Apple News
President Trump threatens 100% tariff on all goods from any countries with digital tax
President Donald Trump has once again turned up the heat on international trade policy. On Friday, June 26, 2026, he announced via Truth Social that the United States will slap 100% tariffs on all imports from any country that imposes digital services taxes on American technology companies.
This isn’t subtle diplomacy — it’s economic warfare with a clear target: nations trying to tax U.S. tech giants like Google, Meta, Amazon, and Apple.
Top Companies Most Impacted
Here are the primary companies most impacted by these digital services taxes, based on market dominance in the targeted sectors and reports on tax burdens:
• Alphabet (Google + YouTube): Heavily exposed due to dominance in online advertising and search. Often cited as one of the largest payers (e.g., a major share of France’s advertising DST).
• Meta (Facebook + Instagram): Primary target for social media and targeted advertising revenues. Frequently among the top contributors alongside Google.
• Amazon: Affected via online marketplaces and e-commerce interfaces (though less so where it sells its own inventory, which is sometimes excluded). Passes on costs via higher fees in some cases.
• Apple: Impacted through App Store/digital interface revenues and some advertising/data services.
• Microsoft: Exposed via search (Bing), cloud services, and advertising.
In his post, Trump warned that any nation adopting or maintaining digital services taxes (DSTs) would face immediate 100% tariffs on goods exported to the U.S. He emphasized that these tariffs would override existing trade agreements, regardless of whether those deals are already in effect.
President Donald J. Trump via Truth Social:
Numerous European Countries have been discussing the imminent implementation of a Digital Services Tax on American Companies. Some of these Countries are close to actually doing this. Please let this statement serve to represent that any Country that imposes such a Tax will immediately be met with a 100% TARIFF on any and all Goods sent to the United States of America. This TARIFF will supersede Trade Deals made with the Country, whether implemented, signed, or not. Additionally, the 100% TARIFF will be immediately imposed, if they proceed. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP
The move comes directly on the heels of French President Emmanuel Macron’s refusal to scrap France’s 3% digital services tax. Macron made the statement just before meeting Trump at the G7 summit. France’s tax, in place since 2019, hits companies with global digital revenue over €750 million and French revenue exceeding €25 million.
Trump had previously singled out French wine, threatening 100% tariffs unless Paris dropped the tax.
Why This Matters: The Digital Tax Battleground
For years, European countries have complained that U.S. tech firms pay too little tax in Europe relative to the profits they generate there. Digital services taxes were designed as a workaround while the OECD tried (and largely failed) to reach a global agreement on taxing the digital economy.
From the U.S. perspective, these taxes are discriminatory — they disproportionately target American companies. Trump’s administration has long viewed them as unfair trade practices.
Potential Impacts:
• On U.S. Tech Giants: Relief from foreign taxes, but possible retaliation and higher costs if supply chains are disrupted.
• On European Exporters: Countries like France, Italy, and others with DSTs could see their exports (wine, luxury goods, cars, pharmaceuticals) become massively more expensive in the world’s largest consumer market.
• On Consumers: Higher prices for imported goods in the U.S. if tariffs are implemented.
• Global Trade: Risk of escalation into a broader transatlantic trade war, especially with existing tensions over steel, autos, and agriculture.
Trump’s Trade Philosophy in Action
This latest threat fits Trump’s consistent “America First” playbook: use tariffs as leverage to force better deals for American companies and workers. Whether you see it as protectionism or necessary reciprocity, it’s hard to argue that Trump isn’t following through on his campaign promises.
The timing — right around the G7 — is also strategic. It sends a message that the U.S. won’t tolerate what it views as backdoor taxation of its most innovative and valuable industries.
MacDailyNews Take: Markets will be watching closely. European bureaucrats are likely to huddle and consider their response. France has shown defiance so far, but the economic pain of losing access to the American market on such punishing terms is very likely to force negotiations and concessions.
The European Union arose because the Europeans couldn’t compete on their own with the rest of the world, so they each lined up to surrender their national sovereignty, unique cultures, and dignity for an undemocratic, opaque, wasteful, bloated, bureaucratic quasi-governmental blob – and, even with the EU’s thumbs all over the scale, they still can’t compete. — MacDailyNews, March 4, 2024
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post President Trump threatens 100% tariff on all goods from any countries with digital tax appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple reportedly eyeing the smart ring market as Oura’s popularity grows
In a development that’s sure to excite wearable tech fans, fresh rumors suggest Apple is once again exploring a smart ring — potentially dubbed the “iRing” — to take on leaders like the Oura Ring and Samsung Galaxy Ring.
The claim comes from leaker and prototype collector Kosutami, who posted on X today indicating that Apple has an iRing project in active development aimed directly at the growing smart ring category.
Why Now?
Apple has quietly investigated finger-worn wearables for years. The company holds multiple patents related to smart rings, including ideas for controlling VR/AR headsets and tracking biometrics. Earlier rumors in 2024 suggested Apple was seriously weighing a discreet health tracker as a less obtrusive alternative to the Apple Watch.
Those rumors had gone quiet until the massive success of the latest Oura Ring apparently rekindled interest. Oura’s fifth-generation ring, released recently, is smaller, more advanced, and packed with features like blood pressure trend detection, nighttime breathing analysis, and even support for tracking GLP-1 medications. It starts at $399 and has helped push smart rings into the mainstream.
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring has also gained traction, proving there’s real consumer appetite for sleek, always-on health trackers that don’t require daily charging like a smartwatch.What Could an Apple iRing Offer?While Kosutami provided no specific details, an Apple smart ring would likely emphasize seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem — think deep Health app syncing, advanced sleep and recovery metrics, and perhaps unique features leveraging Apple’s sensor expertise and machine learning.Potential advantages over competitors:
• No subscription model (unlike Oura’s premium features)
• Superior battery life and build quality
• Tight integration with Apple Watch for combined tracking
• Possible AR/VR control capabilities
It could appeal strongly to users who want health insights without wearing a full watch — especially those who prefer traditional timepieces or want something more discreet.
Skepticism Remains
It’s worth noting that Apple rumors have a long history of fizzling out. Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman has previously reported that Apple had no near-term plans for a smart ring, and some analysts believe the company worries a ring could cannibalize Apple Watch sales.
Still, the re-emergence of the rumor amid booming interest in Oura and similar devices suggests Apple is at least paying close attention — and possibly accelerating internal work.
MacDailyNews Take: If true, Oura’s going to be hating life. Luckily for them, it’ll be brief.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Apple reportedly eyeing the smart ring market as Oura’s popularity grows appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Kremlin demands answers from Apple after VK apps vanish from Russian App Store
In a fresh escalation of tech-geopolitical friction, the Kremlin is demanding explanations from Apple following the unexplained removal of several apps developed by VK, Russia’s major internet and technology company, from the Russian App Store.
VK, often described as Russia’s answer to a mix of Meta and other Western platforms, alerted the public that multiple apps—including social networks, video platforms, and messaging services — had been pulled without any prior warning or detailed justification from Apple. The company stated that the move restricts access to popular services used by tens of millions of Russians daily, calling Apple’s actions “unjustified and unacceptable.”
Kremlin’s Strong Response
Russian authorities quickly stepped in. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that relevant officials would contact Apple directly to seek clarification. He warned that failure to provide satisfactory explanations could lead Russia to reconsider its overall cooperation with the company.
Peskov even floated the idea that affected users might switch to Android devices, where the VK apps reportedly remain available. However, this suggestion carries more weight as a veiled threat than practical advice, given the context of Russia’s push for digital sovereignty.
