Apple has raised prices on the Apple TV, HomePod, and HomePod mini despite no hardware updates in years, citing memory chip shortages. New models with upgraded chips and features are expected later this year.
Apple is skipping the M6 Pro and Max chips entirely, folding those tiers into the M7 generation as part of a major restructuring around AI capabilities. The base M6 arrives in late 2026 with upgraded memory bandwidth and a redesigned GPU, while the high-end M7 lineup won’t arrive until end of 2027, prioritizing on-device AI and GPU-heavy workloads.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 gets its own watchOS 27 beta with an upgraded Siri featuring conversational abilities and personal data access—though it requires iPhone 15 Pro or later. The update also brings Dynamic app grids, improved Smart Stack Suggestions, and battery optimizations across the interface.
Apple is raising prices across Macs, iPads, and HomePods due to an AI-driven memory chip shortage it can no longer absorb internally. The company admits component costs have reached unprecedented levels, with further increases possible through 2027 as demand from AI data centers continues.
Apple is skipping the M6 Pro and M6 Max entirely, jumping straight to M7 chips in late 2027 to prioritize on-device AI and GPU workloads. The move leaves a gap in Apple’s lineup, with the standard M6 arriving in late 2026 featuring 200GB/s memory bandwidth and a redesigned GPU with up to 12 cores.
Apple’s Back to School promotion is expected to return next week following WWDC 2026, with timing that coincides with peak student shopping season. While last year offered free accessories like AirPods 4 or Apple Pencil Pro with qualifying Mac or iPad purchases, this year’s bundle remains unconfirmed—and the real value may be diminished by recent price increases across Apple’s device lineup.
Apple’s refurbished store prices have jumped alongside new product hikes, with Mac prices rising $160-$180 and some configurations climbing over $600. The increases reflect Apple’s broader pricing reset tied to AI-driven chip costs, though refurbished units likely contain pre-spike components.
Apple is raising prices on the Apple TV, HomePod, and HomePod mini due to memory chip shortages, with increases ranging from $30 to $100. The timing is awkward since these aging devices lack Apple Intelligence support and are widely expected to be replaced later this year.
Apple has quietly raised prices across nearly its entire hardware lineup, with Vision Pro experiencing the sharpest increase—jumping $200 to $3,699. The price hike comes after Vision Pro has already struggled to compete, holding just 5% of the XR market against Meta’s 75%.
Apple’s Mac mini M4 Pro jumped $200 to $1,599 with no hardware changes, reflecting rising component costs tied to AI data centre demand. The price increase mirrors similar hikes across Apple’s Mac lineup as memory and storage costs surge industry-wide.