Apple has delivered one of its strongest financial quarters ever, driven largely by explosive iPhone demand during the holiday season. The latest earnings show how central the iPhone remains to Apple’s business, even as other hardware categories see mixed performance and services continue their steady climb.
The headline number tells the story clearly.
- Total revenue: $143.8 billion
- Year-over-year growth: 16%
- Operating margin: 35.4%
- EBIT growth: 19%
- Earnings per share: up 18%
This quarter stands out as a milestone not just for scale, but for how broadly the growth was distributed across regions.
iPhone delivers its strongest quarter ever
The iPhone was the clear engine behind Apple’s results.
- iPhone revenue: up 23% year over year
- Best-ever iPhone quarter in Apple’s history
- Record performance across every geographic segment
Apple CEO Tim Cook highlighted that demand exceeded expectations globally, not just in traditionally strong markets.
According to Apple, this was not a single-region story—it was a worldwide surge.
Regional performance shows broad-based growth
Apple’s revenue growth was spread across nearly all major markets, with some regions posting standout numbers.
- Americas: up 11%
- Europe: up 13%
- Greater China: up 38%
- Japan: up 5%
- Rest of Asia Pacific: up 18%
The sharp rebound in Greater China is especially notable, marking a strong turnaround after recent quarters of softer performance in the region.
Mac and wearables face pressure
Not every category shared in the holiday boom.
- Mac revenue: down 7%
- Wearables, Home, and Accessories: down 2%
The Mac decline reflects slower upgrade cycles and softer demand following the post-pandemic surge. Wearables continue to face longer replacement timelines, especially in mature markets.
These categories remain profitable, but they are no longer the growth drivers they once were.
iPad sees modest growth
The iPad business showed stability rather than breakout growth.
- iPad revenue: up 6% year over year
This suggests steady demand in education and consumer segments, even as tablets remain a more replacement-driven category.
Services continue to scale consistently
Apple’s Services business once again delivered dependable growth.
- Services revenue: up 14% year over year
This includes subscriptions and offerings such as App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, Apple TV+, and financial services. Services remain Apple’s most margin-rich segment and a key stabiliser during hardware cycles.
Why this quarter matters
This earnings report reinforces several important realities for Apple watchers and investors.
- The iPhone remains Apple’s single most important product by a wide margin
- Geographic diversification is working, with growth coming from nearly every region
- Services continue to compound steadily alongside hardware
- Apple can deliver record profitability even when some product lines soften
The takeaway is clear: Apple’s business is still iPhone-led, but it’s supported by a services engine that keeps margins strong and earnings resilient.
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