Context: State-Backed Tech and Sanctions Fallout
The controversy centers partly on MAX, a state-backed messaging platform developed by VK that Russian authorities have promoted heavily. It now comes preinstalled on domestically sold phones and tablets. Apple, however, has not sold iPhones or other products in Russia since March 2022, when it suspended operations shortly after the invasion of Ukraine. New iPhones in the country arrive primarily through grey market channels and lack the preinstalled MAX app.
Apple has not publicly commented on the removals as of the latest reports, leaving the exact reasons unclear. Speculation ranges from potential policy violations, security concerns, or broader compliance with international regulations amid ongoing sanctions.
This incident highlights the complex interplay between global tech platforms and national governments. Apple maintains strict App Store guidelines worldwide, but in regions with heightened state control over digital services, such decisions can quickly become flashpoints. Russia has increasingly favored domestic alternatives to reduce reliance on foreign technology, yet millions of Russians still rely on iPhones and the global App Store ecosystem.
What Happens Next?
For now, the ball is in Apple’s court. A transparent response could de-escalate the situation, but silence or perceived stonewalling might prompt further Russian measures — though the practical impact on Apple remains limited, as its Russian sales were already a tiny fraction of global revenue before the 2022 pullout.
MacDailyNews Take: This episode serves as another reminder of how intertwined technology, politics, and user access have become in today’s world. As governments assert more control over digital infrastructure, companies like Apple face tough balancing acts between compliance, security, and maintaining a consistent global platform.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Kremlin demands answers from Apple after VK apps vanish from Russian App Store appeared first on MacDailyNews.
iPhone 18 and 18e rumored to feature 9GB memory and A20 chip in spring 2027 launch
Apple’s entry-level iPhone lineup is getting a modest but meaningful memory boost for better AI performance, according to a new report from reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a post shared on Friday, Kuo reveals that the lower-end 2027 iPhone 18 models — expected to include the standard iPhone 18 and the more affordable iPhone 18e — will ship with 9GB of DRAM. This is an increase from the 8GB found in the current iPhone 17 base models.
The upgrade comes via Apple’s upcoming A20 chip, which will use a 1.5GB x 6 dies configuration for the total of 9GB memory (compared to 2GB x 4 dies in the prior generation). This design choice appears tailored for efficiency and cost while still delivering improved capabilities.
iOS 27 will bring tighter system-level integration with Apple Intelligence. My latest industry checks suggest Apple’s lower-end 1H27 iPhones, powered by the A20 chip, will move to 9GB DRAM (1.5GB × 6 dies), up from 8GB (2GB × 4 dies) in the current A19 models, to keep the system running smoothly under AI workloads. The three new high-end 2H26 models powered by the A20 Pro chip (the foldable and two 18 Pro models) will remain unchanged at 12GB (1.5GB × 8 dies).
For context, the higher-end iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and the anticipated foldable iPhone (slated for a fall 2026 release) are expected to retain or match the 12GB memory (1.5GB x 8 dies) configuration seen in today’s Pro models.
Why the RAM Bump Matters
Apple is clearly prioritizing Apple Intelligence features and on-device AI workloads. The extra gigabyte of memory will help ensure these lower-cost models can fully support the expanding suite of AI capabilities planned for iOS 27 and beyond, including more advanced Siri features.
This update comes amid some conflicting earlier rumors that suggested the base iPhone 18 might jump straight to 12GB memory. Kuo’s latest information provides a more tempered outlook for the non-Pro variants.
Pricing and Timing Outlook
The iPhone 18 and 18e are rumored to arrive in March or April 2027, breaking from Apple’s traditional September cycle for the full lineup. Apple has already raised prices on Macs and iPads recently, so analysts expect potential price increases for the iPhone 18 series as well — especially as component costs rise.
What This Means for Buyers
• If you’re holding off for more memory on a budget iPhone, the 2027 models should feel noticeably snappier with AI tasks than the iPhone 17 series.
• Pro users will still get the premium 12GB experience earlier in the fall 2026 cycle.
• Expect the usual iterative design refreshes, camera tweaks, and A-series performance gains alongside this memory upgrade.
MacDailyNews Take: This rumor aligns with Apple’s broader push to make AI features accessible across more devices without compromising the Pro tier’s advantages. Stay tuned as more details emerge closer to launch — 2027 is shaping up to be an interesting year for iPhone buyers.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post iPhone 18 and 18e rumored to feature 9GB memory and A20 chip in spring 2027 launch appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple’s touchscreen MacBook to sport M5 Pro and M5 Max, with M7 models to follow
Apple is bringing touch to its premium laptops. According to a new report by Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman, the company’s first-ever touchscreen MacBook — likely a high-end MacBook Pro model — will launch between late 2026 and early 2027, powered by the current-generation M5 Pro and M5 Max chips rather than a brand-new processor family.
This marks a significant shift for Apple, which has long resisted touchscreen Macs under Steve Jobs’ philosophy that touch belongs on tablets. The new models will sit at the top of the lineup and introduce OLED displays with touch capabilities, while retaining the full keyboard and trackpad for traditional input.
Why M5 Chips Now?
The decision to use existing M5 Pro and M5 Max silicon (introduced earlier in 2026 with strong AI performance, faster SSDs, and up to 128GB unified memory on the Max) suggests Apple wants to accelerate the touchscreen debut without waiting for the next chip generation. These chips already deliver excellent performance for pro workloads, AI tasks, and battery efficiency—up to 24 hours in current MacBook Pros.
An M7 Pro and M7 Max refresh is already in the works, expected as early as the end of 2027. This rapid cadence indicates Apple plans to iterate quickly on the new touchscreen platform.
What to Expect from the Touch MacBook
• Display: OLED panel (a big upgrade from mini-LED) with touchscreen support, Dynamic Island-style notch, and a hole-punch camera. macOS will likely gain touch-optimized controls.
• Design: Thinner and lighter chassis.
• Positioning: Premium “high-end MacBook” (possibly even a “MacBook Ultra” in some rumors), complementing rather than replacing standard MacBook Pros.
• Timeline: Initial M5-powered versions late 2026/early 2027, followed by M7 models.
This launch comes after the M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros released in spring 2026, meaning Apple is delivering two major Pro updates in one year—a sign of aggressive competition in the AI laptop space.
Why This Matters
For years, Windows laptops (and some Chromebooks) have offered touch and 2-in-1 designs, while Apple kept the iPad as its touch device. A touchscreen MacBook could blur those lines, appealing to creatives who want stylus support, developers who prefer direct manipulation, or users who simply enjoy the flexibility of both touch and precision input.
However, success isn’t guaranteed. Apple will need to nail macOS touch integration to avoid a “Touch Bar 2.0” situation. Early indications point to a hybrid approach: touch as an additional input method, not a replacement for the trackpad and keyboard.
This all fits into Apple’s broader 2026–2027 hardware push: AI-optimized chips, OLED across more devices, and new form factors like potential foldables. The touchscreen MacBook represents one of the most significant, if reactionary, design changes for the Mac in over a decade.
MacDailyNews Take: Hopefully, it’ll be an extra add-on feature – like nano texture on Apple displays – for those who want to smear their fingers all over the MacBook Pro displays, so that those of us who do not want touchscreen Macs will not have to pay for it.
Nobody touches our MacBook Pro displays, not even us!
We’re perfectly fine with using mice and trackpads, so we’ll continue to keep our Mac displays free of greasy fingerprints, even if we end up with touchscreen-capable Macs.
