Contents

Apple Inc.

Apple Inc.
Consumer electronics; software; online services



Legal name
Apple Inc.





Type
Public company
Industry
Consumer electronics; software; online services


Founded
1 April 1976


Founders
Steve Jobs; Steve Wozniak; Ronald Wayne


Headquarters
Cupertino, California, United States


Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Tim Cook (executive chair); Sabih Khan (COO); Kevan Parekh (CFO)
Products
iPhone; Mac; iPad; Apple Watch; AirPods; Apple Vision Pro; Apple TV; HomePod
Services
App Store; iCloud; Apple Music; Apple TV; Apple Pay; AppleCare



Employees
Approximately 166,000 full-time-equivalent employees (2025)
Revenue
US$416.161 billion (FY2025)






Website
Official website

Apple Inc. is an American technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California. It designs, develops and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearable devices, accessories, software and digital services. Apple develops much of the hardware, operating systems, applications and services used across its products, creating an integrated ecosystem built around products including the iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods and Apple Vision Pro.[1]

The company was founded on 1 April 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne as Apple Computer Company in Los Altos, California. It was incorporated as Apple Computer, Inc. in January 1977 and changed its corporate name to Apple Inc. in January 2007 as its activities expanded beyond personal computers.[2][3][4]

Apple reported net sales of US$416.161 billion and net income of US$112.010 billion for its 2025 fiscal year. As of 27 September 2025, it employed approximately 166,000 full-time-equivalent employees.[1] Since 1 September 2026, the company's chief executive officer has been John Ternus. Former chief executive Tim Cook became executive chair on the same date after serving as CEO from 2011 to 2026.[5]

History

Founding and early personal computers

Apple's origins are connected to the development of the Apple I, a single-board computer designed by Steve Wozniak and marketed with Steve Jobs. An order for assembled Apple I boards from the Byte Shop helped turn their computer project into a business. Jobs, Wozniak and Ronald Wayne established Apple Computer Company as a partnership on 1 April 1976; Wayne left the partnership shortly afterward.[2][6]

Apple Computer, Inc. was incorporated on 3 January 1977. The Apple II, introduced that year, was designed as a more complete consumer computer than the Apple I and became one of the company's first major commercial successes. The Computer History Museum records that Apple II models sold in the millions over the product family's long commercial life.[2][7]

Apple became a publicly traded company in December 1980. During the early 1980s, the company worked on computers that used graphical user interfaces rather than relying mainly on typed commands. Apple introduced the Macintosh in January 1984. The original Macintosh used a graphical interface, icons and a mouse, helping bring these methods of computer interaction to a broader consumer audience.[8][2]

Steve Jobs resigned from Apple in September 1985 following internal management disputes. In the following decade Apple continued developing the Macintosh line, introduced portable Macintosh computers and moved its computers from Motorola 68000-series processors to PowerPC processors.[2]

Return of Steve Jobs and expansion into digital media

Apple acquired NeXT, the computer company founded by Jobs after leaving Apple, in the 1990s. Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 and subsequently became its chief executive. Technology originating in NeXT became an important foundation for Mac OS X, which Apple released in 2001 as the successor to the classic Mac operating system.[2]

During 2001, Apple introduced iTunes and the iPod, extending its business into digital music and portable media. The company followed with the iTunes Music Store in 2003. Apple also changed the processor architecture of the Mac again during the mid-2000s, moving from PowerPC to Intel processors.[2]

iPhone, App Store and iPad

On 9 January 2007, Apple announced the first iPhone, combining mobile-phone functions with a touch-based interface and internet features.[9] The same period marked a broader corporate change: Apple Computer, Inc. became Apple Inc., reflecting the company's expansion beyond computers.[4]

Apple launched the App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch in July 2008. The company reported more than 10 million application downloads during the store's first weekend, and third-party applications became a major part of Apple's mobile-device platform.[10]

Apple announced the iPad in January 2010 as a touch-screen tablet designed for web browsing, media, applications, games and electronic books.[11]

