Highlights
- Apple briefly crossed a $4 trillion market cap, fueled by strong global demand for the iPhone 17 Series.
- iPhone 17 and iPhone Air sales up by 14% over the previous generation in key markets like the U.S. and China.
- Despite financial success, Apple faces criticism for its slow AI progress with delayed features like ChatGPT integration and Siri upgrades expected in 2026.
Caption – (Photo by Medhat Dawoud on Unsplash)
Apple has officially hit a new milestone, briefly crossing a $4 trillion market capitalisation for the first time. With that, the Cupertino Giant becomes the third Big Tech firm to reach this landmark. The surge was fueled by strong global demand for the iPhone 17 series, which helped offset investor concerns about the company’s slower pace in artificial intelligence development.
Apple Crosses $4 Trillion Mark
Apple’s stock climbed to $269.89 during intraday trading, pushing its market value to $4.005 trillion before closing slightly lower at $3.992 trillion, up 0.1% for the day. The company’s shares have risen 13% since the iPhone 17 launch on September 9, marking Apple’s first positive year-to-date performance in 2025.
“The iPhone accounts for over half of Apple’s profit and revenue, and the more devices they get into people’s hands, the more they can draw users into their ecosystem,” said Chris Zaccarelli, Chief Investment Officer at Northlight Asset Management.
Apple’s latest smartphone lineup including the iPhone 17 series and the newly introduced iPhone Air has reignited global interest, particularly in Beijing and Moscow. Despite ongoing U.S. tariff challenges affecting manufacturing in China and India, Apple has absorbed the additional costs without raising retail prices.
According to research firm Counterpoint, early iPhone 17 sales outperformed the iPhone 16 by 14% in both the U.S. and China. Analysts believe the iPhone Air’s ultra-slim design could help Apple fend off competition from Samsung Electronics and other rivals in the premium smartphone segment.
Brokerage Evercore ISI predicts Apple’s strong iPhone performance will allow it to beat market expectations for the quarter ending in September and provide an optimistic forecast for the December quarter
Apple now joins Nvidia and Microsoft in the elite $4 trillion club with Nvidia currently leading the market at nearly $5 trillion in valuation.
AI Strategy Still Under Scrutiny
Despite the market high, Apple continues to face criticism over its slow progress in artificial intelligence. Reports indicate that several senior AI executives have recently departed for Meta, and the company’s Apple Intelligence suite has seen delays. The integration of ChatGPT and an AI-upgraded Siri is now expected next year.
Apple has reportedly been in discussions with Alphabet’s Gemini AI, Anthropic, and OpenAI to expand its AI ecosystem. However, industry experts believe Apple’s lack of a clear AI roadmap remains a sticking point.
“The lack of a well-understood artificial intelligence strategy is clearly one of the overhangs for the stock,” Zaccarelli noted. “If Apple can figure out how to integrate AI in a way that excites consumers and investors, we’d be looking at a completely different company.”
Apple recorded its strongest quarterly performance in years between April and June, posting double-digit growth across major business segments and beating Wall Street forecasts. The company is set to announce its fourth-quarter results on October 30.
According to LSEG data, Apple’s shares are currently trading at 33 times projected 12-month earnings, above the Nasdaq 100’s average of 27. While Apple’s stock has gained 7% so far this year, it still lags behind the Nasdaq’s 23% rise, suggesting room for further momentum if iPhone demand and AI initiatives continue to strengthen.
FAQs
Q1. What helped Apple reach a $4 trillion market valuation?
Answer. Apple’s market cap briefly crossed $4 trillion, driven by record-breaking global demand for the iPhone 17 series and the new iPhone Air, which boosted investor confidence despite concerns over the company’s slower AI progress.
Q2. How did the iPhone 17 series perform compared to previous models?
Answer. According to Counterpoint, early sales of the iPhone 17 outpaced the iPhone 16 by 14% in both the U.S. and China, with strong interest also seen in markets like Beijing and Moscow.
Q3. What are the concerns surrounding Apple’s AI strategy?
Answer. Despite strong financials, Apple faces criticism for its delayed AI rollout, executive departures to Meta, and postponed features like ChatGPT integration and an upgraded Siri, now expected in 2026.