Apple Inc. stands as one of the most valuable companies in the world. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, the company designs, manufactures, and markets consumer electronics, software, and digital services.
The company operates through several product categories including iPhone, Mac, iPad, wearables, and services. iPhone remains the dominant revenue source, contributing roughly 47% of total quarterly revenue. The services division, encompassing the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple Pay, represents the second-largest segment and continues to grow.
Apple became the first publicly traded U.S. company to reach a $1 trillion market cap in 2018. By October 2025, the company exceeded $4 trillion in valuation. The company serves customers across the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Japan, and the rest of Asia Pacific through its retail stores, online platforms, and authorized resellers.
Apple History
Apple’s journey from a garage startup to a global technology leader spans nearly five decades. The company transformed personal computing, mobile phones, and digital music through groundbreaking products.
Apple Co-founders
Three individuals came together in 1976 to create what would become the world’s most valuable company. Each brought different skills and perspectives to the partnership.
Apple Revenue
Apple generated $416.16 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2025, representing a 6.43% increase from the previous year. The company maintains diversified revenue streams across hardware products and services.
iPhone sales contributed $209.59 billion in FY 2025, accounting for roughly half of total revenue. The services segment, including App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple Pay, generated $109.16 billion. Mac computers added $33.71 billion while iPad contributed $28.02 billion.
Apple Market Cap
Apple’s market capitalization reached approximately $3.66 trillion in January 2026, making it the world’s third most valuable company. The company crossed $1 trillion in 2018, $2 trillion in 2020, and $3 trillion in 2022.
Stock performance reflects consistent growth driven by iPhone sales, expanding services revenue, and share buyback programs. Apple repurchases billions in stock annually, reducing shares outstanding and supporting share price appreciation.
Apple Acquisitions
Apple has completed over 100 acquisitions since its founding, though it rarely discloses deal terms. CEO Tim Cook noted the company acquires a business every two to three weeks on average. Most purchases focus on talent and intellectual property rather than established revenue streams.
The Beats Electronics acquisition in 2014 remains Apple’s largest at $3 billion. The deal brought streaming music technology and the Beats headphone brand, leading to Apple Music’s 2015 launch. Beats co-founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine joined Apple’s executive team.
Intel’s smartphone modem business joined Apple in 2019 for $1 billion. The purchase included 2,200 employees, 17,000 wireless technology patents, and critical intellectual property. Apple sought to reduce dependence on Qualcomm for 5G modem chips.
Shazam, the music recognition app, was acquired for $400 million in 2018. Apple integrated the technology into Apple Music and Siri, making the app ad-free for all users. The same year, Dialog Semiconductor’s power management division joined for $600 million, bringing battery efficiency expertise for wearables.
Earlier strategic acquisitions shaped Apple’s core products. AuthenTec provided fingerprint sensor technology for Touch ID in 2012. PrimeSense delivered 3D sensing capabilities for Face ID. NeXT Computer’s 1997 acquisition brought Steve Jobs back and provided the foundation for macOS. Siri’s 2010 purchase launched Apple into voice assistants.
Apple Competitors
Apple faces competition across every product category. Samsung leads globally in smartphone shipments with 22.7% market share compared to Apple’s 17%. Microsoft competes in personal computing and cloud services. Google’s Android powers the majority of non-Apple smartphones.
Chinese manufacturers Xiaomi and Huawei challenge Apple in Asia and emerging markets. Huawei reclaimed the top smartphone position in China during Q4 2024 with 18.1% market share while Apple dropped to third place. Competition intensifies as these brands expand premium offerings.
| Company | Primary Competition | Market Position |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Smartphones, Tablets, Wearables | Global smartphone leader, 22.7% market share |
| Microsoft | PCs, Tablets, Cloud Services | Surface lineup, Windows OS, Azure cloud |
| Mobile OS, Services, Smartphones | Android powers 70%+ of smartphones globally | |
| Xiaomi | Smartphones, Wearables, IoT | Third-largest smartphone vendor, 14% share |
| Huawei | Smartphones, Telecommunications | China market leader, HarmonyOS ecosystem |
| Amazon | Tablets, Smart Home, Streaming | Kindle tablets, Echo devices, Prime Video |
| Lenovo | PCs, Tablets | World’s largest PC vendor by shipments |
| Sony | Consumer Electronics, Audio | Premium headphones, PlayStation gaming |
| Spotify | Music Streaming | Largest music streaming service globally |
| Meta | VR/AR, Smart Glasses | Quest VR headsets, Ray-Ban Meta glasses |
FAQs
When was Apple Inc founded?
Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in Cupertino, California. The company incorporated on January 3, 1977.
Who is the current CEO of Apple?
Tim Cook serves as Apple’s CEO since August 2011, succeeding Steve Jobs. Cook previously served as Chief Operating Officer and managed Apple’s worldwide sales and operations.
What is Apple’s largest revenue source?
iPhone remains Apple’s largest revenue source, generating approximately 47% of total quarterly revenue. The services segment represents the second-largest category at roughly 29%.
How many active Apple devices exist worldwide?
Apple reported 2.35 billion active devices worldwide as of Q1 2025. This includes iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and other Apple products in active use.
What was Apple’s biggest acquisition?
Beats Electronics remains Apple’s largest acquisition at $3 billion in 2014. The deal brought the Beats headphone brand and streaming music technology that became Apple Music.