Steve Jobs resigned as chief executive in August 2011, and Apple's board appointed then-chief operating officer Tim Cook as CEO.[12] During Cook's tenure, Apple expanded into additional product categories. The Apple Watch went on sale in 2015, while AirPods were introduced in 2016.[2]

Apple silicon and spatial computing

In June 2020, Apple announced that it would move the Mac away from Intel processors and toward processors designed by Apple itself. The company described the transition as a two-year program.[13] The first Apple-designed processor specifically for the Mac, the M1, was announced in November 2020.[14]

Apple expanded into head-mounted computing with Apple Vision Pro. The product became available in the United States on 2 February 2024 and introduced Apple's visionOS platform for spatial-computing applications.[15]

In April 2026, Apple announced a leadership succession plan under which Tim Cook would move from CEO to executive chair and John Ternus would become chief executive on 1 September 2026. Ternus had joined Apple in 2001 and had previously served as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. The transition also made Ternus a member of Apple's board, while Arthur Levinson became lead independent director.[5]

Products and technology

Hardware

Apple's principal hardware businesses include the iPhone smartphone family, Mac computers, iPad tablets, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, Apple TV devices, HomePod speakers and other accessories. In its 2025 annual filing, Apple grouped its product revenue into iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Wearables, Home and Accessories.[1]

The company designs and develops a large part of the technology used across its devices, including processors, operating systems, applications and related services. Apple has increasingly used its own system-on-chip designs in products including the iPhone, iPad and Mac. Its transition of the Mac to Apple silicon reduced its dependence on third-party computer processors for that product line.[1][13]

Software and services

Apple develops operating systems for its major device categories. As of September 2026, its current software generation included iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 and updates to its other device platforms. Apple began rolling out this software generation on 14 September 2026.[16]

Apple's services business includes digital content and applications, cloud services, payment services, advertising, extended device support and subscription products. Its services include the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, Apple Pay and AppleCare.[1]

Services have become a substantial source of revenue for the company. Apple reported US$109.158 billion in Services net sales during fiscal 2025, compared with US$96.169 billion in fiscal 2024.[1]

Artificial intelligence

Apple uses machine learning and artificial-intelligence technologies in its operating systems and applications. At its Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2026, the company announced a new generation of Apple Intelligence and a system it called Siri AI, together with software changes across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS and tvOS.[17] Apple began rolling out these updates with its September 2026 operating-system releases.[16]

Business and operations

Apple manages its business primarily through geographic segments: the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Japan and Rest of Asia Pacific. Its Europe segment also includes India, the Middle East and Africa, while Greater China includes mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.[1]

The company sells products and services directly to consumers through its retail and online operations and also uses cellular carriers, wholesalers, retailers, resellers and other distribution partners. Apple reported that sales outside the United States represented a majority of its total net sales.[1]

Apple relies extensively on external manufacturing and supply-chain partners. In its 2025 annual filing, the company said a significant majority of its manufacturing was performed wholly or partly by outsourcing partners located mainly in mainland China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, along with suppliers and facilities in the United States. It also stated that substantially all of its hardware products were manufactured by outsourcing partners.[1]

The company's principal executive offices are at One Apple Park Way in Cupertino, California. Apple Park serves as its corporate headquarters.[1]

Leadership and corporate affairs

John Ternus became Apple's chief executive officer on 1 September 2026. Tim Cook, who had served as CEO since August 2011, became executive chair of the board. Sabih Khan serves as chief operating officer and Kevan Parekh as chief financial officer.[5][18]

Apple is incorporated in California, and its common stock trades on the Nasdaq stock market under the ticker symbol AAPL.[1]

As of 27 September 2025, Apple reported approximately 166,000 full-time-equivalent employees.[1]

Financial performance

For the fiscal year ending 27 September 2025, Apple reported total net sales of US$416.161 billion, up from US$391.035 billion in fiscal 2024. Operating income was US$133.050 billion and net income was US$112.010 billion. At the end of the fiscal year, Apple reported total assets of US$359.241 billion and shareholders' equity of US$73.733 billion.[1]

