Last Updated on June 18, 2025 by stlplace
AAPL: they are not famous for leading edge on everything, basically. I recall in year 1997 to 2000, when I was at Rolla, I used the Mac at (eMac? Those colorful Macs Steve came up with his return). After that it’s the iPod – again at that time there are many mp3 players in the market including those from Samsung and iRiver. After that it’s iPhone – I was skeptical they can beat blackberry but I was wrong – I realized it in year 2009 too. Their AirPods and iPad are also good. They probably take most profits in all the categories they compete: smartphone, tablet, laptop and desktop, earphones and they are number 2 in music (behind Spotify).
Their recent notable failures include Apple car, and to lesser extent, Vision Pro.
Many street people perceived they are lagging on AI and gen AI, which is a bit premature to call, I think
Thoughts when I was driving: US companies such as Apple has the most profit and also shareholder friendly.
Bonus points: Apple iPhone sales in China
Btw, in China there are so many choices of smartphones, and also Apple service doesn’t stand out as it does the in west.
Along those lines, I think it’s possible that in China Apple makes less money than say Coca Cola company. (Update) I think I am likely wrong on this one as I just googled “how much money coca cola makes from china each year” –
Below is Search Labs | AI Overview
“While specific annual revenue figures for Coca-Cola’s operations in China are not consistently reported in a readily available format, it’s clear that China is a significant market for the company. Coca-Cola’s overall revenue from the Asia Pacific region, which includes China, was around 10.3% of its total revenue in 2023. Specifically, Swire’s Coca-Cola business in mainland China experienced a 5% drop in revenue to HK$24.72 billion in the last reported period. However, the company continues to invest in the Chinese market, indicating a long-term commitment and potential for growth.“