Apple Upgrade launches as iOS 26.6 arrives

Apple’s new Apple Upgrade leasing program led this week’s news, alongside the release of iOS 26.6, fresh details about Apple’s next smart-home hardware, and reports on planned privacy features for future smart glasses.

Apple Upgrade replaces the iPhone Upgrade Program

Apple launched Apple Upgrade in the United States, partnering with Klarna to offer leases for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. The program replaces both the existing iPhone Upgrade Program and iPhone Payments.

The available terms depend on the product:

• iPhone and Apple Watch: 12-month or 24-month leases
• iPad and Mac: 24-month or 36-month leases

At the end of a lease, customers can return the device, begin a new lease, or buy it outright. The purchase option requires a final payment equal to the difference between the total lease payments already made and the device’s original retail price.

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iOS 26.6 prepares for iOS 27

Apple also released iOS 26.6, iPadOS 26.6, and related operating-system updates to the public. The releases are expected to be among the final updates before iOS 27 officially launches in September.

The updates address hundreds of security flaws across Apple’s operating systems. Apple also said they prepare the Spotlight search index for the upcoming iOS 27 release cycle.

The iOS 27 beta has brought changes to iCloud, the Phone app, and FaceTime. iCloud is gaining syncing and sharing improvements plus new premium benefits for iCloud+ subscribers. The Phone app’s Call Context feature will surface relevant information from other apps during a call, while FaceTime’s Dual Capture will stream video from the front and rear cameras at the same time.

Apple’s next home devices may arrive this fall

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple could release a new smart-home hub between October and early next year. The device is expected to place Siri AI at the center of the experience and is designed for use in rooms such as kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms.

The hub is reportedly being developed in both tabletop and wall-mounted versions. Apple apparently expects some customers to buy more than one unit, though the report does not provide pricing or a specific launch date.

Updated Apple TV and HomePod mini models have also reportedly been ready for some time. They have been waiting for Siri AI to be completed and are expected to launch in the fall once Siri AI is available to everyone.

AI costs and Apple’s future smart glasses

MacRumors also spoke with Ed Zitron, author of the Where’s Your Ed At newsletter and host of the Better Offline podcast, about the AI industry’s financial outlook. Zitron has argued for years that the infrastructure buildout behind the AI boom will not pay for itself. The source says memory prices have doubled, Macs and iPads have become more expensive, and iPhone price increases are expected to follow.

The discussion focused on what Apple could face if the AI bubble bursts. Politico has described Zitron as the AI boom’s most “acerbic gadfly.”

Separately, Gurman reported that Apple plans to unveil its first smart glasses at WWDC 2027 next June. Privacy is expected to be a central selling point. Apple is prototyping “a slew of new hardware and software-related privacy features” that are not available on current products, although Gurman did not identify those features.

Apple’s marketing will likely compare the privacy protections with rival products such as the Meta Ray-Bans.