Apple raised the specter of the end of a technological era after reporting Tuesday the slowest growth sales ever of its market-leading, life-changing iPhone and warning it expects worse to come.
The California technology colossus said it expects to see its first decline in iPhone sales in the current quarter, when it will be compared to three months of blockbuster sales in the same period last year.
"We do think that iPhone units will decline in the quarter," Apple chief executive Tim Cook said during an earnings call with analysts.
But Apple, which Tuesday posted record quarterly profit despite the iPhone faltering for the first time since it was launched in 2007, remains optimistic about the overall smartphone market.
READ: 10 iPhone tricks that will make your life easier
Apple plans to continue investing in smartphones despite economic woes dragging on many countries and a strong US dollar eating into its revenue, according to Cook.
"There are still a lot of people in the world who will buy smartphones and we ought to be able to win over our fair share of those," Cook said.
A billion Apple gadgets
Net income for the quarter ending December 26 was two percent higher than the same period a year earlier at $18.4 billion, while revenue of $75.9 billion set another record for the company, also edging up two percent.
The results were largely in line with expectations that sales of iPhones -- the driver of two-thirds of Apple revenue -- had peaked and that the company would need to find new sources of growth.
Apple shares have slid 20 percent since last year on these concerns. In after-market trade Tuesday the stock was down more than two percent at $97.76.
"Our team delivered Apple's biggest quarter ever, thanks to the world's most innovative products and all-time record sales of iPhone, Apple Watch and Apple TV," Cook said in an earnings release.
"The growth of our services business accelerated during the quarter to produce record results, and our installed base recently crossed a major milestone of one billion active devices."
Apple reported that, overall, a billion iPhones, iPads, Macintosh computers, iPod touch devices, Apple TV units, and Apple Watch wearable computers had "engaged" with its services in the past three months.
In the fiscal quarter Apple sold 74.8 million iPhones -- a record, but only fractionally higher than the 74.5 million in the same period last year and the slowest growth since the lifestyle-altering handsets were introduced in 2007.
China revenue climbs
Revenue in "Greater China" was up 14 percent for Apple but weaker in the US and Japan.
A big question for Apple is whether it can continue to drive sales growth in a sluggish global economy, amid increasing competition from rival smartphone makers.
Apple said that it expected revenue in the current quarter to be between $50 billion and $53 billion. That would probably mean a decline from the $58 billion in the same period of 2015.
Apple has been diversifying with new offerings in music and is counting on growth from its Apple Watch and accessories.
The company reported sales of "other products" -- including the smartwatch and Beats music products -- was $4.35 billion in the past quarter, but did not break down those figures. Services accounted for $6 billion.
Sales of iPads saw a 56 percent drop in revenues and 25 percent dip in unit sales as the market for tablet computers cooled.
Avi Greengart at the research firm Current Analysis said things did not appear that bad for the world's biggest company by market value.
"Pretty great to be Apple," he said in a tweet. "Your main product (iPhone) is flat, most recent hit (iPad) is down 25%, R&D expenses up, yet profits rise."
AFP
Wed Jan 27 2016
![Apple warns iPhone sales to fall for first time Apple warns iPhone sales to fall for first time](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-06/61435545564_APPLESTORE.jpg)
Apple reported Tuesday the slowest growth sales ever of its market-leading, life-changing iPhone and warning it expects worse to come.
![Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721109015_bekaspengawalperib.jpg)
Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan
Bekas anggota polis wanita yang kini bekerja sebagai pengawal peribadi cedera setelah motosikal ditunggangnya melanggar sebuah SUV di lebuh raya PLUS.
![Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81719996195_MKulasegaran.jpg)
Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran
RUU Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentangkan di Parlimen pada akhir tahun ini selepas cadangan ketetapan bagi penggubalan Akta Kebebasan Maklumat dibawa ke Jemaah Menteri untuk kelulusan.
![Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721108438_azizi.jpg)
Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu
Timbalan Ketua Polis Perak Datuk Azizi Mat Aris dilantik sebagai Ketua Polis Perak yang baharu hari ini.
![ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721108165_ADUNRembiaPN.jpg)
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin
Menurut Takiyuddin, keahlian Muhamad Jailani yang juga wakil rakyat UMNO diterima pada 10 Jun tahun lalu, namun diumumkan secara rasmi hari ini.
Kita perlu belajar hidup dengan COVID-19 - Pakar
Itu kata Pakar Perubatan Kesihatan Awam, Bahagian Kawalan Penyakit, Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM), Dr Aznida Mohamad Zaki yang berkata pihaknya akan berusaha semampu mungkin dalam menggalakkan praktis kendiri dikalangan orang awam bagi mencegah penularan wabak seperti mana yang pernah dilakukan sebelum ini.
LHDN lulus 141,406 permohonan PKPS 2.0
Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) telah meluluskan sebanyak 141,406 permohonan program khas pengakuan sukarela (PKPS) 2.0 yang melibatkan 102,572 bilangan kes pembayar cukai individu, 27,707 bilangan kes syarikat dan selebihnya melibatkan lain kategori seperti pertubuhan.
![Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721017239_TBFADILLAH.jpg)
Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah
Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, tingkatkan liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah
![Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721103547_WargaThailandWitt.jpg)
Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel
Seorang warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Sesyen Alor Setar atas pertuduhan menyeleweng 322 liter minyak diesel.
