iPad | The Verge

Apple launches ‘Upgrade’ program to lease new devices

2026-07-29T15:13:27-04:00

This image shows which Apple devices are included in its new leasing program. | Image: Apple

Apple has officially introduced "Apple Upgrade," a new leasing program that aims to make it easier to get your hands on the latest iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch models. The service is launching today in the US, and works like a car lease - allowing users to keep a device at the end of their subscription period, pay off the device early, or upgrade early to a new model.

This leasing program is rolling out just weeks after Apple hiked the prices of its MacBooks, iPads, and other devices in response to the ongoing memory and storage shortages. While iPhones were spared, current Apple CEO Tim Cook warned last month that "the situation has …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Apple’s OLED iPad Mini upgrade is on the way as prices continue to rise

2026-07-16T11:22:11-04:00

The current 7th-generation iPad Mini includes a Liquid Retina display. | Photo: David Pierce / The Verge

The iPad Mini could get an OLED display upgrade as soon as October, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. It would be the most significant refresh for the Mini since its 2021 redesign. An OLED iPad Mini has been rumored for months now, with Gurman previously reporting last year that it will also come with a price increase, and earlier this week he said the price of AppleCare Plus for Macs and iPads is going up.

That iPad Mini price hike is even more likely now after Apple raised prices across its product lineup last month - including the current iPad Mini, which now costs $100 more. According to Tim Cook, the price hikes were in response t …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Apple’s reportedly raising the price for AppleCare Plus on Macs and iPads

2026-07-16T05:48:05-04:00

An AppleCare Plus subscription for a Mac or iPad will cost more soon, with prices going up by $0.50 per month or $5 per year for new sign-ups while remaining the same for existing subscribers, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman says that under the new AppleCare Plus pricing, "a plan for a new 13-inch MacBook Air increased to $7.99 from $7.49, or to $79.99 from $74.99 annually," following a move last year that similarly raised the plan's price on iPhones. We haven't seen the new pricing reflected on Apple's site in the US or terms of service yet, and Apple has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Last month, Apple announced …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Apple’s entry-level MacBook Pro could be up for a redesign

2026-07-02T05:36:48-04:00

Apple is working on a "revamped" version of its entry-level MacBook Pro that it could launch as soon as the first half of 2027, Bloomberg reports. The company is also testing four new iPad Pros that are set to launch in the spring with a focus on "internal improvements."

The updated MacBook Pro, which will keep the 14-inch screen size, will have a design that's "in line" with what Apple is planning for the touchscreen MacBooks it also has in the works, Bloomberg says. Those new touchscreen laptops are set to be released between "the end of this year and early next year," and Bloomberg has previously reported that they will get a Dynamic Isl …

Read the full story at The Verge.

At $499, Apple’s M3-powered iPad Air is a good deal

2026-06-29T15:22:42-04:00

The iPad Air supports Apple Pencil Pro, plus hover support. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto, The Verge

Most of Apple’s price increases have gone into effect, resulting in iPads and other products costing hundreds more than they did a few days ago. If last week’s Prime Day sale wasn’t a good time to consider buying an iPad, we found a deal worth considering that’s just under $500 right now. The 128GB iPad Air that has the M3 processor, plus both Wi-Fi and 5G cellular support, costs $499 at Best Buy. At just $50 more than the base iPad (now $449, up from $349), it’s a significantly faster and all-around better tablet.

11-inch iPad Air M3

The last-gen 11-inch iPad Air features Apple’s fast M3 chip with GPU upgrades like dynamic caching for smoother performance in demanding apps. It also supports the Apple Pencil Pro and the newest Magic Keyboard, which features a larger build and a 14-key function row. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

~~$749~~ $499 at Best Buy (128GB, Wi-Fi + 5G)

While the last-gen Air matches the base iPad’s 11-inch screen size, the Air has a laminated, antireflective coating, plus a wider color gamut. In other words, it’s the better choice for entertainment or for creating content. In terms of specs, its M3 processor leaps ahead of the A16 with more cores, not to mention Apple Intelligence support (as well as support for iPadOS 27 coming later this year). It also boasts Apple Pencil Pro support.

It stacks up well compared to the newer M4 Air, too, which now starts at $749 for the Wi-Fi model, and a whopping $899 for the cellular. The M3 processor is only slightly slower, it has 8GB of memory instead of 12GB, and its wireless radio is older, but it’s otherwise nearly identical, for much less money. $500 for the M3 Air is a steal.

Read our iPad Air (M3) review.

window.HYPE_DESK_CONFIG = { productImageUrl: "https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/USE-For-Stubborn-Stains-.jpg", productImageAlt: "Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum", productTitle: "Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum", shortDescription: "A robot vacuum built for pet owners who are tired of doing it themselves.", longDescription: "If you have been putting off the robot vacuum upgrade, the X60 Max Ultra is the one worth waiting for. Dreame's 2026 flagship navigates around obstacles with enough precision to actually trust it unsupervised, and the all-in-one docking station handles mop washing, drying, and maintenance automatically. Powerful suction, intelligent cleaning, and a system that takes care of itself so you genuinely do not have to.", purchaseUrl: "https://go.skimresources.com/?id=1025X1701640&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dreametech.com%2Fproducts%2Fx60-max-ultra-complete-robot-vacuum&xcust=DreameHypedeskPlacement14", purchaseLinkText: "Shop at Dreame" };

You won’t have long to get these iPad deals before Apple’s price hike

2026-06-26T12:26:06-04:00

You can save hundreds on the latest iPad Air. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Apple just raised prices across its iPad and MacBook lineup. The good news is that many retailers are still selling their inventory at the old prices or far less, which means you can still score some of the best iPad deals we may see in awhile — if ever again. So if you’ve been thinking about picking up a new iPad, now is probably the time to do it.