Who really wants to smear their fingers all over their MacBook Pro’s display? Seems like a gimmick for ignoramus Windows PC sufferers.
Touch surfaces don’t want to be vertical. After an extended period of time, your arm wants to fall off. – Steve Jobs
For many years, every MacBook Pro has offered a built-in multi-touch-capable Force Touch trackpad.
Does it make more sense to be smearing your fingers around on your notebook’s screen or on a spacious trackpad that’s designed specifically and solely to be touched? … The iPhone’s screen has to be touched; that’s all it has available. A MacBook’s screen does not have to be touched in order to offer Multi-Touch. — MacDailyNews, March 26, 2009
I think anything can be forced to converge. The problem is that products are about tradeoffs, and you begin to make tradeoffs to the point where what you have left at the end of the day doesn’t please anyone. You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator, but those things are probably not going to be pleasing to the user. – Apple CEO Tim Cook, remarking on the idea of a converged Mac and iPad, April 25, 2012
We really feel that the ergonomics of using a Mac are that your hands are rested on a surface, and that lifting your arm up to poke a screen is a pretty fatiguing thing to do. I don’t think we’ve looked at any of the other guys to date and said, how fast can we get there? — Apple SVP Craig Federighi, June 5, 2018
[Y]ou get this in-between thing, and in-between things are never as good as the individual things themselves. We believe the best personal computer is a Mac, and we want to keep going down that path. And we think the best tablet computing device is an iPad, and we’ll go down that path.
iPad benefits because we assume that you need to be able to do most everything with touch, and we don’t have to trade off on that experience. Mac assumes you want to do most everything with a keyboard and mouse input. We don’t have to trade off on that path. You can look at some of the other products that will try to go halfway between the two. They end up just compromising experiences. That’s not good. – Apple SVP Phil Schiller, November 13, 2019
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Apple’s touchscreen MacBook to sport M5 Pro and M5 Max, with M7 models to follow appeared first on MacDailyNews.
RAMageddon hits Apple: Price hikes on Macs and iPads trigger stock drop, but analysts see smart margin defense
In a move that sent shockwaves through the tech world, Apple on June 25, 2026, implemented significant price increases across its Mac and iPad lineup (plus select home devices and the non-selling Vision Pro flop) to offset skyrocketing costs for memory and storage chips. The hikes — some as high as $300 on core models and up to $500 in broader reports — mark one of the most aggressive intra-cycle price adjustments in recent Apple history and come directly on the heels of outgoing CEO Tim Cook’s warning that such increases had become “unavoidable.”
The catalyst? A ferocious, AI-fueled surge in demand for DRAM and NAND flash memory. Data center buildouts for training and running large AI models have created what Cook described in a Wall Street Journal interview as a “hundred-year flood” in component pricing. Memory prices have reportedly climbed to multiples of their levels from just a year ago, overwhelming Apple’s usual ability to absorb costs through long-term contracts and operational efficiencies.
What Changed on Apple’s Store
While exact configurations vary, here are some of the notable increases that went live Thursday:
• MacBook Neo (entry-level): $599 → $699 (+$100)
• MacBook Air (base configs): $1,099 → $1,299 (+$200)
• MacBook Pro (higher configs): $1,699 → $1,999 (+$300)
• iPad Air (11-inch): $599 → $749 (+$150)
• iPad Pro (11-inch): $999 → $1,199 (+$200)
• Base iPad and other models saw $100+ bumps; home products like the Apple TV 4K rose sharply as well.
Notably, iPhone pricing remained unchanged for now — though analysts expect adjustments when the iPhone 18 lineup launches in September.
Apple’s stock reacted sharply, falling roughly 5–6% on the day — its worst single-session drop in over a year — as investors digested the news of higher input costs and potential demand elasticity risks.
Wall Street’s Take: Mostly Bullish, With Caveats
Despite the immediate market reaction, major analysts largely viewed the move as a pragmatic (if surprising) step to protect profitability. Here’s what key voices said in notes released shortly after the announcement:
• Wedbush Securities (Dan Ives) — One of Apple’s most vocal bulls — maintained his Outperform rating and lofty $400 price target. Ives called the price hikes “the right move” and “ripping the band-aid off.” He emphasized that Apple’s premium, high-end customer base positions the company well to pass along costs “without sacrificing hardware performance and risking increasing customer churn.” Ives also noted the action could indirectly benefit memory suppliers and viewed the sell-off as an overreaction.
• Evercore ISI (Amit Daryanani) — Reiterated Outperform with a $365 target. Daryanani described the broad-based hikes (+17% to +25% on many core Mac and iPad configs) as a surprise, noting they came intra-cycle rather than tied to new product launches. He pointed out that long-term memory supply agreements had expired, leaving Apple more exposed to spot-market pricing. The silver lining, per Evercore: the increases should help protect gross margins going forward.
• JPMorgan analysts acknowledged that the magnitude of the hikes exceeded their prior expectations. However, they viewed Apple’s strategy as rational — passing more of the cost burden onto Mac and iPad lines while keeping iPhone pricing relatively stable to protect volume in its highest-volume (and most elastic) category. The firm continues to model only modest iPhone price increases (~$50) for the upcoming cycle.
• Other observers, including those at Gartner, highlighted the broader significance: even Apple — with its legendary supply-chain leverage — could not fully shield itself from the memory crunch driven by AI infrastructure spending.
The Bigger Picture
These price hikes represent more than just Apple-specific news. They underscore a new era of “chipflation” rippling through consumer electronics. Microsoft (via Xbox) and other hardware makers have signaled similar pressures. Memory makers like Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix stand to benefit from sustained higher pricing, while device makers face tough choices between margin compression and customer pushback.
For Apple, the risk is real but contained. Its loyal installed base, strong services ecosystem, and focus on premium segments give it more pricing power than most competitors. The company has historically absorbed component cost spikes better than peers, but this shortage appears different in both speed and scale.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s decision to raise prices is a clear signal that the memory shortage has reached a tipping point. While the immediate stock reaction was negative, leading analysts see the moves as necessary margin defense rather than a sign of fundamental weakness. With the iPhone 18 cycle looming and further pricing adjustments likely, all eyes will be on whether Apple can maintain its premium positioning without significant demand destruction.
The memory storm isn’t over — but Apple appears determined to weather it by passing costs along strategically rather than eroding its own profitability.
This situation could ultimately help Apple take market share: If everyone is forced to raise prices over RAMageddon, Apple’s affluent customers are the most likely to absorb it. The Dells HPs, Lenovos, and Samsungs or the world have no such luxury. When buying, and everything is “expensive,” consumers will choose Apple for quality, ecosystem, and significantly higher resale value coupled with longer product life and lower Total Cost of Ownership.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post RAMageddon hits Apple: Price hikes on Macs and iPads trigger stock drop, but analysts see smart margin defense appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple’s tough negotiations may have helped create the memory crisis it now faces
In the high-stakes world of semiconductors, the memory market has always been a brutal boom-and-bust cycle. Right now, we’re firmly in the boom phase — but a very different kind of boom than we’ve seen before.
Apple just announced price increases on certain MacBook and iPad models, with some rising by $200 or more. CEO Tim Cook told The Wall Street Journal that the moves are “unavoidable” because of surging memory and storage costs driven by massive AI demand. He described the situation as “unsustainable” for consumer products and called for memory pricing and supply to return to “reasonable levels.”
