A week in which everything was decided economically. With its Q2 results on April 30, Apple shattered the upper end of its own guidance – and set a new March quarter record. Tim Cook's penultimate earnings call as CEO became a showcase for a company that is operationally stronger than ever before – while simultaneously managing supply bottlenecks that the next CEO will inherit. An overview of Apple's week from April 27 to May 3, 2026.
🔥 Story of the week: Apple's record quarter and the Cook-Ternus duo
Apple released its financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2026 on Thursday evening – and exceeded even the most optimistic analysts' expectations. With $111.2 billion in revenue, the company shattered its own guidance and set a new March-quarter record. Growth was driven primarily by the iPhone, which, according to Tim Cook, is experiencing demand "off the charts" – Apple simply cannot currently produce enough iPhones to fulfill orders. Apple has thus clearly surpassed the range of analysts' pre-release expectations.
What was remarkable was the stage Cook gave to his designated successor John Ternus. Instead of opening the earnings call alone with CFO Kevan Parekh as usual, Cook brought Ternus to the microphone right at the beginning. It was Ternus' first public appearance before investors since the CEO transition was officially announced on April 20. His message: the upcoming roadmap is the most exciting of his 25-year Apple career. CFO Parekh complemented the appearance with a figure that is unusual even by Apple standards – according to internal data, the iPhone 17 family is the most popular iPhone generation of all time.
However, a second narrative is playing out in the background: the Mac supply shortages. Cook confirmed during the earnings call that the Mac mini and Mac Studio are currently suffering from significant supply bottlenecks – triggered by surprisingly high demand as AI and agent platforms. The global memory chip crisis is further exacerbating the situation. Apple reacted immediately the day after the earnings call: The 256GB entry-level Mac mini was discontinued worldwide, raising the base price to the next larger 512GB variant at €949. This is the first visible price increase in an ongoing Mac cycle in years.
📰 What else was important
iOS 26.5 Beta 4 released. Apple has distributed the fourth beta of iOS 26.5. The testing phase is drawing to a close, and a release candidate is expected in the coming days. The final version is anticipated between May 11 and 18 – just in time for WWDC on June 8.
The iPhone 17 boasts 99 percent customer satisfaction. CFO Kevan Parekh cited a figure during the earnings call that is virtually unmatched in the smartphone industry. Measured by market research firm 451 Research, it confirms that the iPhone 17 is not only selling well but also consistently impressing buyers. Cook provided five specific reasons for its success: design, performance, durability, camera (especially Center Stage), and Apple Intelligence.
Ternus' earnings call debut. The designated CEO spoke of a roadmap that he describes as the most exciting of his career. He also confirmed that the financial discipline of the Cook era will be continued under his leadership – an important signal to Wall Street, which had feared a strategic break. Anyone who read our analysis from April 21 should feel confirmed: Ternus is not overhauling Apple, he is continuing the course.
Mac mini price increase worldwide. Apple has discontinued the 256GB model. The Mac mini with the M4 chip now starts at 512GB – in Germany at a price of €949 instead of the previous €699 for the entry-level model. The M4 Pro Mac mini remains unchanged in price. The reason: the global DRAM and NAND shortage, which Apple expects to continue until the end of 2027.
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air are experiencing charging problems. A growing number of buyers are reporting that the device no longer charges via USB-C after the battery is completely depleted. 9to5Mac has systematically documented this phenomenon for the first time. An official statement from Apple is still pending.
UBS raises price target to $287. Shortly before the quarterly results, UBS has raised its price target for Apple shares – driven by more robust performance in China and stronger demand for the iPhone 17.
Apple TV wins two Peabody Awards. Vince Gilligan's "Pluribus" and the documentary "Come See Me in the Good Light" have been honored with the prestigious US media award. The ceremony will take place on May 31 in Beverly Hills.
The iPad 12 launch has been officially delayed. CFO Parekh indicated during the earnings call that the next entry-level iPad with the A18 chip will not be released before July. A launch in fall 2026 is now more realistic – possibly alongside the iPhone 18 Pro in September.
💡 Rumor of the week: iPhone Pro 2027 will be an anniversary model
Analyst Jeff Pu has reframed the discussion surrounding the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027 in a new research note. Previously, many observers assumed Apple would introduce a special edition model to celebrate the milestone. Pu disagrees: The radically new design – featuring a four-sided curved display and an under-display front camera – is expected to be incorporated directly into the regular Pro models.
