Apple earnings live updates — expectations, iPhone sales and what's next for AI
Here's how much money the massive company made
iPhone Air vs iPhone 17 — earnings report could shed light on sales
Apple seemingly did everything right with the iPhone Air. Not only is it thinner than its biggest rival, the Galaxy S25 Edge, but it remains a powerhouse thanks to its speedy A19 Pro chip. However, that thinness came with some compromises.
That's why it will be interesting to see how well it sold over the holiday season. "I would be surprised if Apple sold more of the iPhone Air than the iPhone 17," explains Tom's Guide editor John Velasco. He goes on to say that there is more value in the iPhone 17, evident in its dual-camera system and much longer battery life.
Knowing this, it makes one wonder if there is enough interest in a device as slim as the iPhone Air when it requires such significant trade-offs. Our iPhone Air vs iPhone 17 face-off goes deeper into how these two models compare to one another.
Where does the Apple Vision Pro fall in its future plans?
Apple could find itself at a crossroads when it releases its Q1 earnings report later today. That's because the company's most ambitious hardware in years, the Apple Vision Pro, hasn't quite been the revenue driver like its other product line.
The mixed reality headset is definitely the elephant in the room after a report indicated that it was losing production support. All throughout last year, rumors were rampant about an Apple Vision Pro 2, but with the release of the M5 version last October, it's highly unlikely that it'll sustain this product line.
Whether it's the state of the economy in the last year to blame, or its obscene cost to begin with, it begs the question of where Apple sees the Vision Pro. Rather, Apple could be dropping it entirely in favor of smart glasses like Meta's Ray-Ban Display.
Should Apple be worried about entering the foldable market?
Apple continues to dominate the market with its iPhone 17 lineup, but 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year as the company reportedly enters new territory. We are referring to the long-rumored foldable iPhone — an area where key rivals like Samsung and Motorola have been developing and releasing their models for years.
There have been numerous leaks regarding the iPhone Fold, with the latest details hinting at a notebook-style device featuring a 5.3-inch outer screen that unfolds into a massive 7.8-inch display. With the recent success of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Apple cannot afford a tepid entry into the category.
For enthusiasts and investors alike, the big question remains: will 2026 finally be the year of the iPhone Fold?
Apple's popular gadgets could become more expensive this year
While the Q1 earnings call will uncover Apple's profitability during the critical holiday period, it'll be interesting to see if the company will shed light around components costs with its future releases.
One rumor suggested that Apple’s long-term agreement for DRAM chips would be coming to an end starting this month. Considering that its earnings call is happening later today, it could be a chance to ease investor worries about the RAM price crisis.
With prices surging, it could inherently make many of Apple's popular gadgets more expensive to produce — which could ultimately hit consumers in the wallet with higher price points on gadgets like the iPhone 18 and new MacBooks.
All eyes are on iPhone 17 sales during the busy holiday season
Apple has been on autopilot ever since the release of the iPhone 17 last fall. In fact, its Q4 earnings results hit a record high, with Tim Cook himself noting 'very strong demand' for the latest models.
What’s interesting about that Q4 report is that it included only a couple of weeks of sales data, as the fiscal quarter ended on September 27 — just eight days after the iPhone 17’s September 19 launch.
The upcoming Q1 earnings report will be the real test, revealing exactly how successful Apple was during the critical holiday season. In retail, this is the 'make-or-break' period due to the massive surge in traffic that brick-and-mortar stores typically receive
What to expect
Today's earnings call is expected to focus primarily around iPhone sales and the company's AI plans. During the previous earnings call covering Apple's fiscal Q4, Tim Cook said he expects Q1 to be the "best-ever for the company and the best ever for iPhone." Considering some of the massive sales quarters the iPhone has enjoyed in the past, that's a lofty claim.
And let's not forget that Apple announced it'll use Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology for its AI products, which includes the new Siri we've heard about for some time.
Of course, there will be plenty of talk about how much money the company made, how much it spent and how much it's paying to shareholders, but we're here for the juicier tidbits and that's what we'll be hunting.
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