Just days later, Micron Technology dropped blockbuster earnings — revenue up 346% year-over-year with gross margins approaching 85% — and its Chief Business Officer, Sumit Sadana, offered a pointed counter-narrative in the same Wall Street Journal interview.
Without naming Apple directly, Sadana strongly implied that aggressive pricing tactics by major customers during the 2023 memory downturn played a significant role in today’s supply crunch.
“We told a couple of the customers who were being very aggressive with pricing at that time that this is not constructive,” Sadana said. He added that low prices discouraged capital investments, noting: “A lot of the industry investments got shut down in 2023 because of really poor pricing and really poor margins.”
Micron’s gross profits had even turned negative during that period. The message was clear: when big buyers (and Apple is famously one of the toughest negotiators in tech) drive prices to rock-bottom levels and lock in long-term deals at those rates, suppliers lose the incentive — and the cash flow — to build new capacity.
The Bigger Picture: AI Is Eating the Supply
This isn’t just a classic cyclical story. The current memory shortage is heavily structural and driven by artificial intelligence.
AI data centers are voraciously consuming High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), a premium, high-margin product that uses the same manufacturing capacity as standard DRAM and NAND. When Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix allocate fab space to HBM for Nvidia GPUs and hyperscalers, there’s simply less left for the DRAM and NAND that go into iPhones, Macs, PCs, and other consumer devices.
Micron’s CEO has already warned that the shortage will extend well beyond 2026. New capacity from major projects isn’t expected to meaningfully come online until 2028. In the meantime, consumer electronics makers are competing for whatever standard memory remains — and paying significantly more for it.
Apple’s Position vs. Micron’s Reality Check
Apple has long used its scale and long-term supply agreements to its advantage. These deals helped insulate the company from earlier price spikes and allowed it to secure favorable terms during downturns. Cook has emphasized that Apple is willing to use its massive balance sheet to help increase capacity, but it has no plans to build its own memory fabs.
From Micron’s perspective, however, those same aggressive negotiations during the weak 2022–2023 period contributed to years of underinvestment across the industry. The result is the tight supply we’re seeing today — and the price hikes Apple is now forced to pass on to customers.
It’s a classic case of reaping what was sown in a highly cyclical, capital-intensive industry.
What This Means Going Forward
For consumers, expect higher prices on memory-intensive devices to persist for the foreseeable future. For the broader tech industry, the era of cheap, abundant memory may be over — at least until new capacity finally ramps up in the late 2020s.
The public back-and-forth between Apple and Micron highlights a fundamental tension: buyers want low prices and reliable supply, while suppliers need healthy margins to justify the enormous investments required for new fabs. When one side dominates negotiations too aggressively during downturns, the entire ecosystem can suffer when demand rebounds — especially when a new, massive demand source like AI enters the picture.
MacDailyNews Take: Whether Apple’s tactics were the primary culprit or simply one factor among many in a complex market, one thing is clear: the RAMageddon memory shortage is real, it’s painful for consumer tech companies, and it’s likely to remain a defining feature of the industry for the next couple of years.
The memory market has spoken — and right now, it’s speaking in very expensive terms.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Apple’s tough negotiations may have helped create the memory crisis it now faces appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple skips high-end M6 Chips, jumps straight to AI-focused M7 Pro, Max, and Ultra in major Apple Silicon strategy shift
In a surprising departure from its usual playbook, Apple is overhauling its Apple Silicon roadmap. According to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman, the company will release a base M6 chip for entry-level Macs later this year but skip the higher-end M6 Pro, M6 Max, and M6 Ultra variants entirely. Instead, it will fast-track the next-generation M7 series – optimized for advanced on-device AI – starting in 2027.
Why Is Apple Doing This?
This marks the first time since the launch of Apple Silicon in 2020 that a chip family won’t get Pro/Max/Ultra configurations. The goal? Accelerate development of chips with superior AI capabilities, improved memory bandwidth, and better support for GPU-intensive tasks amid booming demand for on-device intelligence.
M6 Chip Details (Coming Late 2026)
- Targeted at entry-level MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac (and possibly iPads).
- Up to 200 GB/s memory bandwidth (vs. 153 GB/s on M5).
- Upgraded Neural Engine for AI, improved CPU/GPU cores, redesigned GPU (up to 12 cores), and better video encoding/decoding.
- Expected to be built on a more advanced process node (rumored 2nm).
M7 Timeline – AI-First Powerhouse
- M7 (base): First half of 2027 (~240 GB/s bandwidth).
- M7 Pro & M7 Max: End of 2027.
- M7 Ultra: 2028.
These chips will power higher-end MacBook Pro, Mac Studio, and other pro machines, delivering major leaps in on-device AI performance.
Meanwhile, M5 Ultra Still Incoming
Apple hasn’t forgotten the current generation: An M5 Ultra (with ~36 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores, supporting up to 768 GB unified memory) is expected later in 2026 for a refreshed Mac Studio.
What This Means for Buyers
Entry-level buyers: Great news – M6 Macs could arrive sooner with solid AI and graphics upgrades.
Pro users: Patience required. If you need maximum power, the real leap comes with M7 models in late 2027. This shift coincides with recent Mac and iPad price increases driven by memory costs.
This strategic pivot underscores Apple’s heavy bet on local AI processing rather than chasing incremental generational updates. The M7 family promises to keep Apple competitive in the AI hardware race while maintaining its tight integration between hardware and software.
MacDailyNews Take: R.I.P., M6 Pro, M6 Max, and M6 Ultra, we hardly knew ya!
Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations. — Steve Jobs
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Apple skips high-end M6 Chips, jumps straight to AI-focused M7 Pro, Max, and Ultra in major Apple Silicon strategy shift appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple supplier Tata Electronics tightens security after data breach
Tata Electronics, a major Indian supplier to Apple, has restricted internal access to sensitive systems while it investigates a leak of thousands of confidential client files on the dark web, according to a Tata source and two industry officials, Reuters reports.
The company has also hired a global consultant to perform a forensic audit and has notified the Indian government and its clients about the incident, the Tata source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Munsif Vengattil and Aditya Kalra for Reuters:
Reuters reported this week that ransomware group World Leaks posted more than 200,000 files to the dark web, including purported component design papers from Apple and Tesla, both of which are Tata clients. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the data.
Tata has said it had identified a “cybersecurity incident” and there was no impact on operations, without providing additional details.
Reuters found that the leak also contains at least 16 files and folders of purported documents from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) and 23 from Qualcomm, both of which make parts used in iPhones.
After it detected the breach, Tata Electronics tightened internal security protocols at all its facilities and offices to restrict remote access to sensitive internal tools, such as those used to place purchase orders, only to select employees, said the Tata source and two people briefed on the matter.
Earlier, access to such internal tools was more liberal, the Tata source said, adding that while work-from-home is still allowed, “only select people have remote access” to such tools. The changes apply to Tata Electronics broadly and are not restricted to a few factories.
“Tata Electronics has hardened access to its sensitive internal systems,” the Tata source said. “The investigation is ongoing.”
MacDailyNews Take: Uh, better late than never, we guess?
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Apple supplier Tata Electronics tightens security after data breach appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Millie Brady and Pilou Asbaek join cast of Apple TV’s Wyatt Russell-led Monsterverse series
Millie Brady (Surface, The Last Kingdom) and Pilou Asbæk (Foundation) have joined the cast of Apple TV’s upcoming Legendary Monsterverse series. They will star alongside previously announced lead Wyatt Russell, who is reprising his role as a younger Lee Shaw — the character he first played in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Casting details for Brady and Asbæk remain under wraps.