The iPhone remained the company's largest individual revenue category in fiscal 2025, generating US$209.586 billion in net sales. Mac sales were US$33.708 billion, iPad sales were US$28.023 billion, Wearables, Home and Accessories generated US$35.686 billion, and Services generated US$109.158 billion.[1]

For its fiscal third quarter ended 27 June 2026, Apple reported quarterly revenue of US$109.4 billion, 16 percent higher than the comparable period a year earlier. It reported a gross margin of 50.1 percent and diluted earnings per share of US$2.02 for the quarter.[19]

Environmental programs

Apple has established environmental programs covering energy use, materials, packaging, water and recycling. The company has set a goal of becoming carbon neutral across its overall footprint by 2030.[20]

In April 2026, Apple reported that recycled materials represented 30 percent of the material used across products shipped during 2025. It also reported that its 2025 greenhouse-gas emissions remained more than 60 percent below its 2015 baseline. According to the company, it had moved its product packaging to fibre-based material and was using recycled cobalt in Apple-designed batteries and recycled rare-earth elements in magnets.[20]

These figures and targets are reported by Apple through its environmental reporting and should be understood as company-reported measurements rather than independent environmental ratings.

Apple's control of its mobile platform and App Store has been the subject of competition-law litigation and regulatory scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions.

In March 2024, the United States Department of Justice, joined by a group of state and district attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust action against Apple in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The government alleged monopolization and attempted monopolization of smartphone markets, including through restrictions affecting developers, cross-platform technologies and interoperability. The claims are allegations made by the plaintiffs in ongoing civil litigation and do not by themselves constitute a judicial finding that Apple violated the law.[21]

In April 2025, the European Commission found that Apple's App Store steering terms breached the European Union's Digital Markets Act. The Commission said Apple's restrictions prevented app developers from fully informing customers about alternative offers outside the App Store and imposed a €500 million fine on the company.[22]

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 "Apple Inc. 2025 Form 10-K". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fiscal year ended 27 September 2025. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Apple@50 Timeline". Computer History Museum. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  3. ↑ "Companies — Apple". Computer History Museum. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Apple Inc. Form 8-K". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 9 January 2007. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Tim Cook to become Apple Executive Chairman; John Ternus to become Apple CEO". Apple Newsroom. 20 April 2026. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  6. ↑ "1976 — Timeline of Computer History". Computer History Museum. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  7. ↑ "The Apple II". Computer History Museum. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  8. ↑ "Apple 'Classic' Macintosh Personal Computer". Smithsonian Institution. 19 January 2012. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  9. ↑ "Apple Reinvents the Phone with iPhone". Apple Newsroom. 9 January 2007. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  10. ↑ "iPhone App Store Downloads Top 10 Million in First Weekend". Apple Newsroom. 14 July 2008. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  11. ↑ "Apple Launches iPad". Apple Newsroom. 27 January 2010. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  12. ↑ "Steve Jobs Resigns as CEO of Apple". Apple Newsroom. 24 August 2011. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Apple announces Mac transition to Apple silicon". Apple Newsroom. 22 June 2020. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  14. ↑ "Apple unleashes M1". Apple Newsroom. 10 November 2020. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  15. ↑ "Apple Vision Pro available in the U.S. on February 2". Apple Newsroom. 8 January 2024. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Major updates for Apple's software platforms are now available". Apple Newsroom. 14 September 2026. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  17. ↑ "WWDC26: Apple unveils next generation of Apple Intelligence, Siri AI, powerful parental controls, and an expansive set of software improvements". Apple Newsroom. 8 June 2026. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  18. ↑ "Apple Leadership". Apple. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  19. ↑ "Apple reports third quarter results". Apple Newsroom. 30 July 2026. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Apple accelerates environmental progress with highest-ever recycled material in its products". Apple Newsroom. 16 April 2026. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  21. ↑ "U.S. and Plaintiff States v. Apple Inc.". Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice. Case opened 21 March 2024; page updated 17 September 2024. Accessed 24 September 2026.
  22. ↑ "Commission finds Apple and Meta in breach of the Digital Markets Act". European Commission, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology. 23 April 2025. Accessed 24 September 2026.
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