2025 was another whirlwind year for Apple, packed with launches, leaks, and unexpected twists. Here’s a look at the year—without drowning in too many details and not in a strict order of events, but mostly chronological—so you can get a feel for all the highs, the lows, the drama, and the little surprises that kept all of us talking. So let’s jump straight into this Apple 2025 recap.
The year kicked off with a big splash in the rumor mill—the long-anticipated design of the iPhone Air leaked early. It got fans and analysts buzzing with excitement, eager to see if the real one would actually have any semblance with the leak. Surprisingly, the leaks mostly got it right!
In March, Apple launched the M4 MacBook Air, M4 Max, and M3 Ultra Mac Studio, along with the M3 iPad Air and the 11th-generation iPad, and these were all refinements rather than reinventions—but they still packed a few surprises. For instance, the MacBook Air’s new sky blue colour turned out pretty nice, offering a splash of personality to an already sleek lineup.
April saw some turbulence on the financial side. Tariffs imposed by the U.S. government created a ripple effect on Apple’s finances, challenging the company to balance costs without disappointing fans.
Apple bounced back in June bringing a major design win: the unveiling of Liquid Glass, the biggest design refresh in years. The new user interface spread across all Apple platforms, but nothing compared to how immaculate it looked in the iOS 26, giving devices a fresh, modern look and improving usability in ways fans hadn’t seen in a long time.
Mid-year, July, brought unexpected executive news: Jeff Williams stepped down as Apple COO. Long considered a potential successor to Tim Cook, his resignation sparked speculations about Apple’s leadership future. That month also saw the return of blood oxygen testing on the Apple Watch in the United States as Apple found a way to work around its ongoing patent dispute with Masimo Corp.
September 9, 2025, was the date of Apple’s “Awe-Dropping” event, and true to its name, it left many in awe—though leaks had tempered the surprise. The orange iPhone became the poster child of the event with a majority of consumers LOVING the bold “Cosmic Orange” and I say majority and not everybody, because nobody can ever get me to like that colour. The slim iPhone Air drew applause for its incredible design, though its high price and dip in performance led to disappointing sales, which in turn resulted in Apple postponing the launch of the second-generation iPhone Air. On the other hand, the iPhone 17 models were selling so well that stock shortages appeared in multiple locations. Controversies, however, weren’t far behind: “Scratchgate” emerged when iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models were found to scratch easily, and “Pinkgate” rumors suggested some phones were turning pink—though this ultimately turned out to be a fluke.
And then, in a very shocking turn of events, Apple thought that it was a great idea to launch a why-would-you-do-that accessory for the iPhone—the iPhone pocket. This bag/pouch thing officially takes the cake for the weirdest product that they’ve ever come up with. Imagine a knitted stocking split from the middle—that’s what this product was in all honesty. However, unsurprisingly, this useless piece of fabric which was valued at approximately 20,000 rupees sold out immediately after its launch, despite the online ridicule.
Later in the year, rumors of Tim Cook’s resignation on his 65th birthday briefly circulated but clearly they were proven false.
A market research report revealed that Apple had shipped more smartphones than Samsung in 2025, a milestone the company hadn’t achieved in over 14 years.
Now, let’s look at some Apple India specific updates from 2025:
Apple expanded its retail footprint, opening its fifth Apple Store in India, located in Noida, making it the third store launch this year alongside Pune and Bangalore.
They have upgraded their AppleCare+ coverage options in India with the Theft and Loss coverage option being the highlight.
Furthermore, on December 15th Apple launched its fitness and wellness service Fitness+ in India, marking the service’s largest expansion since its debut in 2020.
This brings us to the end of our Apple 2025 recap.
Now, if I’d gotten into every single thing that happened this year, you’d still have a lot more paragraphs to read. But all in all, 2025 was a year of highs and lows for Apple—innovative launches, executive shakeups, and controversies made it impossible to look away. And now as rumors of foldable iPhones and affordable MacBooks for 2026 swirl, it’s clear that Apple is setting the stage for yet another exciting year ahead.