Additionally, JD Dillard (Devotion, The Outside) will direct the pilot episode of the as-yet-untitled series.
From showrunner Joby Harold, the series will follow the story of Colonel Lee Shaw (Russell), an American operative who, in 1984, went on a secret mission behind enemy lines in an attempt to stop the Soviets from unleashing a horrific new Titan big enough to destroy the U.S. and turn the tide of the Cold War.
Russell’s father, Kurt Russell, plays the older Lee Shaw in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
Legendary’s Monsterverse is an expansive cross-platform story universe centered around humanity’s battle to survive in a world facing a catastrophic new reality – the monsters of myths and legends are real. Beginning with the Godzilla film in 2014 and continuing through 2017’s Kong: Skull Island, 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, and most recently Godzilla x Kong>: The New EmpireGodzilla x Kong: Supernova, which is set to release in 2027.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Millie Brady and Pilou Asbaek join cast of Apple TV’s Wyatt Russell-led Monsterverse series appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple’s ‘Tenzing’ is epic true story of the Sherpa who conquered Everest alongside Edmund Hillary
Apple TV is set to deliver a breathtaking new original film that reframes one of history’s most iconic adventures. Titled “Tenzing,” the movie chronicles the remarkable true story of Tenzing Norgay, the gifted Himalayan Sherpa who, together with New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary, became one of the first two people to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jennifer Peedom (Sherpa), the film highlights not just the physical perils of the world’s highest peak, but the cultural clashes, class tensions, and human connections that defined the expedition. While Western climbers viewed Everest as a mountain to be “conquered,” Tenzing revered it as Chomolungma — the sacred Mother Goddess of the World.
A Star-Studded Cast Bringing History to Life
• Genden Phuntsok stars as Tenzing Norgay, embodying the Sherpa’s strength, spirituality, and determination.
• Tom Hiddleston (Loki, The Night Manager) portrays Edmund Hillary.
• Willem Dafoe (Poor Things, The Lighthouse) plays expedition leader Colonel John Hunt.
• Caitríona Balfe (Outlander) appears as expedition secretary Jill Henderson.
• Thinley Lhamo plays Tenzing’s supportive wife, Dawa.
The screenplay comes from Luke Davies, with production handled by See-Saw Films (known for The King’s Speech). Production kicked off in 2025, promising stunning visuals that capture both the majesty and danger of the Himalayas.
What to Expect: Adventure, Heart, and Historical Depth
According to Apple’s official description, Tenzing explores how encouragement from his wife and an ally in the expedition helped secure Tenzing a place on the British team — not as mere support staff, but as a true climber. The story delves into the outsiders’ bond formed high above the world, where “empire, rank, and aspiration fall away,” leaving only mutual respect and a shared spiritual calling.
This isn’t just another mountaineering thriller — it’s a story of cultural respect, overlooked heroism, and the love that fuels extraordinary achievement. It promises to honor Tenzing’s legacy while delivering edge-of-your-seat tension as the team faces the mountain’s deadly challenges.
Release Details
• Theatrical Release: October 9, 2026 (select theaters)
• Apple TV Premiere: October 16, 2026
Tenzing joins Apple TV+’s growing slate of ambitious, high-quality originals that blend prestige storytelling with cinematic spectacle. Whether you’re a fan of historical dramas, adventure epics, or stories that shine a light on underrepresented voices, this one looks destined to summit the charts.Mark your calendars — the roof of the world is coming to your screen.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Apple’s ‘Tenzing’ is epic true story of the Sherpa who conquered Everest alongside Edmund Hillary appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple stock is Thursday’s worst DOW performer
Apple stock tumbled on Thursday after the company raised prices on its MacBooks and iPads, fueling concerns that its anticipated recovery could be losing momentum.
The stock fell 5.2% to $277.89, on track for its biggest one-day percentage decline since April 4, 2025, according to Dow Jones Market Data. It was also the weakest performer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
The price hikes, all $100 or more, are detailed on Apple’s website. The MacBook Air now starts at $1,299, up $200, while the higher-end MacBook Pro has risen $300 to $1,999.
Angela Palumbo for Barron’s:
Even the MacBook Neo, which was introduced this year as Apple’s lowest priced laptop ever, has a new price tag of $699, a $100 increase. The prices for the iPad Pro and iPad Air also rose by $200 and $150—to $1,199 and $749, respectively.
One analyst who likes the stock had pointed out the risk of the new prices.
“While the price increases should help protect gross margins, intra-cycle hikes are very unusual for Apple and raise the risk of some demand friction across Macs and iPads,” wrote Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani, who rates the stock Outperform and has a $365 price target.
Apple held off on raising prices for as long as possible. The company had been using its strong relationship with suppliers to negotiate costs and keep prices stable. That strategy had been successful—second-quarter iPhone and Mac sales came in better than analyst estimates as demand remained steady. Data this spring showed that demand from China got a boost after competitors raised their prices.
But CEO Tim Cook said last week that “unfortunately, price increases are unavoidable.”
Notably, Apple didn’t increase iPhone prices. Daryanani believes this will help protect iPhone demand for now and keep overall sales intact, but it’s also likely that the next generation of iPhones announced in September will be more expensive.
MacDailyNews Take: Again, because its customers are, on average, considerable more affluent, Apple won’t merely survive RAMageddon — it will emerge stronger than ever, widening its lead as rivals get hammered by the same memory crisis.
As we wrote earlier today on X:
The current $AAPL overreaction has us salivating! Can we have sub-$270, pretty please?#BackingUpTheTruck
— MacDailyNews (@MacDailyNews) June 25, 2026
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Apple stock is Thursday’s worst DOW performer appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook’s final act: Jacking up prices by 20%
As Tim Cook finally prepares to step down as Apple’s CEO (with John Ternus set to take over in September 2026), his tenure is closing with a stark reminder of the challenges facing the tech giant in the AI era. In response to skyrocketing memory and storage costs — driven by insatiable demand from AI data centers — Apple has hiked prices on select Mac and iPad models by roughly 20%. Cook has called the situation a “100-year flood,” and price increases are now “unavoidable.”
This isn’t just another round of Apple premium pricing. It’s a direct consequence of RAMageddon — the industry nickname for the global memory chip shortage. High-bandwidth memory (HBM) and DRAM supplies are being vacuumed up by AI infrastructure, leaving consumer electronics makers scrambling. Micron, a key supplier, reported its HBM supply sold out through 2026, with the company able to fulfill only 50-66% of demand in critical areas. Customers are booking capacity years in advance.
Why now? AI servers devour massive amounts of memory. While Nvidia grabs the headlines for GPUs, the memory bottleneck is quietly reshaping supply chains across the board. Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are seeing explosive profits, but device makers like Apple are absorbing the pain—or passing it on.
Apple Is Best-Positioned to Weather the Storm
Here’s the key point that often gets lost in the outrage over higher prices: Apple is far better equipped than its competitors to handle this crisis.
• Scale and supplier leverage: Apple’s enormous purchasing power, long-term relationships with memory suppliers, and strong balance sheet give it advantages in securing supply that smaller players or PC makers simply don’t have. Analysts have repeatedly noted Apple as the “most immune” or “best-positioned” hardware company to navigate DRAM and NAND price surges, with minimal projected impact on earnings per share compared to Dell, HP, or others.