Lilitan reben putih tak langgar peraturan - Timbalan Speaker
Ramli berkata, perkara itu juga adalah merupakan keputusannya dan bukan dibuat oleh Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
Kos pampasan tanah fasa 1B proses projek LPB Sabah RM1.2 bilion - Alexander
Anggaran kos pengambilan balik tanah bagi keseluruhan Fasa 1B proses pengambilan tanah dan penilaian pampasan tanah bagi Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo Sabah (LPB Sabah) berjumlah RM1.2 bilion.
![Anda kini boleh uji iOS 18 Public Beta Anda kini boleh uji iOS 18 Public Beta](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721100842_iOSPublicBeta.jpg)
Anda kini boleh uji iOS 18 Public Beta
Walaupun iOS 18 Public Beta sedia dimuat turun, ia masih lagi dalam peringkat pembangunan dan ujian.
![Apple sasar permintaan iPhone 16 lebih tinggi tahun ini, selari pengenalan integrasi AI Apple sasar permintaan iPhone 16 lebih tinggi tahun ini, selari pengenalan integrasi AI](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81719026701_tbAppleIntelligence.jpg)
Apple sasar permintaan iPhone 16 lebih tinggi tahun ini, selari pengenalan integrasi AI
Apple turut menyasarkan pendapatan tahunan 2024 yang lebih tinggi, selari pengenalan ciri kecerdasan buatan pada sistem operasi mereka.
![Peranti IoT baharu Apple untuk rumah tertiris dengan cip A18 Peranti IoT baharu Apple untuk rumah tertiris dengan cip A18](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720154048_tbAppleA.jpg)
Peranti IoT baharu Apple untuk rumah tertiris dengan cip A18
Peranti ini dikatakan akan berada dalam kategori yang sama dengan HomePod dan Apple TV iaitu aksesori untuk rumah.
![Apple dijangka mulakan pengeluaran AirPods dengan kamera inframerah menjelang 2026 Apple dijangka mulakan pengeluaran AirPods dengan kamera inframerah menjelang 2026](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/81694917770_Airpods.jpg)
Apple dijangka mulakan pengeluaran AirPods dengan kamera inframerah menjelang 2026
Mengikut laporan awal, ia dikatakan akan diintegrasikan bersama penggunaan Vision Pro sekali gus memberikan pengalaman yang lebih baik kepada pengguna ketika memakai set kepala tersebut.
![Suruhanjaya Eropah lancar siasatan ke atas App Store Suruhanjaya Eropah lancar siasatan ke atas App Store](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719225623_EuropeanCommission.jpg)
Suruhanjaya Eropah lancar siasatan ke atas App Store
Suruhanjaya Eropah akan meneliti amalan gergasi teknologi itu mengenakan bayaran kepada gedung aplikasi alternatif dan pembangun aplikasi setiap kali pengguna iPhone memasang perisian mereka.
![Apple, Meta bincang kerjasama penawaran kecerdasan buatan Apple, Meta bincang kerjasama penawaran kecerdasan buatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81719026701_tbAppleIntelligence.jpg)
Apple, Meta bincang kerjasama penawaran kecerdasan buatan
Antara perkara yang dibincangkan adalah mengintegrasikan model kecerdasan buatan yang dibangunkan Meta terus ke sistem Apple Intelligence.
![Microsoft kembali atasi Apple, NVIDIA sebagai syarikat paling bernilai di dunia Microsoft kembali atasi Apple, NVIDIA sebagai syarikat paling bernilai di dunia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81719200626_Microsoft.jpg)
Microsoft kembali atasi Apple, NVIDIA sebagai syarikat paling bernilai di dunia
Microsoft berada di kedudukan teratas dengan nilai pasaran $3.343 trilion (RM 15.75 trilion), dengan Apple di tangga kedua dengan nilai $3.191 trilion, dan NVIDIA pula dengan nilai $3.113 trilion.
![Apple Store pertama di Malaysia guna tenaga lestari sepenuhnya Apple Store pertama di Malaysia guna tenaga lestari sepenuhnya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51718860047_AppleStore.jpg)
Apple Store pertama di Malaysia guna tenaga lestari sepenuhnya
Ia akan dibuka secara rasminya pada 22 Jun ini, sekali gus memudahkan pengguna tempatan mendapatkan pelbagai produk Apple.
![NVIDIA atasi Microsoft sebagai syarikat paling bernilai NVIDIA atasi Microsoft sebagai syarikat paling bernilai](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51717639416_NVIDIA.jpg)
NVIDIA atasi Microsoft sebagai syarikat paling bernilai
NVIDIA, Microsoft dan Apple kekal sebagai syarikat yang mempunyai nilai pasaran melebihi $3 trilion.
![Apple fokus pembangunan iPhone 17 yang lebih nipis untuk 2025 Apple fokus pembangunan iPhone 17 yang lebih nipis untuk 2025](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81718597559_iPhoneApple.jpg)
Apple fokus pembangunan iPhone 17 yang lebih nipis untuk 2025
Apple dijangka memperkenalkan peranti-peranti lain yang nipis dalam tahun-tahun akan datang.