While Apple has revealed that many other smartphone and computer manufacturers have raised prices in the face of a sharp rise in memory and storage costs, CEO Tim Cook has signaled that Apple will soon have to follow suit as “this situation is no longer desirable.”
In other news this week, rumors have included not only the iPhone 18 but also the 20th anniversary iPhone that is more than a year away, while Apple customers can get new benefits with Chase credit cards and we’ve been keeping up with macOS Golden Gate to see what’s new, so read below for all the details on this news and more!
Top Stories
Tim Cook Says Apple Price Increase ‘Inevitable’ Due to Memory Costs
Hang on to your hats! Apple will be raising prices on at least some products to offset higher memory and storage costs, CEO Tim Cook said. The Wall Street Journal this week. Apple can no longer absorb the rising prices and will have to pass some of the cost on to consumers.
“Unfortunately, price increases are inevitable,” said Cook. “We are doing everything possible to reduce the large increase that is passed on to us, and we have been trying to protect our customers from the increase, but the situation is not consistent.”
Cook did not say which products would get a price increase or if prices would increase. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max coming in September could be more expensive than the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, while prices on iPads and Macs could also go up soon.
Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhones will come in two sizes, to be launched alongside the Gen 2 Foldable iPhone
Apple is “developing” work to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iPhone that it plans to launch next year, reports Bloomberg. Many rumors have suggested that the device will have an edge-to-edge display with curved glass on all sides for a borderless viewing effect.
There will be two commemorative models similar in size to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max launching in September. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to be similar to the current iPhone 17 Pro models, suggesting that the anniversary iPhone could be available in 6.3- and 6.9-inch sizes.
iPhone 18 to Pack 12GB of RAM for Smart Siri Features, No Price Bump
Cook’s comments about raising prices due to rising memory and storage costs come shortly after one analyst at the firm said Apple does not intend to raise the price of its regular flagship model when the iPhone 18 launches. The iPhone 18, however, will see an upgrade to 12GB of memory to be able to support the more powerful AI models of the device unveiled at WWDC last week.
Breaking with long-standing tradition, the iPhone 18 will apparently not be launched in September alongside the Pro models, with Apple postponing the standard model to launch in the spring of 2027. Those rumors have been circulating for some time, but the chairman of Apple supplier Largan Precision took the unusual step of confirming the change without directly naming Apple.
Sapphire Preferred Card Introduces New Perk for Apple Buyers
Chase this week announced new benefits for its Sapphire Preferred credit card, and one of them is a one-year Apple TV streaming subscription.
To get a free year of Apple TV, which normally costs $12.99 per month in the US, you must activate the card by December 31, 2026. Apple One subscribers can get a discount of $7.50 per month instead.
The Apple One discount also extends to Chase’s premium Sapphire Reserve credit card. Sapphire Reserve has offered free subscriptions to both Apple TV and Apple Music since last year, but now cardholders can get a combined $15/month discount on Apple One subscriptions instead.
macOS 27 Golden Gate Hands-On: Every Big New Feature
macOS 27 Golden Gate is in beta ahead of a fall release, and we thought we’d take a look at what’s new for those who don’t want to risk beta software on their Mac. macOS Golden Gate adds Siri AI, updates to Liquid Glass, and many new Apple Intelligence features.
Check out our hands-on video for an overview of what’s new in the release!
iOS 27 Adds Local Mode to Many Apple Apps Ahead of ‘iPhone Ultra’
iOS 27 enables landscape mode for some of Apple’s built-in iPhone apps, including Apple Music, Podcasts, Fitness, Health, Reminders, Home, Shortcuts, Apple Watch, Find My, Weather, Voice Memos, Apple TV Remote, and others.
Most apps include a left-aligned sidebar in landscape mode. In the Messages app, which already supports landscape orientation in iOS 26 and earlier, you can now collapse the sidebar to show only names and profile pictures.
Landscape mode was already available in iOS 26 or earlier in Apple Maps, Calendar, Files, Notes, Mail, and other Apple apps as well, but iOS 27 extends support to many other apps. This change may be laying the groundwork for the “iPhone Ultra,” as landscape-friendly apps will be well-suited to the rumored foldable device.
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