• Ecosystem strength: Even with higher component costs, Apple’s premium positioning, loyal and affluent customer base, and high margins provide a buffer. It has historically absorbed or mitigated cost increases better than rivals, often through design efficiencies, vertical integration (custom silicon), and strategic inventory management.
• Competitive contrast: PC manufacturers like Dell and Lenovo have already announced steeper price hikes or model discontinuations. Apple, by contrast, is selectively raising prices on higher-end configs while trying to shield core offerings. Its ability to maintain relative pricing power underscores why it’s viewed as the most resilient player in this environment.
Cook emphasized that Apple has been working hard to mitigate the “huge increases” passed along by suppliers but reached a breaking point. This 20% adjustment on affected models reflects that reality, not greed — especially as AI competition for components intensifies into 2027.
What This Means for Consumers and the Industry
If you’re in the market for a new Mac or iPad, expect higher starting prices on configurations with more RAM/storage. Broader iPhone increases may follow if the crunch persists. However, Apple’s approach — targeted hikes rather than across-the-board jumps — demonstrates restraint relative to the market.
For investors, this highlights Apple’s durability. While the memory tsunami swamps the industry, Apple’s fortress-like positioning (cash reserves, supplier clout, brand power) lets it adapt without the existential threats facing leaner competitors.
Tim Cook’s legacy includes steering Apple through supply chain crises, pandemics, and geopolitical tensions. This “final act” of necessary price adjustments may frustrate some buyers, but it also showcases a company uniquely equipped to thrive amid AI-driven resource constraints. As the Ternus era begins, expect Apple to continue leveraging its strengths to turn challenges into sustained leadership.
MacDailyNews Take: The AI revolution is reshaping everything from chips to jobs to consumer prices. Apple won’t merely survive RAMageddon — it will emerge stronger than ever, widening its lead as rivals get hammered by the same memory crisis.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook’s final act: Jacking up prices by 20% appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple customers won’t blink at RAMageddon price increases – but Dell, Lenovo, and Samsung’s will
In the midst of the 2026 memory crisis dubbed #RAMageddon, DRAM and NAND prices have surged 80-95% quarter-over-quarter in early 2026, with projections of even steeper increases throughout the year. AI demand has redirected fab capacity, squeezing supply for consumer devices. PC and smartphone makers face a stark choice: absorb massive cost hikes that crush margins, cut specs (goodbye to generous RAM configs in budget models), or pass the pain on to buyers.
The big question: Whose customers are more likely to absorb price increases without blinking — Apple’s… or those of Dell, Samsung, Lenovo, and Xiaomi?
The answer is clear: Apple’s.
The RAMageddon Reality Check
Memory now accounts for a far larger share of device bills-of-materials — up to 23% or more in PCs. Analysts forecast PC prices rising 17% and smartphone prices 13% on average, with steeper jumps in entry-level and midrange segments. Lenovo, Dell, HP, and others have already signaled or implemented hikes of 15-20% or more. Budget PCs risk disappearing, and cheaper phones will either cost more or ship with less memory.
OEMs with razor-thin margins and price-sensitive buyers — especially in the Android/PC space — have little room to maneuver. They must either eat the costs or risk losing volume in highly competitive, elastic markets.
Apple’s Secret Weapon: Pricing Power Through Loyalty
Apple operates in a different universe:
• Sky-high retention rates: iPhone loyalty hovers around 92%, significantly above Samsung’s ~77%. Overall Apple ecosystem retention often exceeds 84% intent to repurchase.
• Premium positioning: Apple customers expect (and accept) higher prices as the cost of premium design, high-quality operating systems, ecosystem advantages, status, and reliability. They’re far less sensitive to incremental increases.
• Scale and supply chain mastery: Long-term contracts, massive purchasing power, and the ability to optimize designs (e.g., efficient silicon that may mitigate some memory needs) give Apple better cost control than smaller or more commoditized rivals.
• Historical precedent: Apple has absorbed tariff and component costs before rather than immediately hiking U.S. prices, then selectively raised them when needed — with minimal backlash.
In short, Apple fans treat price hikes as the price of staying in the walled garden. They upgrade to Pro models anyway and grumble less about $100–200 jumps.
The Competition’s Much Tougher Road
• Dell, Lenovo, HP: These PC peddlers serve enterprise, education, and value-conscious consumers. Many buyers are highly price-elastic and quick to switch or delay purchases. They’ve already warned of hikes and may need to reduce RAM configs in lower-end lines to stay competitive.
• Samsung: The South Korean dishwasher maker is strong in midrange and premium, but faces more competition and lower loyalty than Apple. Flagships can absorb some pain, but volume-driven segments suffer.
• Xiaomi and other Android players: Masters of affordable devices with thin margins. They’ll likely pass costs aggressively or cut features, alienating their core price-sensitive audience. Budget phones could see the biggest relative price jumps or spec downgrades.
For these brands, raising prices risks volume drops in a market already facing shipment declines of 8-10% due to the memory crunch.
Why This Matters for Investors, Buyers, and the Industry
Apple’s resilience highlights the enduring value of brand moats in hardware. While competitors fight margin wars and potential market share erosion, Apple can maintain profitability, hold pricing steadier on flagships, and even gain relative ground as “good enough” alternatives become less attractive.
Note on iPhone: Crucially, Apple has kept its primary cash cow exempt from these immediate retail price hikes for the time being, leaning on its massive supply chain leverage to shield its most critical product line.
MacDailyNews Take: RAMageddon won’t last forever — new capacity should ease pressures eventually — but it’s exposing fundamental differences in business models. In a world of rising component costs, customer loyalty isn’t just nice-to-have marketing fluff. It’s a competitive superpower.
Apple isn’t totally immune, but its customers are, by far, the least likely to blink.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Apple customers won’t blink at RAMageddon price increases – but Dell, Lenovo, and Samsung’s will appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Prime Day 2026 Apple Deals: Don’t miss these record-low prices on AirPods, MacBooks, iPads, and more before they’re gone
Amazon Prime Day 2026 is in full swing (running through June 26), and it’s shaping up to be one of the best times in a while to grab Apple gear. With rumors of impending price hikes due to a global RAM shortage, these discounts could be among the deepest we’ll see this year. Whether you’re eyeing new over-ear headphones, a powerful laptop, or a smartwatch upgrade, there are standout deals worth considering right now.
Top Highlights at a Glance
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the strongest Apple deals live during Prime Day:Best AirPods Deal
• Apple AirPods Max 2 – $399 (save $150) Record low!
• Best Apple Watch Deal: Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) – $279 (save $120)
• Best iPad Deal: Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) – $519 (save $80)
• Best MacBook Deal: Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) – $949 (save $150)
• Best AirTag Deal: Apple AirTag (2nd Gen), 4-pack – $89 (save $10)
• Best Accessory Deal: Apple MagSafe Charger – $28 (save $21)
These prices are fluctuating fast, so act quickly if something catches your eye—stock can vanish overnight.
Why These Deals Matter This Year
Apple rarely discounts its products directly, making Prime Day (and similar events) prime hunting ground for savings. This year’s sale feels especially urgent because of expected price increases across the lineup tied to component shortages. Savvy shoppers are snapping up record lows on flagship items like the AirPods Max 2 and Apple Watch Series 11, which feature the latest chips, improved noise cancellation, health sensors, and longer battery life.
Standout Picks Worth Buying
These premium over-ear headphones just hit their lowest price ever. With the H2 chip, excellent ANC, and features like Adaptive Audio and Live Translation, they’re a massive upgrade if you’ve been holding out. This beats previous sale pricing by a wide margin.
