1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1, 1976 when they envisioned selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple i.
1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, the first mass-market PC.
Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation’s new Macintosh on February 6, 1984 in California.
1981: Job becomes chairman.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during a commercial break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It closed after a year and Jobs left the firm.
1987: Apple releases the Macintosh II, the first color Mac.
1997: Apple announced that it would acquire Next Software in a $400 million deal that included Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially assumed the role in 2000.
Apple’s then CEO Steve Jobs with the iPhone
2001: Apple introduces iTunes, OS X, and the first generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001 at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold 1,000 songs.
2007: Apple unveils the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was unveiled.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing over the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died of pancreatic cancer in October.
2014: Apple unveils the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first major iPhones – the 6 and 6 Plus
2015: After buying Beats from Dr. Dre, Apple launches Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
2016: Apple returns to its roots and announces the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, with the agency demanding access to a locked phone used by Syed Farooq, who was shot to death with his wife after carrying out a deadly attack in San Bernardino, California, in December. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduced the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock the phone only with the owner’s face.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California.
2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduced new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to spend less time on and manage their devices. The move was prompted by a strongly worded letter from shareholders urging the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among children and teenagers.
2019: In January, Apple reported its first revenue and profit declines in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed the drop in revenue from China.
2020: In March, Apple closed all of its brick-and-mortar retail stores outside of China in response to the coronavirus.
2021: CEO Tim Cook announced Apple’s goal to become carbon neutral for Earth Day in an online virtual event in April. The iPhone 13 was announced later.
2022: iPhone 14 is announced in September. One of the new features includes a new sensor to detect if a user is in a car accident as well as an improved camera system.
2023: This is the year Apple brings back its ‘Home Pod’ after discontinuing the first generation. ‘Home Pod’ can be seen as an alternative to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home as it is operated by voice commands.