Apple Q4 2025 Overview - Facts from the Apfelpatient conference call

Apple has released its financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025. Revenue of $102.5 billion set a new record for the September quarter. The results exceeded analysts' expectations. During the conference call, CEO Tim Cook and CFO Kevan Parekh provided insights into the performance of various product lines, the outlook for the holiday season, and current topics such as artificial intelligence, Siri, and the situation in China.

The quarterly figures paint a clear picture: Apple remains on a growth trajectory worldwide despite economic uncertainties. The iPhone 17, in particular, is driving this growth, while other areas such as the iPad are stagnating. The company's services division has reached a new all-time high. At the same time, the focus on future technologies like AI is increasing. The conference provides a comprehensive overview of Apple's current position and plans for the coming months.

iPhone 17 delivers strong quarterly figures

The focus of the quarterly report is on iPhone 17 sales. According to Tim Cook, global demand is very high. Stores are busier than usual, and customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Apple recorded a record number of users upgrading from an older model to a new iPhone in the September quarter.

Supply bottlenecks, however, slowed sales. Some variants of the iPhone 17 are still not available in sufficient quantities. Apple says it is working hard to fulfill existing orders.

Cook attributed the success primarily to the quality of the new model line. He stated that the iPhone 17 Pro was the most professional device Apple had ever built. The iPhone Air, with its light weight, felt almost weightless, and the standard model offered features previously reserved for the Pro devices. Internally, the current lineup is considered the strongest iPhone series Apple has ever released.

iPad: Stable numbers, but little movement

iPad sales remained at the previous year's level of $6.95 billion. While the iPad Pro received an update, other models remained unchanged. Approximately half of all buyers were first-time iPad customers. Despite the lack of new products, the iPad business remains solid but shows no major momentum.

Mac: Growth through new MacBook Air models

The Mac division saw growth compared to the previous year. Revenue increased from $7.7 billion to $8.7 billion. This growth is primarily attributed to the introduction of new MacBook Air models. The installed base of Macs reached a new record high.

Apple expects weaker figures in this area for the coming quarter. The reason: Several new Mac models were released in the same quarter last year. This year, only the M5 MacBook Pro has been released.

Wearables, Home & Accessories: Slightly declining

Revenue in this category, which includes the Apple Watch and Vision Pro, declined slightly. Compared to the previous year, revenue fell from $9.04 billion to $9.01 billion. Although the decline is small, it indicates a degree of market saturation.

Services division reaches new record high

The services segment is increasingly becoming a growth engine. Apple generated $28.8 billion in revenue in this area in the quarter – a new record. In the same period last year, revenue was $25 billion. Growth was particularly strong in the Americas, Europe, Japan, and the Asia-Pacific region. A record was also set in China for the September quarter.

Apple Pay saw double-digit growth in active users. Total revenue in the services segment exceeded $100 billion for the first time in the current fiscal year – an increase of 14 percent compared to the previous year.

AI and Siri: Investments are rising significantly

Apple continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence. Operating expenses in this area are expected to be between $18.1 billion and $18.5 billion. Several in-house AI models are currently under development. According to Cook, Apple will also monitor external developments and pursue acquisitions when appropriate.

A new version of Siri is planned for next year. Furthermore, the integration of partner services such as ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence is to be expanded.

Decline in China – improvement in sight

In China, revenue fell to $14.5 billion. In the same quarter last year, it was $15 billion, while analysts had expected $16.4 billion. Despite the decline, Apple anticipates an improvement for the current quarter – not least because of the positive reception of the iPhone 17.

Tariffs negatively impact the result

In the fourth quarter, Apple incurred $1.1 billion in customs duties. For the current quarter, Apple expects these duties to rise to $1.4 billion, barring any further changes. This increase is due to the reduction of tariffs on imports from China from 20 to 10 percent.

Outlook for the December quarter

Apple expects revenue growth of 10 to 12 percent for the December quarter compared to the same period last year. iPhone sales are projected to achieve double-digit growth. According to CEO Tim Cook, it could be the strongest December quarter in the company's history in terms of revenue.

Apple: Strong quarter despite headwinds

Apple closes the fourth quarter of 2025 with strong results. The iPhone 17, in particular, is driving high demand. While some segments, such as the iPad, are stagnating or experiencing slight declines, the services sector is growing steadily. Investments in AI and new software offerings like Siri and Apple Intelligence are intended to secure its technological leadership. Despite challenges—such as declining sales in China and increased customs costs—the overall outlook for the company remains positive. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Lester Balajadia)