• Apple Watch Series 11 at $279
A 30% discount brings this latest model to a new all-time low. It includes advanced health tracking (like hypertension notifications), a tougher display, and better battery life. Great entry into Apple’s ecosystem or a solid upgrade from older models. Other Watch deals include the SE 3 and Ultra models at impressive lows too.
• MacBook Air M5 and iPad Air M4
The 13-inch M5 MacBook Air with solid specs (16GB RAM/512GB) is down to $949 — excellent value for a lightweight, powerful machine. The M4 iPad Air offers big-screen productivity at a more accessible price. These are ideal for students, professionals, or anyone needing portable power.
Accessories and Smaller Wins
Don’t overlook the 4-pack of AirTags for easy tracking or the slashed MagSafe Charger. Smaller items like these can add up to big convenience without breaking the bank.
What to Watch Out For
Not every Apple product is at its absolute bottom yet. Some AirPods models and higher-end configs are close to record lows but could dip further — though they might sell out. If you’re not in a rush, waiting 24 hours might yield even better drops, but don’t risk missing out entirely.
MacDailyNews Take: Prime Day is your chance to future-proof your tech setup before costs snap back up to regular levels. Whether you’re building out an Apple ecosystem or replacing an aging device, these deals deliver real value. Head to Amazon and shop smart—happy hunting!
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
The post Prime Day 2026 Apple Deals: Don’t miss these record-low prices on AirPods, MacBooks, iPads, and more before they’re gone appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple raises MacBook and iPad prices as AI-driven memory costs surge
In a notable shift, Apple announced price increases on its MacBook and iPad lines on June 25, 2026, citing unprecedented rises in memory and storage chip costs fueled by the global AI boom.
The company, known for its premium positioning and efficient supply chain, said it could no longer absorb the skyrocketing component prices that have rippled through the electronics industry. Notably, the iPhone — Apple’s biggest revenue driver — remains unaffected by the changes.
Key Price Changes
• MacBook Air (512GB storage): Increased from $1,099 to $1,299
• MacBook Pro (1TB storage): Jumped from $1,699 to $1,999
• iPad Air (128GB storage): Rose from $599 to $749
• MacBook Neo (entry-level model): Starting price now $699, up from $599
These adjustments come just months after the launch of the affordable MacBook Neo, which was positioned to compete with Windows laptops and Chromebooks. The $100 price bump erodes some of its competitive edge against devices like Dell’s XPS 13.
Why Now? The AI Memory Crunch
Apple stated: “We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly. We have shielded our customers from these increases so far, but we have now reached a point where we need to begin raising prices.”
The culprit? Explosive demand for memory chips from AI data centers. Memory makers like Micron have prioritized massive orders from companies such as Nvidia, locking in billions in long-term deals. This has left consumer electronics manufacturers scrambling.
Industry data underscores the severity:
• DRAM prices surged up to 98% in Q1 2026
• Another 58-63% increase expected in the current quarter
This phenomenon, dubbed “RAMageddon” by some analysts, is already pressuring the broader market. Researchers at IDC forecast the smartphone market could decline nearly 14% this year, with the PC market dropping 11.3%.
Outgoing CEO Tim Cook had warned investors in April that memory costs would increasingly impact the business beyond the June quarter. Apple’s shares dipped about 0.7% in premarket trading following the announcement.
What This Means for Consumers and the Industry
For loyal Apple fans, the hikes sting — especially on popular models like the MacBook Air and iPad Air. However, analysts note that Apple’s strong supplier relationships mean it may be absorbing less of the pain than competitors. As one consultant put it, “there is concern the rest of the industry may have to raise prices even more than Apple.”
Apple says it’s “working tirelessly to find solutions” and that existing inventory helped cushion earlier quarters. Still, the move highlights how the AI boom is reshaping costs across the entire tech ecosystem — from data centers to your next laptop or tablet.
MacDailyNews Take: If you’re in the market for a new Mac or iPad, it might be worth checking current pricing and promotions before “further adjustments” roll out.
Quick question: Whose customers are more likely to absorb price increases without blinking — Apple’s… or Dell, Samsung, Lenovo, and Xiaomi’s?
Apple is best positioned to ride out “RAMageddon.”
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
The post Apple raises MacBook and iPad prices as AI-driven memory costs surge appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple stock reclaims buy range as AI-powered rebound eyes fresh all-time high
Apple stock has re-entered a technical buy zone after pulling back from its recent record high, demonstrating resilience amid Nasdaq turbulence. The iPhone maker is now featured on IBD’s Breakout Stocks Index, holding above key moving averages and positioning itself for a potential push to new highs as investor focus returns to its artificial intelligence initiatives.
Matthew Galgani for Investor’s Business Daily:
Back in buy range after retreating from a record high hit earlier this month, Apple stock showed resilience Wednesday by retaking its 21-day exponential moving average while holding within buy range.
On Sept. 1, John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will take the reins as Apple’s chief executive. Outgoing CEO Tim Cook will become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors.
In early May, shares of Apple shot past a 288.62 buy point in an early stage consolidation pattern. It then climbed out of buy range, notching an all-time high on June 8 before retreating.
But while a spat of turbulence took a bite out of Apple stock, the megacap showed its resilience. After holding support right around the initial buy point, shares briefly bounced back above the 21-day moving average. Tuesday’s market troubles weighed on Apple, dragging it back below the 21-day line before Apple retook that benchmark on Wednesday. In a sign of technical strength, its 50-day moving average continues to rise.
While the iPhone and Mac maker’s relative strength line remains shy of a 52-week high, it has started to bend higher.
Apple stock remains within the 288.62 – 303 buy zone.
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote on Monday, “AAPL is cheap at ~$300 a share.” Under $295 is even better!
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Apple stock reclaims buy range as AI-powered rebound eyes fresh all-time high appeared first on MacDailyNews.
FedEx driver accused of stealing more than $31K in Apple products in South Florida
A FedEx Freight driver was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly stealing more than $31,000 worth of Apple products while making deliveries in South Florida, authorities said.
Michael Turro-Cabrera, 43, faces charges of grand theft and organized fraud.
According to officials, FedEx Freight suffered two separate thefts of Apple products on November 28 and 29. Both shipments had been assigned to Turro-Cabrera for delivery to retail stores.
NBC6 Miami:
“An arrest report said the thefts were reported on Dec. 18 after Apple confirmed shortages that amounted to $22,506.28 on Nov. 28 and $8,658.20 on Nov. 29.
Turro-Cabrera was then fired from FedEx on Dec.18 for policy violations, the report said. An internal investigation revealed that there were unexplained extended stops and time clock manipulation during the same dates when the thefts were reported.
Authorities said surveillance video shows a pickup truck backing up to Turro-Cabrera’s trailer during those unauthorized stops in Pinecrest, where the stolen merchandise was allegedly transferred.
During their investigation, detectives said that GPS data and phone records linked Turro-Cabrera to a second suspect who is still on the run.
That second suspect, the report said, was a former FedEx employee who was fired after working with the company for eight years.
Turro-Cabrera arrived at the Medley Police station on Tuesday and was arrested.
MacDailyNews Take: Thanks to these two valedictorians, we’re treated to yet another inspiring display of, uh, entrepreneurship.
Criminals are going to crime, but they consistently choose Apple over the commodity junk peddled by South Korean dishwasher makers and worse — because even thieves understand resale value.
