Can Apple stay on top of the tech world?

For many people, thinking about technology brings one name to mind, Apple. Although the company started from humble beginnings, it has grown into an absolute giant over the past two decades.

Today, Apple is the world’s largest technology company, and every year it continues to record global sales numbers for devices, products and services.

There’s no question that Apple is a giant right now, but how much longer can the Cupertino-based company last?

What makes Apple a tech giant?

One of the biggest reasons why Apple continues to hold the title of the largest technology company is the iPhone.

Although many people swear by Apple’s Mac lineup of computers, these devices have always sold for far less than their Windows competitors, and that fact is still true today. The iPhone, on the other hand, is an absolute monster. According to Gadgets360, Seven of the top 10 best-selling phones in 2021 are iPhones.

When it comes to tablets, Apple has an incredibly strong hold on the market. PhoneArena reports that four of the top five tablets sold in Q1 2022 were iPads. In fact, the iPad brand is so big that many people refer to any tablet — Apple-made or not — as an “iPad.”

Selling hardware has been an incredibly profitable business for Apple, but software sales can be even more lucrative. CNBC estimates that by 2020, Apple will earn around $64 billion from the App Store alone. Therefore, Apple’s greatest strength is its continued dominance of the mobile device market.

How did Apple become so popular?

Although Apple has a history of making smart devices, it has also done a great job of convincing people to buy those products. Apple has been making technology cool since the iPod era. Many people remember the iPod silhouette posters of the early 2000s, and Apple’s “1984” Macintosh ad has become a cult.

Although Apple’s announcements have generated more than a few buzzwords, the company has always followed a more-than-numbers mantra when it comes to its products. If you look at most smartphone or PC manufacturers’ websites, you’ll see dozens of different product lines and devices.

Having too many devices with long spec sheets can confuse buyers and make products feel generic. Now look at Apple. Although it is a big company, it only sells different products. So, if you want to buy a new Apple device, you have three different iPhone models, three different iPads, and a handful of Macs to choose from.

Although Apple products are often more expensive than the competition, they can be a good long-term investment. The company has been good at supporting their devices with software updates over the years. And one of the things people love most about Apple products is that they’re priced better than comparable Android or Windows devices.

Apple’s ecosystem keeps people busy.

Most companies know that selling a new product is the first step to long-term success. After that initial sale, keeping customers in the product becomes the main focus. And Apple has mastered the art of making sales and keeping customers years later.

Most people are reluctant to buy anything other than an iPhone because iOS is easy to use. Although iOS doesn’t have the same level of customization as Android, it makes up for it in simplicity and security.

Taking that idea across devices created the Apple ecosystem. In the world of Android and Windows, where devices are largely autonomous, Apple has designed its entire product line to work seamlessly.

That means being able to sync all your online passwords with iCloud Keychain, or be on your iPhone, iPad or Mac using FaceTime and iMessage to stay connected. And features like AirDrop let you seamlessly send photos and files to your device. All of these little conveniences come together to help make Apple’s ecosystem incredibly powerful.

Is Apple starting to fall behind?

Even in Cupertino, life is not all sunshine and rainbows. Although Apple is still huge when it comes to sales, there are some dark clouds on the horizon for the tech giant.

For years, people have criticized Apple for playing it safe with the iPhone. Even though Apple invented the smartphone as we know it, the improvements made to the new iPhones often feel like baby steps rather than giant leaps forward. On the other hand, companies like Samsung are pioneering new technologies, such as flexible devices, that Apple doesn’t have a good answer to.

And Apple’s often unwillingness to listen to user feedback has forced many people away from the company. Apple in 2010 When it launched its popular butterfly keyboard for MacBooks in 2015, many users immediately reported problems and issues.

However, it took five long years for Apple to admit it was wrong and switch to a more traditional design for MacBook keyboards. Likewise, Apple still forces iPhone users to use the Lightning port instead of USB-C.

Apple products are expensive, and choosing Apple is sometimes paying a little more.

What can Apple do to stay on top?

When people see new devices like foldable phones, or special features and apps missing from Apple products, it can be hard to look away.

Staying relevant means keeping up with trends and new technologies. If Apple wants to keep its customers, it must not only deliver powerful and easy-to-use products, but also continue to innovate its product line. The company has a lot of money to spend on research and product development, so there is no excuse for not keeping up with new technologies.

It also means giving developers more freedom to create apps and run them on the platform. Apple has been in several major conflicts with developers over the App Store. This has made the most popular apps like Fortnite unavailable on iOS. That’s a huge loss for Apple users and consumers in general.

Apple is leading the tech world today, but that doesn’t mean it always will be. Even the biggest tech companies make mistakes, and Apple has come close to bankruptcy more than once. At the end of the day, staying afloat in any industry means providing customers with the products they want and giving them a good reason to keep coming back.

Can Apple keep the crown?

Apple is still the biggest tech company in the world, and that fact doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.

There’s no question that Apple faces tougher and tougher competition every year, but don’t underestimate its ability to create incredibly powerful and easy-to-use products.

Nothing lasts forever, but right now it’s hard to beat Apple.