Under Tim Cook's 15-year leadership, Apple evolved from a hardware giant into a services powerhouse, introducing groundbreaking products and redefining existing ones. The Apple Watch transformed from a phone accessory into a comprehensive health monitor, gaining ECG, fall detection, sleep apnea notifications, and hypertension tracking. AirPods evolved beyond wireless audio, incorporating hearing aid functionality, hearing tests, and heart rate sensing.
A pivotal shift occurred in 2020 when Apple transitioned Macs from Intel to its own M-series silicon, unifying the ecosystem across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This move enabled better performance, battery life, and cross-device software development. Cook's tenure also saw the iPhone become a wallet and satellite communicator, while the services business surpassed $100 billion annually.
With over 2.5 billion active devices and $416.2 billion in fiscal 2025 net sales, Cook's legacy is marked by innovation that expanded the utility of familiar products without requiring entirely new categories.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing