Apple’s historically strong grip over the manufacture of delectable bits of tech looks set to be loosening.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the company’s quarterly profit fell a substantial 22.5 per cent as revenue dipped for the first time since 2003.
Apple's biggest problem: its newest iPhone isn't measuring up. https://t.co/CiD6wihEwW pic.twitter.com/3a0YLD6QjB
— Forbes Tech (@ForbesTech) April 27, 2016
Apple is struggling to maintain the sales surge that happened when it launched iPhones with larger screens in late 2014, and models since then just haven’t been as successful with customers, who were previously loyal Apple heads.
The company sorely needs a blockbuster launch to regain momentum, but this setback doesn’t really mean the company is doing terribly. For example, iPhone sales in India are up 50 per cent, but that’s an anomaly compared to the global sales rate.
“It’s a tough bar to hurdle, but it doesn’t change the future. The future is very bright,” CEO Tim Cook said.
ICYMI – Apple Plan To Release Another iPhone Ahead Of The iPhone 7 https://t.co/bSMIuYb8FX pic.twitter.com/caiIOOH456
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) January 31, 2016
According to the Verge, products like the iPad were popular at first launch, but sales have steadily declined over the last several years, as Android competitors’ offerings improved.
The much-hyped Apple Watch was a big hit, but only with die-hard Apple consumers, and it failed to make a big splash in the mainstream.
I still can’t shake the feeling that $AAPL is slowly taking themselves private. https://t.co/XIAMvppDWh pic.twitter.com/kdMGCGbMaJ
— Adam Nash (@adamnash) April 26, 2016
We’ll have to see what Cook and Co come up with next. Maybe the launch of the new smaller iPhone SE will boost their fortunes.
That being said, it’s worth remembering this:
Apple has $233 billion in cash. It could buy:
Uber
Tesla
Airbnb
Netflix
Yahoo…and still have $18 billion left. $AAPL
— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) April 26, 2016