Apple Faces New iPhone Fiasco as Update Bricks Devices, Raising Fresh Stock Risks
Stay Ahead of the Market:
Discover outperforming stocks and invest smarter with Top Smart Score Stocks.
Filter, analyze, and streamline your search for investment opportunities using Tipranks' Stock Screener.
The iOS 18.4.1 update, released a little over a week ago, was intended to patch two major zero-day vulnerabilities and fix other bugs. These vulnerabilities could have allowed targeted attacks against high-profile individuals like executives and government officials if left unaddressed. However, after installing the update, some users, particularly those with newer iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, find their devices 'bricked,' meaning the phones won't turn on or connect to cellular networks. In some cases, users have lost their phone's IMEI number, a critical identifier required to verify and operate the device.
Reputation at Risk?
Adding to the concern, Apple has not officially acknowledged the bricking reports. Meanwhile, customers report that even Apple service centers can sometimes not restore affected phones. For now, experts suggest that users may want to hold off on updating unless they are at very high risk of targeted attacks.
This technical hiccup comes at a sensitive time for Apple. The company is already grappling with tariff threats that could raise prices or squeeze margins. On top of that, its much-hyped Apple Intelligence features, including personalized AI assistants and device-embedded models, are reportedly facing reliability challenges; limited language support, and unclear integration with third-party apps are frustrating early testers. These issues could tarnish Apple's carefully built reputation for seamless, high-quality user experiences.
For investors, these developments are not just about technical glitches; they could impact customer loyalty, brand strength, and Apple's stock performance. While the iOS 18.4.1 issues seem limited for now, the combination of product setbacks and broader economic pressures is something to watch closely in the coming quarters.
Is Apple Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Turning to Wall Street, Apple is considered a Moderate Buy, based on 35 analysts' ratings. The average price target for AAPL stock is $236.47, suggesting a 12.99% upside potential.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
44 minutes ago
- Forbes
Save Up To $150 With The Best Prime Day Apple Watch Deals So Far
Amazon Prime Day kicks off this Tuesday, July 8, unlocking big savings on popular Apple Watches. But even with the event still a couple days out, early discounts are already live. The best Prime Day Apple Watch deals so far include $80 off the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen With GPS) and $150 off some Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS And Cellular) models. Early Prime Day deals on Apple Watches include 24% off the Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen). ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS Because Apple prices rarely drop, we expect these deals to sell out quickly. If you're looking to invest in an Apple Watch, it's worth jumping on early offers before Prime Day hits full swing. Here are all the Amazon Prime Day Apple Watch deals we recommend shopping now. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 remains the brand's most premium smartwatch, and it's currently at the lowest price we've seen in 2025. The Ultra 2 is built for adventurers like climbers and divers versus everyday wearers. It offers a two-day battery, an action button to toggle between apps, a sturdy case and extra brightness. Last year, Apple debuted its latest wearables and iPhones , including the Apple Watch Series 10. It tops our list of the best smartwatches thanks to its sleek design and advanced health tracking. The new watch has a larger display, a thinner design and a new chipset (the S10). While not a huge discount, it's rare to see the brand's newest tech on sale and, right now, you can get it for 7% off. The Apple Watch SE with GPS is the most affordable option in the current lineup, but it still offers a robust smartwatch experience. It's a bit smaller than its higher-end counterparts, with a variety of health features, including heart rate monitoring, cycle tracking and activity ring goals. You can grab the version with GPS now while it's 32% off. Are Apple Products Available On Prime Day? The short answer: Yes. Although the tech giant rarely offers discounts on its products, Amazon Prime Day is typically a good time to save big on all things Apple, from AirPods to Apple Watches. What Is The Best (But Least Expensive) Apple Watch? If affordability is your top priority, the Apple Watch SE is the least expensive Apple Watch—and it's currently up to 32% off for Amazon Prime Day. If you're looking for top-of-the-line health features, however, the Apple Watch Series 9 or Series 10 is the better bet. Is The Apple Watch SE Worth Buying? While the Apple Watch SE is the brand's most affordable smartwatch, it makes a few concessions to reach that price. At 40mm or 44mm, its display is slightly smaller than its more expensive counterparts, and it lacks some of the advanced health sensors found on the Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 2. However, for most users looking for solid performance and essential health features at a budget-friendly price, the SE remains a very worthwhile choice.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The S&P 500 Is Soaring: 3 No-Brainer Vanguard ETFs to Buy Right Now
The market is reaching new heights, which can make it a fantastic time to invest. ETFs are a hands-off investment that can help you build wealth with minimal effort. No matter your goals or risk tolerance, there's an ETF for your portfolio. 10 stocks we like better than Vanguard Information Technology ETF › The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) reached a new all-time high in late June, soaring by more than 26% from its low point in April, as of this writing. Many investors are optimistic that the market will continue climbing, making right now a fantastic opportunity to load up on quality stocks. ETFs are a simple way to build wealth with little effort, but the right investments are key to maximizing your earnings. With the market reaching new heights, these three Vanguard exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could be poised for significant growth. A staple in many investors' portfolios, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) is a rock-solid option both when the market is thriving and during slumps. The S&P 500 ETF includes all the stocks listed in the S&P 500 index itself. From tech behemoths like Apple and Nvidia to century-old brands like Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble, the companies within the S&P 500 are among the largest and strongest in the world -- making them more recession-proof than many smaller stocks. Investing in an S&P 500 ETF is also an easy way to build a diversified portfolio with next to no effort. Because this fund contains hundreds of stocks across all sectors of the market, you're more protected if one or two stocks (or an entire industry) get hit hard during a downturn. Despite its relative safety, though, this ETF