• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
TechApple

Why Apple’s iPad, Watch may outshine iPhone at its Sept. 9 event

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 2, 2015, 11:16 AM ET
Photograph by Stephen Lam — Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Most speculation about Apple’s upcoming press event has focused on the iPhone, but for some insiders it’ll be the company’s iPad and Apple Watch updates that prove most interesting.

When Apple CEO Tim Cook takes the stage on Sept. 9 to host his company’s press event, investors, analysts, and interested observers, may want more than just talk of the iPhone. The smartphone is certainly critical to Apple’s (AAPL) success—it represents nearly two-thirds of its business, after all—but questions abound over the company’s iPad and Apple Watch that, so far, Cook and his team haven’t addressed.

Apple’s tablet, which launched in 2010, was once an integral component in the company’s mobile division. In the past year, however, the iPad has become something of a sore spot. During Apple’s last-reported quarter, the company revealed that iPad unit sales were down 18% year-over-year and revenue fell 23% compared to the same period in 2014.

Meanwhile, the tablet space in general is also in decline. In July, research firm IDC reported that during the second quarter, tablet makers shipped 44.7 million units worldwide, down 7% year-over-year. Meanwhile, Apple’s shipments fell 17.9% during the same time period, despite holding on to the market lead.

While IDC was quick to say that it believes the tablet market could stage a turnaround on the backs of “productivity-enabling features” and “2-in-1” devices that combine notebook and tablet functionality, it expressed some concern over difficulties the space faces in the future.

“Longer life cycles, increased competition from other categories such as larger smartphones, combined with the fact that end users can install the latest operating systems on their older tablets has stifled the initial enthusiasm for these devices in the consumer market,” Jitesh Ubrani, senior research analyst of worldwide mobile device trackers at IDC, said in a statement.

 

IDC’s warnings haven’t gone unnoticed. Indeed, during an earnings call in July, Cook was forced to allay lingering investor fears, saying that he’s “still bullish on iPad.”

“I think and I believe that the iPad consumer upgrade cycle will eventually occur,” Cook said during the call. “It’s not like people have forgotten iPad or anything. It’s a fantastic product. So I see a lot of runway.”

Meanwhile, Apple Watch sales figures have also been noticeably absent from recent company updates.

When the company launched its Apple Watch earlier this year to much fanfare, the world expected to hear it tout strong sales. Instead, Apple has remained largely tight-lipped about the smartwatch dashing any hope that Apple would provide some clarity on how its latest major investment is performing. Cook would later only comment on device sales by stating that they continue to “exceed [Apple’s] expectations.”

At first blush, Cook’s comments may seem legitimate. Last month, IDC reported that Apple shipped 3.6 million Watch units in the second quarter, earning it the second spot in the wearables space behind fitness-tracker maker Fitbit. IDC noted that Apple took the second spot despite only offering its Apple Watch in “sixteen geographic markets.”

Regardless, naysayers speculate over why Apple is hesitant to offer exact sales figures, with some saying that perhaps Apple Watch sales are in fact disappointing.

“Apple Watch sales to date are most likely between 2 and 2.5 million,” Juniper Research devices analyst James Moar said in a statement in July before the second-quarter data was released. “This makes it the most successful smartwatch launch to date, with no other launches coming close in a comparable time period. However, despite buyers being satisfied with the device, we continue to see that the product is running out of steam.”

Others, however, suggest Apple’s near-silence on the topic is due to it not needing to talk about sales figures at all.

[fortune-brightcove videoid=4441886976001]

 

“If you look at who cares whether Apple Watch is selling well or not, it’s the developers,” Trip Chowdhry, managing director of equity research at Global Equities Research, told Fortune. “The software developers who create applications for Apple Watch are the ones who need to be kept excited. And almost every developer we have spoken to has said that Apple Watch is a runaway success.”

Developers may not be the only interested parties. Cook said during a recent earnings call that he decided in September not to talk about Apple Watch sales to maintain a competitive advantage.

“That was not a matter of not being transparent,” he said in response to an analyst’s question about Apple Watch sales. “It was a matter of not giving our competition insight. That’s a product that we’ve worked really hard on.”

Still, Apple’s struggles in the tablet space and its unwillingness to provide concrete sales figures have increasingly garnered attention and frustrated some tech enthusiasts. The company’s Sept. 9 event, therefore, may just be the place where it can provide long-awaited answers to those burning questions.

Rumors suggest that Apple may at least address one of those items at its press event. Several reports have said that Apple is planning to upgrade its iPad Air and iPad Mini, and may even announce a new business-focused slate to be known as the iPad Pro. Apple has been silent on its announcement plans, but all signs point to new iPads, says Chowdhry. He told Fortune that “the iPad Pro will definitely” be announced at the event, alongside updates to Apple’s current iPads.

It’s unknown, however, whether Apple Watch sales talk will make the cut. Apple, after all, has a tendency to do what it wants and rarely bows to pressure. If the company wants to announce something, it will. If not, it won’t. And, as history has shown, Apple likes to use its late-summer events to showcase its new iPhone, sometimes leaving its other products—and the speculation surrounding them—behind the curtain.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sign up for Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter about the business of technology.

 

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

GTA 6 release date is finally here—but the $80 price tag and missing disc have gamers furious
Arts & EntertainmentGaming
GTA 6 release date is finally here—but the $80 price tag and missing disc have gamers furious
By Whizy Kim and Tech BrewJune 25, 2026
1 hour ago
stock
InvestingMarkets
How one chip stock reversed the global tech selloff, exposed AI’s ‘memory tax’ and made the case for an entire valuation regime change
By Nick LichtenbergJune 25, 2026
4 hours ago
Larry Ellison quietly gave $45 million to a pro-Trump group—then Oracle landed a starring role in a $500 billion AI buildout
PoliticsLarry Ellison
Larry Ellison quietly gave $45 million to a pro-Trump group—then Oracle landed a starring role in a $500 billion AI buildout
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
4 hours ago
Sundar Pichai
SuccessCareers
Google CEO tells graduates to stop obsessing over first jobs because ‘very few moments are make or break’ in life—a lesson he learned in Vegas
By Preston ForeJune 25, 2026
5 hours ago
Softbank CEO dismisses Elon Musk’s extraterrestrial data center idea in favor of maximizing Earth-side construction now: ‘He who strikes first wins’
AITech
Softbank CEO dismisses Elon Musk’s extraterrestrial data center idea in favor of maximizing Earth-side construction now: ‘He who strikes first wins’
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 25, 2026
5 hours ago
VivaTech entrance in Paris.
NewslettersEye on AI
Europe’s AI wake-up call: cybersecurity threats, sovereignty fears, and a growing demand for ROI dominated VivaTech
By Beatrice NolanJune 25, 2026
6 hours ago

Most Popular

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
13 hours ago
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
2 days ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
2 days ago
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
Success
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 25, 2026
13 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.