The argument carries strategic weight. Apple has revamped its iPhone lineup several times in recent years: The iPhone Air replaced the iPhone Plus in 2025, and the foldable iPhone Ultra will be released for the first time in fall 2026. If Apple were to introduce a special edition model for the anniversary in 2027, the product range would become virtually impossible to manage. Instead, the Pro model itself would become the anniversary statement – and Apple could market the already planned design leap as its grand 20-year promise.
Pu's assessment strikingly aligns with Mark Gurman's original report: Back then, there was talk of a "bold new Pro model" that uses significantly more glass. Only in more recent reports did it seem as if a separate anniversary model was planned. Pu now returns the narrative to the original interpretation. We have summarized the full report on apfelpatient.de.
📊 Number of the week: 99 percent
99 percent customer satisfaction for the iPhone 17 family in the US – as measured by market research firm 451 Research, presented by Apple CFO Kevan Parekh during the Q2 2026 earnings call. This figure is remarkable because it is exceptionally high, even by Apple's standards. It explains why Cook can speak of demand "off the charts" and why Apple would currently sell more iPhones if the supply chain allowed for more. High satisfaction translates into strong recommendations – and thus the multiplier effect that secures market share for the iPhone, especially against Android competitors.
👎 Flop of the week: The charging problem with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air
Several buyers of the current iPhone generation are reporting that the device no longer charges via USB-C after the battery is completely discharged. The red battery symbol remains off, and the screen stays black – even after several minutes plugged in. 9to5Mac was the first to systematically document this phenomenon and suspects a systemic bug, as numerous users are already affected. An official response from Apple is still pending. For an iPhone that boasts a 99 percent satisfaction rating in the US, this is a disappointing development – especially since Cook just this week highlighted its robustness as one of the five key reasons for the success of the iPhone 17 generation.
🔭 What's coming next week
The coming week should be significantly quieter. The focus is on the approaching final release of iOS 26.5 – after Beta 4, the release candidate is expected in the next few days. At the same time, WWDC is drawing ever closer: the final preparations begin in early June, and our comprehensive WWDC preview will be continuously updated in the coming weeks. It also remains to be seen whether Apple will address the charging issue with the iPhone 17 Pro – or simply resolve it with one of the next iOS updates.
💬 My opinion: Cook is handing Ternus a luxury problem
Anyone who uses the term "farewell quarter" risks falling into the sentimentality trap. But Q2 2026 was precisely that: Cook's penultimate major appearance before the earnings report, and he delivered textbook perfection. $111.2 billion in revenue, 99 percent iPhone satisfaction, demand "off the charts"—Apple is in a better operational position than in most years of the Cook era. If this is meant to be a handover gift, it's an exceptionally charming one.
But it's also a poisoned chalice. The supply shortages of the Mac mini and Mac Studio aren't growing pains, but structural problems: The global memory chip crisis will plague Apple until at least the end of 2027, and this can't be solved through operational skill alone. Hyperscalers like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft are buying up DRAM and high-bandwidth memory at a rate that Apple, even with its volume, can barely keep up with. The discontinuation of the 256GB Mac mini the day after earnings is a first symptom.
This will be Ternus's first real test. As a former hardware chief, he knows supply chain dynamics inside and out – but on September 1st, he'll be taking over a company that could sell more than it can produce. That's a favorable starting point for the balance sheet, but an extremely difficult one for strategic management. Who decides which market gets supplied when? Which products are prioritized, and which are postponed? Tim Cook perfected this very discipline over two decades. The fact that Apple chose the hardware expert Ternus as his successor – instead of a traditional operations manager – seems like a very deliberate decision in light of this transition period.
📚 From our archive
- WWDC 2026: Expectations, rumors & hardware hopes – the next big Apple stage is approaching: What awaits Cook and Ternus on June 8th
- iPhone 18 Pro: All the rumors at a glance – after the record quarter, attention turns to the model that Apple will have to carry through the next iPhone cycle.
A week that surpassed all expectations economically – and at the same time openly addressed the structural challenges of the coming years. Until next Sunday, Apfelpatient wishes you relaxing reading and a good start to the week. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Zalfar)
