding follows a story from Bloomberg earlier this week claiming Apple is preparing to launch a new "Apple Upgrade" financing program for leasing new devices.

iPhones in "Restricted Mode" would reportedly lose access to nearly all apps, except for basics like the Phone app, Settings, and the App Store. It uses a new "App Managed Features" system that allows financing or partner apps to continually check if a financed device is in good standing.

According to 9to5Mac, the code also includes a …

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Apple is reportedly testing a MacBook Neo with more RAM

2026-07-22T12:35:58-04:00

Following the MacBook Neo's huge popularity so far, Apple is reportedly developing an updated version of its budget laptop with a new processor and more memory, and even has plans to refresh the model with new colors. Following a similar report from analyst Tim Culpan earlier this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the new Neo will run on an A19 Pro processor, which currently powers the iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max and the iPhone Air, unlike the current laptop's A18 Pro that was originally in the iPhone 16 Pro. The chip upgrade also means the updated Neo may have more RAM, likely 12GB rather than the original 8GB.

However, ongoing component sho …

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Apple’s rumored ‘Upgrade’ program brings lease-to-own pricing for iPhones, Macs, and iPads

2026-07-21T13:12:06-04:00

As component and RAM shortages drive prices higher, Apple is reportedly launching an "Apple Upgrade" program for leasing new devices. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, it will work similar to a car lease, with options to upgrade to a new device early, or keep or return the device at the end of the lease. Gurman says Klarna will be Apple's financial backer for the new program, which will require a soft credit check to sign up.

Apple Upgrade is reportedly slated to launch on July 28th, replacing the current iPhone Upgrade Program and standard financing for new iPhones with a program available for most new iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watc …

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Apple’s OLED iPad Mini upgrade is on the way as prices continue to rise

2026-07-16T11:22:11-04:00

The current 7th-generation iPad Mini includes a Liquid Retina display. | Photo: David Pierce / The Verge

The iPad Mini could get an OLED display upgrade as soon as October, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. It would be the most significant refresh for the Mini since its 2021 redesign. An OLED iPad Mini has been rumored for months now, with Gurman previously reporting last year that it will also come with a price increase, and earlier this week he said the price of AppleCare Plus for Macs and iPads is going up.

That iPad Mini price hike is even more likely now after Apple raised prices across its product lineup last month - including the current iPad Mini, which now costs $100 more. According to Tim Cook, the price hikes were in response t …

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iPhone 18 Pro ‘drop test’ leaks get yanked from X

2026-06-30T10:10:02-04:00

Videos purporting to show the iPhone 18 Pro undergoing a drop test were removed from X shortly after they surfaced, as spotted earlier by MacRumors. An account imitating leaker EvLeaks was suspended from X after sharing the clips, while the post was removed as well, with X saying it "violated" the platform's rules.

Another leaker, IceUniverse, also shared the clips. In a post on Weibo, IceUniverse showed a screenshot from X indicating the post had been taken down, alongside the machine-translated caption: "Apple has already started blocking the leaked data on Twitter."

This still hasn't stopped the clips from spreading, though, as other ac …

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Leaked iPhone 18 Pro photos reportedly wound up on the dark web

2026-06-30T08:29:54-04:00

The iPhone 17 Pro. | Image: The Verge

Leaked iPhone 18 Pro photos and parts lists appeared on the dark web following a data breach affecting one of Apple's key suppliers, according to a report from Reuters. The leaked images show a drop test of what a source tells Reuters is the iPhone 18 Pro, equipped with a three-camera layout and Apple logo.

This comes just a week after Tata Electronics, an India-based company that manufactures iPhone components and assembles the devices, confirmed that it suffered a data breach. Security researchers told Reuters at the time that the ransomware group, World Leaks, posted more than 200,000 files related to the breach on the dark web. The leak …

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Apple 2027 rumors: AirPods with cameras for AI and the second folding iPhone

2026-06-16T13:16:37-04:00

AirPods Pro 3 shown with an iPhone and live translation features. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Now that we're clear of WWDC and all of the new AI-powered features coming to Apple's platforms, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has more details about rumored new hardware, like the camera-equipped AirPods he'd previously written about. He says they are currently on schedule for a late 2027 launch, and that while we're checking out beta releases for this fall's iOS 27 update, the new earbuds are internally being tested with next year's update, iOS 28.

With cameras mounted in their stems and lights to indicate when data is being uploaded to the cloud, they could give the upgraded version of Siri "visual context" about your surroundings, be …

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Apple’s strategy for smart glasses is the same as for smart watches

2026-06-01T11:36:10-04:00

Apple isn't just looking to take on Meta in the smart glasses market; it's looking to upend eyewear as a whole, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. When the Apple Watch launched, it wasn't simply competing against the Pebbles and the Motorolas of the world. The company also had Swatch, Fossil, and Seiko in its crosshairs. Similarly, Apple's smart glasses will be positioned not just against Meta and Samsung, but against Oakley, Ray-Ban, and Warby Parker in the $200-$500 range.

Apple Watch generates an estimated $17 billion annually, but eyewear is a potentially even bigger prize. Where the watch market is worth an estimated $132 billion, a …

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