Apple poised for record-breaking quarter ahead of its 50th Anniversary

Apple is preparing to kick off its anniversary year with a record-breaking holiday quarter that could generate up to $140 billion in revenue, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter.

Record-Setting financial outlook

The company forecasted a 10–12% increase in revenue for the holiday quarter, well above Wall Street’s expectations. That translates to between $137 billion and $139 billion in sales, putting Apple on track to surpass the $140 billion mark for the first time in its history.

Apple’s typically conservative guidance suggests the final numbers could be even higher, making this potentially its most successful quarter ever, both in overall revenue and iPhone sales.

Anniversary plans for 2026

Apple will mark its 50th anniversary on April 1, 2026, and plans to celebrate with major product launches and updates across its lineup.

The first half of 2026 will reportedly bring the debut of the iPhone 17e, a budget-friendly model, along with refreshed iPads — the entry-level iPad is expected to gain the A18 chip, while the iPad Air will upgrade to the M4 processor.

On the Mac side, Apple is working on MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models powered by the upcoming M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips.

OLED Revolution

Apple’s next big hardware leap centers on expanding OLED technology across its product ecosystem. OLED displays, already used in Apple Watch (since 2015), iPhone (since 2017), and 2024’s iPad Pro, are expected to arrive on the MacBook Pro between late 2026 and 2027.

The roadmap also includes bringing OLED screens to the MacBook Air, iPad Air, and iPad mini, with the iPad Air transition slated for 2027–2028 and MacBook Air following in 2028.

Smart Home Ambitions

March and April will mark the starting point of Apple’s smart home strategy. The company is set to unveil its first smart display in two versions, one with a speaker base and another designed for wall mounting.

The launch will coincide with Apple’s rollout of enhanced AI capabilities through its new Siri voice assistant. The device will serve as a foundation for a broader ecosystem of smart home security, including cameras planned for later in the year.

However, Apple is arriving late to the smart home innovation race. The question remains whether the company can bridge the deep moats Google and Amazon have built around their platforms over the past decade.

The Foldable Future

The biggest debut will be Apple’s long-awaited entry into the foldable smartphone market. The foldable iPhone is expected to arrive next year, though notably later than its competitors.

The iPhone 18 Pro will also bring a major shift: Apple plans to drop Qualcomm’s cellular modems in favor of its own C2 components. This move will strengthen the company’s independence from external suppliers of critical technologies.

Apple is also moving full speed ahead with its smart glasses project. Suppliers are already producing small test batches overseas, suggesting the product could be unveiled before the end of next year.

Software Updates

iOS 26.1 is set to launch this week, most likely on Monday, barring any unexpected delays. The update introduces a new toggle to reduce the transparency effect in Liquid Glass, a refreshed Apple TV icon, and several bug fixes.

Following the release of iOS 26.1, Apple will shift its focus to iOS 26.2. The first developer beta is expected as early as Tuesday, though no major new features are anticipated in the initial build.

At the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple will unveil iOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and other operating systems, alongside major updates to Apple Intelligence and the company’s broader AI strategy.

Retail Changes

On November 12, Apple’s retail stores will undergo a product display refresh. Employees will carry out an “overnight update”, an event where staff reorganize shelves and update in-store layouts after closing hours.

Such events often hint at upcoming launches, but given the time of year, this one is more likely tied to preparations for the holiday season. Stocks of the Apple TV and HomePod mini are running low, which could indicate that updates to these devices are on the way.

Challenges and Risks

Apple is placing a major bet on the new Siri, which will use Google’s Gemini model and introduce AI-based search features.

There’s no guarantee that users will embrace the changes, that the system will run flawlessly, or that Apple will successfully rebuild Siri’s reputation after years of underperformance. Potential leadership shakeups could also affect the company’s ability to plan and execute its product strategy.

The foldable iPhone will reach the market years after competing models, raising the question of whether consumers will adopt it at scale and deliver the profits Apple expects.