can still generate life-changing wealth. The market itself has historically earned an average rate of return of around 10% per year. At that rate, investing just $200 per month could add up to nearly a quarter of a million dollars after 25 years. If you're looking for the safety of an S&P 500 ETF but with a little more power, the Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: VOOG) is a fantastic choice. This fund also tracks the S&P 500, but it only includes the companies with the most potential for growth. This ETF shares many advantages with the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, in that all the companies within the fund are among the largest and most powerful in the world -- helping to reduce risk. With 212 stocks across all sectors of the market, it also offers ample diversification. However, because it focuses more on growth rather than simply following the market, it's also more likely to earn above-average returns. In fact, over the past 10 years, this ETF has earned an average rate of return of nearly 16% per year. At that rate, investing $200 per month for 25 years could add up to around $598,000. Just keep in mind that growth ETFs tend to thrive when the market is surging, but they're often hit harder than S&P 500 ETFs during downturns. The key to success with this type of investment is to hold your investment for several years, at least, to take full advantage of the upswings. For those looking to add a powerhouse performer to their portfolio, the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEMKT: VGT) is a strong investment. This ETF contains 319 stocks exclusively from the tech sector. Industry-specific ETFs can be a smart way to gain exposure to a particular sector of the market, with less effort than buying individual stocks. Also, when you invest in hundreds of stocks at once, you gain more diversification than you would by investing in just one or two stocks from each industry. The Vanguard Information Technology ETF has a long history of earning above-average returns. Over the past decade, it's earned an average return of more than 21% per year. If it were to continue earning those types of returns, investing $200 per month would amount to more than $1.3 million after 25 years. Again, though, keep in mind that tech stocks tend to face more severe downturns during periods of volatility. If the market takes a turn for the worse, be prepared to hold your investment until the recovery period. This ETF has a long history of surviving downturns, but maintaining a long-term outlook is key. Investing in ETFs can help you build life-changing wealth with less effort than buying individual stocks, and right now may be a fantastic time to invest as the market soars. By loading up on quality funds and holding them for the long haul, you could earn more than you might think. Before you buy stock in Vanguard Information Technology ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Vanguard Information Technology ETF wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $699,558!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $976,677!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,060% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 30, 2025 Katie Brockman has positions in Vanguard Admiral Funds-Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF, Vanguard Information Technology ETF, and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Nvidia, and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The S&P 500 Is Soaring: 3 No-Brainer Vanguard ETFs to Buy Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Early Prime Day Headphone Deals 2025: Save Up to 47% Off Soundcore, Nothing and Samsung
Are you in the market for a pair of noise cancelling headphones to shield you from the annoying screech of the train on your daily commute? Or perhaps some sweat-resistant in-ear buds to deliver the soundtrack to your workout, while also tuning out the clatter of weights at the gym? Look no further, because we've got you covered this Amazon Prime Day. Here at Men's Health, we're constantly monitoring discounts across our favourite health and fitness buys. Right now, we're rounding up the best early Amazon Prime Day deals – the event kicks off on Tuesday 8 July and will last until 23:59 on Friday 11 July – and we've already found plenty of early Prime Day headphone deals worth shopping. And if you're still in research mode, check out our comprehensive breakdown of the top gym headphones right now. Whether you're seeking peace at the office or focus during your next run, we're on the hunt for the top headphone discounts from leading brands including Apple, Bose, Soundcore and Beats. You can rely on us to dig through the listings and feature all the best headphone deals right are tpyically just about the cheapest earbuds in Amazon's sales, but we've tried them and can confirm they deliver a lot for the low price. They sound good, have lots of battery, fit well enough that you can wear them for hours without feeling discomfort, and we're fans of the neat little lanyard they come with. £15.98 at are some of our favourite budget noise-cancellers, and they're even cheaper than usual in the sale, dropping to under £35 for a limited time. If you're not looking to spend much, it's worth knowing that these are comfortable, decent-sounding and have a big 40 hours of battery life. Not bad. £31.98 at lightweight open-ear headphones from Shokz offer a comfortable and secure fit, making them suitable for high-impact work as well as all-day wear. £94.00 at Galaxy Buds FE punch well above their price tag, with reasonable active noise cancellation and compact carry case. £47.78 at a great time to grab one of the best pairs of noise-cancelling earbuds at a lower cost. The Nothing Ear (a) are ideal for sound quality, customisation, style and comfort. You can't go wrong with these at this price. £69.00 at Sony buds come pretty close to the performance on offer from the Bose flagship, offering excellent noise-cancelling, soft foam ear tips for comfort and a slim charging case. These are feature-packed buds, and our favourite extra here is their unique ability to switch in and out of noise-cancelling and transparency based on your movement and location. £189.00 at rare to find big price drops on the flagship Sony over-ears. These are excellent for noise-cancelling, audio performance and comfort. We're not sure we'd use these for workouts, though, and the travel case is pretty chunky. £249.00 at This year, Prime Day is a four-day event, with shoppers able to money across all Amazon categories during the 96-hour window. The sale will start at 12:01am on Tuesday 8 July and end at 11:59 on Friday 11 July. Yes, for Prime Day you're required to sign up for Amazon Prime to access the deals. You can sign up here and there are two options: monthly (£8.99) and annual (£95). It's also worth remembering all the extra perks of Prime like faster delivery, access to Prime Video, special offers during Amazon Prime Day, free audiobooks on Audible, ad-free Prime Music and a lower cost for Amazon Music Unlimited – ideal for listening on your new cans. SIGN UP FOR AMAZON PRIME HERE You Might Also Like The 23 Best Foods to Build Muscle 10 of the Best Waterproof Boots to Buy in 2019 6 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health