Congratulations, gentlemen! You’ve joined the long, distinguished list of people who proved once again why Apple’s ecosystem is the gold standard — by trying (and failing) to steal it.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post FedEx driver accused of stealing more than $31K in Apple products in South Florida appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Apple’s Intel chip partnership is a strategic win for American manufacturing, but years from reality, analysts say
Apple is turning to Intel for custom chips in a move that bolsters U.S. efforts to rebuild domestic semiconductor production, but analysts warn that advanced chips are still 2–3 years away from volume output — if they materialize at all. The deal, announced by President Trump last week, pairs Apple’s need for more manufacturing capacity amid TSMC constraints with Intel’s push to revive its foundry business, starting potentially with lower-end components for Macs and iPads.
Zaheer Kachwala for Reuters:
Analysts say any advanced Intel chip will take two to three years to make and even longer to translate into gains due to the long and exacting production process.
A deal – which neither company has formally announced – would pair Intel’s effort to rebuild its credibility as a contract chipmaker with Apple’s search for more manufacturing capacity, as its supplier TSMC struggles to meet surging AI chip demand from the likes of Nvidia.
Supply constraints at the contract manufacturer have held back iPhone sales, Apple CEO Tim Cook said in April.
Baked into this deal is a strategic calculation. Intel has emerged as a key pillar in the U.S. plan to rebuild domestic chipmaking through tariffs and incentives, thanks to its 10% stake in the company and a $5 billion investment from Nvidia at the behest of President Donald Trump.
“The absolute best possible case would be 2-3 years before the first chips flowed off the line. It takes 2 years to design an SoC (system on chip) of this complexity, and a further 4 months through production cycle time to volume ramp up,” said Malcolm Penn, CEO of chip research firm Future Horizons.
This assessment assumes Intel’s technology is fully worked out and its design tools are reliable enough for Apple to depend on, Penn said. “With no track record, that’s a huge leap of faith and commercial and financial risk,” said Penn, who termed the deal “a shotgun wedding”.
“Apple would probably want to use Intel’s 14A process technology… and that’s expected to be available in 2028 or 2029 so it’s still going to be a while,” said Bob O’Donnell, an analyst at TECHnalysis Research.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple could use Intel’s existing 18A-P or older, proven nodes (Intel 3) for less cutting-edge Apple Silicon SoCs that are already designed and get started sooner. Apple could then diversify away from TSMC capacity constraints without the full risk of Intel’s newest, unproven processes for high-volume or premium chips. Choosing this route, production would likely then start in 2027 for meaningful volume.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Apple’s Intel chip partnership is a strategic win for American manufacturing, but years from reality, analysts say appeared first on MacDailyNews.
Charlie Brown’s longtime pen pal finally revealed in new Apple TV ‘Snoopy Unleashed’ movie
“Snoopy Unleashed,” from WildBrain Studios, is a new family film coming soon to Apple TV. When Snoopy runs away from home, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang go on an emotional and wondrous journey to the vibrant Big City as they search for Snoopy and discover that real friendship means loving each other just as they are.
Mark Kennedy for Associated Press:
Charlie Brown began writing to a pen pal not long after the comic strip “Peanuts” debuted in newspapers back in 1950. No one has gotten a look at whoever was on the other end of his letters — until now.
Her name is Mia, and she’s a young girl from London of South Asian descent who uses a wheelchair. She glides into the spotlight in the animated movie “Snoopy Unleashed,” coming to Apple TV in 2027, helping Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang explore what being a pal is really all about.
“The story is really about what real friendship is about, and I think that continues to be something that’s relevant not only to kids, but adults,” says producer Bonnie Arnold.
“True friends love you for who you are. And that’s something that we not only have to learn as kids, but we have to remind ourselves as we become teenagers and young adults and adults and even in older age,” she added.
In the 80-minute movie, Mia makes a surprise visit to a suddenly flustered Charlie Brown, who has to live up to the curated version of himself that he has presented in his letters. His relationship with Snoopy is then strained, and the dog bolts for a nearby city. Naturally, Charlie Brown and the gang, plus Mia, give chase.
With Mia, the creators wanted to birth someone as different from Charlie Brown as possible — a girl, not from a suburb or a rural town, who moves through the world differently, without a pet, and someone with confidence.
MacDailyNews Take: Hey, Grok, “How many young girls of South Asian descent who use a wheelchair were in London in 1950, according to your best estimate?”
Grok:
This is an extremely niche intersection of demographics, migration history, and disability prevalence in 1950s Britain, with no direct historical records or statistics available. A rigorous estimate requires breaking it down step by step using the best available data on population, demographics, and disability rates.
1. Total South Asian population in the UK and London in 1950
Pre-1950s permanent Indian residents in Britain were estimated at around 8,000 (many lascar seamen, pedlars, students, or ayahs/nannies). Pakistanis and Bangladeshis (then often grouped) added roughly another 5,000 by 1951 estimates. Overall South Asian (Indian subcontinent origin) numbers in the UK were likely in the low tens of thousands at most—perhaps 10,000–20,000 total.
Non-white residents across all of Britain in 1950 numbered fewer than 20,000 (almost all overseas-born), including South Asians, early West Indian arrivals, and others.
London (a major port and capital with early communities in areas like East London) likely hosted a substantial but still small share — plausibly a few thousand South Asians total (e.g., 2,000–6,000). The population was not yet the large, family-oriented communities that grew in the late 1950s–1960s.
2. Number of young girls of South Asian descent
Early South Asian migrants were overwhelmingly adult males (seamen, laborers, professionals). The population was “largely male,” with family reunification (wives and children) accelerating only later, especially before the 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act.
Females were a small minority (ayahs, some wives, or earlier settlers). Children were even rarer—few UK-born South Asian children existed yet, and most migrants were single or had left families behind.
Rough upper-bound estimate for young girls (e.g., roughly ages 5–17) in London: likely dozens to low hundreds at most (e.g., 50–300 as a generous ceiling). Lower realistic figures are more probable given the male-dominated, sojourner nature of early migration.
3. Prevalence of wheelchair use among young girls/children
In the pre-vaccine era (Salk vaccine introduced 1955), polio caused paralysis in some cases, alongside other causes like cerebral palsy, spina bifida, tuberculosis of the spine, congenital conditions, or injuries. Many survivors used leg braces/calipers, crutches, or other aids rather than wheelchairs; full-time wheelchair dependence was less common than today for partial paralysis.
Overall prevalence of severe mobility impairment requiring a wheelchair among UK children in the 1950s was low — likely well under 0.5% and probably closer to 0.1% or less when focusing on consistent wheelchair use (vs. occasional aids). Modern analogies (adjusted downward for era-specific factors like less advanced prosthetics/wheelchairs and different survival rates) support this order of magnitude; polio added cases but did not make wheelchair use commonplace among children.
No evidence suggests significantly different rates for South Asian-origin children (health selection among migrants, nutrition, or regional polio exposure would not dramatically alter the tiny base rate here).
Combining the factors
Multiplying a small base population (dozens to low hundreds of young SA girls in London) by a low prevalence rate (<<0.5%) yields an expected value far below 1. Statistical probability points strongly to zero. Even generous upper-bound assumptions (e.g., 300 girls × 0.2% rate) suggest an expected number around 0.6, meaning zero is the mode and most likely outcome. No historical sources, censuses, or contemporary accounts mention (or even hint at) any such individuals, consistent with the math.
The forced diversity is strong with this one.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
The post Charlie Brown’s longtime pen pal finally revealed in new Apple TV ‘Snoopy Unleashed’ movie appeared first on MacDailyNews.