Now the bad news: those discounts are starting to disappear, though. One of the best iPad deals of Prime Day, for instance, saw the M4-powered iPad Air with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage drop to a record low of $519 when the sale kicked off. Amazon is still offering it for $519, which is $230 less than Apple’s new list price.

Apple iPad Air M4

The M4-powered iPad Air offers 12GB of RAM, Apple Intelligence features, Apple Pencil Pro support, and Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, making it a great middle ground between the entry-level iPad and iPad Pro. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

~~$749~~ $519.99 at Amazon (128GB, Wi-Fi)

Compared to Apple’s entry-level iPad, the Air offers a faster M4 chip, 12GB of RAM, Apple Intelligence features, Apple Pencil Pro support. It also offers newer connectivity standards like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, making it a more future-proof option.

If the iPad Air isn’t what you’re after, though, don’t worry. There are still plenty of other iPad deals worth considering, whether you’re shopping for Apple’s affordable entry-level model or its high-end iPad Pro. Here are the best discounts we could find.

iPad deals

iPad (2025)

Apple’s entry-level iPad is an excellent tablet for casual use, even if it is getting a little long in the tooth. Its high-res screen is great for watching video, and its A16 processor is still fast enough to handle light games and productivity apps. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

~~$449~~ $299 at Walmart (128GB, Wi-Fi)

iPad Mini (2024)

The iPad Mini’s smaller size is tailor-made for travel, with a light, sturdy design that’s easy to slip into a carry-on. Its compact 8.3-inch display is great for reading, watching movies, and playing games, and it even supports the Apple Pencil Pro, making it an excellent tool for doodling. The battery holds up well, too, and you can easily pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard to tackle some light work. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

iPad Pro (2025)

Apple’s newest iPad Pros have an M5 processor, an N1 chip, and a C1X chip for cellular versions. They’re faster, support Wi-Fi 7, charge more quickly, and start with 12GB of RAM. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

Update, June 26th: Updated pricing and availability.

Here are all of the Apple price hikes

2026-06-25T12:47:56-04:00

Following an interview with The Wall Street Journal earlier this month where Tim Cook hinted at upcoming price changes, Apple officially raised the prices on many of its hardware offerings today. They include iPads, Macs, smart speakers, and even the affordable MacBook Neo. While Cook said the company has tried to "shield" customers from price increases as the cost of memory and storage has recently surged thanks to AI companies stockpiling RAM and SSDs for data centers, Apple has finally joined companies like Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft with price hikes.

Here's a breakdown of what Apple hardware has been affected today and the range of p …

Read the full story at The Verge.

AT&T is launching $3 ‘unlimited’ day passes for iPads

2026-06-10T07:41:36-04:00

AT&T’s new day passes let you get your iPad online for 24 hours at a time, when you need it. | Photo: David Pierce / The Verge

AT&T has introduced a new "Unlimited Day Pass" cellular data offer for iPad users who need brief connectivity instead of signing up for a long-term plan. The day pass is available for $3 in the US starting today, providing 24 hours of unlimited data, with no contracts, subscriptions, or credit checks required.

This offer is available to anyone, including non-AT&T customers, with the 24-hour data activation beginning shortly after purchase. The first day pass is free as part of an introductory deal. There are no caps on speed or data mentioned in AT&T's announcement, but the company says it may "temporarily slow data speeds if the network is …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Apple drops support for a long list of Apple Watches with latest OS updates

2026-06-08T20:31:53-04:00

So long, Series 8. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

I hope you have a modern Apple Watch or iPad, because otherwise watchOS 27 and iPadOS 27 won't run on your device. Apple often drops support for older devices with its latest software updates, but this year it's culling even more device generations than ever before.

Apple is dropping support for at least three generations of Apple Watch models in watchOS 27. Apple's website initially stated that the latest watchOS update would only be available on Apple Watch Series 10 devices and above, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and above, and Apple Watch SE 3. Apple later updated the listing to include the Series 9. We've also seen reports of people successful …

Read the full story at The Verge.

WWDC 2026 bonus live blog: Tech Talk with Craig Federighi

2026-06-08T16:58:40-04:00

One of the funnier parts of the keynote.

Fresh off the WWDC keynote presentation, The Verge has been invited to an "on-the-record technical deep dive into the bold new architecture enabling Apple Intelligence capabilities." Apple SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi and his team will be there, and so will we.

The revamped Apple Intelligence is at the heart of nearly every update Apple announced across all its operating systems today, Liquid Glass corner radii notwithstanding.

The discussion will begin at 12PM PT / 3PM ET. Nilay and Vee will be live blogging below; Allison will be Quick Posting.

',c(t.firstChild,i)))})(window);

Read the full story at The Verge.