Apple | The VergeThe Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts.2026-08-01T16:26:37+00:00https://www.theverge.com/rss/apple/index.xmlhttps://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/verge-rss-large_80b47e.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1David Imel<![CDATA[You could be taking way better photos on your phone]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9730552026-08-01T12:26:37-04:002026-08-01T09:30:00-04:00
Your smartphone photos can look way better. If you're willing to put in a little extra work, use third party apps and spend a bit of time editing, it's possible to take photos that - under the right circumstances - can rival dedicated digital cameras.
I post a lot of smartphone photos online, and "How do I take better photos on my phone?" is a question I get practically every day. It makes sense. As the saying goes, "The best camera is the one you have on you," and we practically always have our phones on us these days.
Over the last few years, smartphone camera sensors have gotten bigger, with better light gathering capabilities and highe …
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[Apple’s new AirTags are back down to their best price]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9739732026-07-31T15:35:45-04:002026-07-31T15:35:45-04:00
Both Amazon and Costco are offering some solid deals. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
We spotted a great deal on Tile trackers earlier this week that’s still live, but if you’re an iPhone owner, we ultimately recommend Apple’s latest AirTag. Right now, you can pick up a four-pack for $89 ($10 off) at Amazon and Target, matching the bundle’s all-time low price. If you’re a member, Costco also has a deal that throws in a fifth AirTag for free.
A growing number of Bluetooth trackers can tap into Apple’s Find My network these days, but none combine that with Apple’s latest ultra wideband (UWB) chip, which powers even better Precision Finding than before. Precision Finding uses on-screen arrows and distance indicators in the Find My app to guide you directly to a misplaced item, while the second-generation AirTag’s upgraded chip and extended Bluetooth range make it faster and more reliable to locate tags, even in multistory homes. You can also use Precision Finding to find lost items on an Apple Watch, provided you have a Series 9 or later. And if all else fails, the built-in speaker is noticeably louder than before, making it easier to track down an AirTag by sound.
Plus, like its predecessor, the second-generation AirTag comes with a handful of features that are especially useful if you’re traveling this summer. AirTag sharing lets up to five people keep track of the same item, while Apple’s Share Item Location feature allows you to temporarily share an AirTag’s location with participating airlines, including United, Delta, and American Airlines. It’s still a shame Apple doesn’t include a built-in lanyard hole, meaning you’ll need to buy a separate loop or holder, but the tracker continues to use a replaceable CR2032 battery, so you won’t have to replace the entire device when it eventually runs out of power. And at $89 for a four-pack, it’s also a little easier on your wallet today.
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Andrew Webster<![CDATA[Apple TV’s Cape Fear remake turns it into a paranoid tech thriller]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9735302026-07-30T18:05:40-04:002026-07-31T08:00:00-04:00
Cape Fear has always been a thriller about paranoia. And in 2026 there are few things less trustworthy than technology.
Apple TV's recent remake of Cape Fear is "inspired" by the 1991 film of the same name (Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg even returned as executive producers on the project), which itself is a remake of a 1962 movie that was an adaptation of the novel The Executioners by John D. MacDonald. The series is essentially a brand-new story within a similar premise, and it makes a number of significant changes to make it both fit the new episodic format and feel right at home in the present day. One of the most salient updates …
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Emma Roth<![CDATA[Tim Cook hints at iCloud Plus tier for AI power users]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9735522026-07-30T18:31:59-04:002026-07-30T18:29:45-04:00
Apple may allow users to pay to increase their AI usage limits. During an earnings call on Thursday, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that he believes people will want to use Apple Intelligence and the upcoming Siri AI "a lot," adding that "we will have some kind of upgrade possibilities on iCloud Plus where people can buy up the stack."
This fall, Apple will broadly launch its long-delayed Siri AI with iOS 27, which can do things like answer questions about what's on your screen and take action across your apps. It also includes a new standalone Siri AI app that offers a ChatGPT-like interface.
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Emma Roth<![CDATA[Apple’s iPhone and Mac sales keep growing despite RAM shortages]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9734302026-07-30T17:58:41-04:002026-07-30T16:49:32-04:00
Apple's iPhone and Mac sales are on the rise even as a global memory shortage squeezes device makers. In its third-quarter earnings report released on Thursday, Apple revealed that iPhone sales jumped 22 percent to $54.25 billion and Mac sales increased 29 percent to $10.35 billion, driving the company's overall revenue to $109.4 billion.
The company expects supply chain constraints to worsen in the coming months. During an earnings call, Apple chief financial officer Kevan Parekh said Apple expects "supply constraints to increase significantly" in the next quarter, adding the shortage will impact the iPhone, Mac, and iPad. Meanwhile, Apple …
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Emma Roth<![CDATA[What’s the catch with the Apple Upgrade program?]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9725832026-07-29T14:55:04-04:002026-07-29T14:40:06-04:00
Apple's new Upgrade program is here, allowing you to lease select models of iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Watches with a relatively low monthly payment. The company promises you won't pay more than the full price of the device over the course of the one- to three-year lease, and in some cases, you'll pay hundreds of dollars less.
The basics of the program make it sound like an amazing deal… so surely there must be a catch, right?
The answer basically depends on how you use the Upgrade Program. At least with current pricing, a diligent user really should be able to make a monthly payment, swap in their phone a year or more later, and move along …
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Emma Roth<![CDATA[Apple won’t turn on any ‘restricted mode’ for missed lease payments]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9720632026-07-28T14:53:45-04:002026-07-28T14:43:57-04:00
Apple says it won't limit the capabilities of devices leased through its new Upgrade program if you miss a payment. In an emailed statement to The Verge, Apple spokesperson Brian Bumbery says, "There will be no restricted mode and/or there will be no limitations put on device functionality due to missed payments or default with the Apple Upgrade program."
This confirmation comes after 9to5Macuncovered code in an iOS 27 beta for a new "App Managed Features" system. This would reportedly allow financial partners to "perform ongoing status checks" on a device, as well as have Apple's system services put a device in "Restricted Mode" if its ow …
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David Imel<![CDATA[Apple’s reported ‘HomePad’ may launch as early as October]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9717902026-07-28T10:52:11-04:002026-07-28T10:39:42-04:00
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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Jess Weatherbed<![CDATA[Apple launches ‘Upgrade’ program to lease new devices]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9712202026-07-29T15:13:27-04:002026-07-28T08:23:50-04:00
This image shows which Apple devices are included in its new leasing program. | Image: Apple
Apple has officially introduced "Apple Upgrade," a new leasing program that aims to make it easier to get your hands on the latest iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch models. The service is launching today in the US, and works like a car lease - allowing users to keep a device at the end of their subscription period, pay off the device early, or upgrade early to a new model.
This leasing program is rolling out just weeks after Apple hiked the prices of its MacBooks, iPads, and other devices in response to the ongoing memory and storage shortages. While iPhones were spared, current Apple CEO Tim Cook warned last month that "the situation has …
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Terrence O’Brien<![CDATA[Apple is banking on privacy to set its smart glasses apart]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9711012026-07-27T05:12:14-04:002026-07-26T15:36:38-04:00
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.
