Apple still charging 300% of costs on iPhone storage upgrades, says WSJ

9to5mac.com Nov 4, 2026

Apple still charging 300% of costs on iPhone storage upgrades, says WSJ

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Nov 4, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Apple continues to charge customers more than three times the cost of higher‑storage upgrades on the iPhone 18 Pro, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. The price difference between the base model and the 1 TB variant is $600, while Apple’s estimated direct cost is $192. The company’s earnings report notes rising component costs squeezing margins, yet it maintains steep markups on storage and RAM. The WSJ’s figures suggest the practice persists despite higher supply expenses.

💡 Why It Matters

· The sustained markup underscores Apple’s pricing strategy, revealing how premium configurations remain a key revenue lever even as component costs rise.
· This dynamic shapes consumer expectations and competitive pressure in the high‑end smartphone market.

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Apple’s Lockdown Mode thwarted by a new persistent iPhone jailbreak

A hacker collective named Calif released a video on X showing a jailbreak that persists on an iPhone 18 Pro even with Apple’s Lockdown Mode enabled after installing iOS 27.2. The demonstration involved sending a PDF via AirDrop, navigating to Settings, dismissing a Lockdown warning, and completing the update while the jailbreak remained active. Apple had claimed a 100 % protection rate since 2022, but the exploit suggests vulnerabilities remain. Calif stated it was disclosing flaws to Apple and would not release a tool.

💡 The breach exposes that Lockdown Mode, designed to shield high‑profile users, is not fail‑proof, raising concerns about the security of government officials, activists, and corporate leaders who rely on it.

appleinsider.com · Nov 4

We love this iMac G4 to HomeView dupe project

YouTuber Jesse Richards has repurposed an iMac G4 as a HomeView display by mirroring a MacBook screen. Using custom software he developed, the MacBook streams the HomeView output to the iMac, effectively turning the vintage machine into a home server or display. The project showcases how classic Apple hardware can be revitalized for modern smart‑home applications, offering a low‑cost, nostalgic alternative to new devices. The software is publicly available, encouraging community experimentation.

💡 The project demonstrates that legacy Apple devices can still serve practical roles in today’s connected homes, reducing electronic waste and offering affordable tech solutions.

9to5mac.com · Nov 4

iOS 27.3 adds CarPlay redesign for Apple Music, here’s what’s new

Apple released iOS 27.3, adding a redesigned Apple Music interface for CarPlay. The update introduces a Liquid Glass tab bar, new color scheme, and a white background that switches to dark mode when activated. The layout is denser, showing more albums and playlists per row, and the tab bar hovers above content for easier navigation. The redesign aligns CarPlay’s Music app with the iPhone version introduced in iOS 27.2.

💡 The overhaul improves driver focus by keeping controls within thumb reach, reducing distraction. It also signals Apple’s push to unify the user experience across devices, potentially setting a new standard for in‑car media interfaces.

appleinsider.com · Nov 4

macOS Golden Gate touch features work with external displays, Sidecar

Apple’s macOS Golden Gate introduces touch‑centric enhancements that extend beyond the new OLED‑equipped MacBook Pro. The updates enable third‑party touchscreen displays and Sidecar to support finger input, enlarging interface elements such as traffic lights, menu bars, and Dock icons for easier touch interaction. Developers can use new gesture APIs to enrich app touch support. The changes are available in macOS 27.3 and iOS 27.3 betas, with driver compatibility determining third‑party display performance.

💡 By making macOS natively touch‑friendly, Apple unlocks a new workflow paradigm that blends desktop and tablet experiences, potentially reshaping how users interact with Mac software.

9to5mac.com · Nov 4

With iOS 27.3, Apple will start checking iCloud public links for ‘harmful…

Apple’s iOS 27.3 beta, released this week, adds a new safeguard for iCloud public links by scanning any content shared via the “Anyone with the link” option for harmful material. The change applies across iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS, and follows Apple’s existing policy that public links are accessible to Apple. If the system flags content as harmful, Apple may move, modify, remove or delete it, and may suspend or block the user’s Apple ID, prevent new accounts tied to the same credentials, or involve law enforcement. The update arrives alongside other iOS 27.3 features such as Siri AI enhancements, new Safari capabilities, and a revamped Health app, marking the first public‑link moderation rollout in Apple’s ecosystem.

💡 By extending content moderation to public iCloud links, Apple turns a previously anonymous sharing channel into a monitored pathway, potentially curbing the spread of illicit material while raising privacy concerns for users who rely on open sharing.

9to5mac.com · Nov 4

iOS 27.3 introduces new iPhone Duo feature for one-handed use

iOS 27.3 beta 1 introduces a horizontal Reachability feature for the iPhone Duo, addressing complaints about one‑handed usability. The new Reachability shifts the screen left or right with a side swipe, unlike the vertical shift on other models. Users enable it via Settings → Accessibility → Reachability. The update is currently only in developer beta, with a public beta expected soon and a full release slated for mid‑December. Apple’s announcement follows last month’s iPhone Duo reviews that highlighted the wide display’s reachability issues.

💡 By enabling one‑handed navigation on the Duo’s expansive screen, Apple directly tackles a user‑experience flaw that could limit the device’s practicality for everyday use.