Top Stories: 'Apple Upgrade' Launches, iOS 26.6 Released, and More

Apple launched Apple Upgrade, a new U.S. leasing program for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, in partnership with Klarna, replacing the iPhone Upgrade Program and iPhone Payments. The company also released iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6, which patch hundreds of security flaws and prepare for iOS 27. Ed Zitron, a critic of the AI industry, said Apple will 'watch everything burn' when the AI bubble bursts, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple's new home hub could launch as soon as October.

We're a little more than a month away from the September iPhone debut season, but there's still lots to talk about in the Apple universe, led this week by the launch of the new Apple Upgrade program in the United States. This week also saw the release of iOS 26.6 and other updates, fresh rumors about Apple's upcoming home hub and new Apple TV and HomePod mini models, and a MacRumors interview with Ed Zitron to discuss the state of the AI industry and where Apple may end up if it turns out there's an AI bubble which bursts at some point, so read on below for all of the details on these stories and more Top Stories Apple Upgrade: Apple Retires iPhone Upgrade Program for Klarna-Backed Leases As rumored, Apple this week launched Apple Upgrade https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/28/apple-upgrade-program-klarna/ , a new U.S. leasing program for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Apple partnered with Klarna for Apple Upgrade, and it replaces the current iPhone Upgrade Program and iPhone Payments. Apple Upgrade lets you lease a variety of Apple devices https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/28/apple-upgrade-program-pricing/ , with iPhone and Apple Watch available in 12-month and 24-month term options and iPad and Mac offered in 24-month and 36-month term options. At the conclusion of the lease period, you can simply return the device, start a new lease, or convert the lease to an outright purchase by making a final payment covering the difference between the total lease payments made and the original retail price. Be sure to check out our list of 20 things to know about the program https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/28/apple-upgrade-program-tidbits/ before you take the plunge, and see our comparison example to help you decide whether Apple Upgrade is worth it to you https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/29/is-apple-upgrade-program-worth-it/ . Apple Will 'Watch Everything Burn' When AI Bubble Bursts - Ed Zitron Memory prices have doubled, Macs and iPads have gone up, and iPhones are expected to follow. Ed Zitron – who writes the Where's Your Ed At newsletter, hosts the Better Offline podcast, and has been described by Politico as the AI boom's most "acerbic gadfly" – has spent years arguing the buildout driving those costs will never pay for itself. We asked him what happens to Apple if he's right https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/27/ed-zitron-apple-watch-it-burn-ai-bubble-bursts/ . Apple Releases iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 With iOS 27 Optimizations Apple this week released iOS 26.6 https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/27/apple-releases-ios-26-6/ and related updates to the public, marking what should be one of the final updates before iOS 27 sees its official launch in September. The updates patch hundreds of security flaws https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/27/ios-26-6-security-fixes/ across Apple's operating systems, and Apple says they also prepare the Spotlight search index for the upcoming cycle of OS 27 releases. All-New Apple Home Hub Reportedly Launching as Soon as October Apple plans to release an all-new smart home hub at some point between October and early next year https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/28/apple-home-hub-as-soon-as-october/ , according to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman. Apple Home Hub Concept Siri AI is expected to be a core feature of the hub, which is designed to be placed in rooms throughout your house, such as a kitchen, living room, or bedroom. The report said the device will be available in tabletop and wall-mounted versions, with Apple apparently believing that many customers will buy more than one. Apple has also had updated Apple TV and HomePod mini models ready to go for quite some time, but they too have been waiting for Siri AI to be ready and thus should be launching in the fall https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/28/new-apple-tv-homepod-mini-nearly-ready/ once Siri AI is available to everyone. iOS 27: All the New iCloud Features Over the course of the iOS 27 beta testing cycle, we've been highlighting various changes and additions across apps and services, and this week we took a look at changes to iCloud https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-27-icloud/ and the Phone and FaceTime apps https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-27-phone-facetime/ . iCloud includes a number of improvements to syncing and sharing features, as well as new premium benefits for iCloud+ subscribers, while the Phone app gets a Call Context feature to show you relevant information from across your apps while you're on a phone call and FaceTime gets a number of improvements including a Dual Capture feature to let you stream video from both front and rear cameras simultaneously. Apple Planning to Unveil Privacy-Focused Smart Glasses at WWDC 2027 Apple currently plans to unveil its first smart glasses at WWDC 2027 next June https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/26/apple-smart-glasses-wwdc-2027-report/ , and privacy will be a focus, according to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman. For the glasses, Apple is prototyping "a slew of new hardware and software-related privacy features" that are not available on current products, he said. He did not mention any specific features, but he noted that Apple's marketing will likely emphasize the privacy measures of its glasses compared to rival products like the Meta Ray-Bans. MacRumors Newsletter Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view. So if you want to have top stories https://mailchi.mp/macrumors/jul-30-2026 like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter http://eepurl.com/OHdUX This article, " Top Stories: 'Apple Upgrade' Launches, iOS 26.6 Released, and More https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/01/top-stories-apple-upgrade-launches/ " first appeared on MacRumors.com https://www.macrumors.com Discuss this article https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/top-stories-apple-upgrade-launches-ios-26-6-released-and-more.2486272/ in our forums