Tim Cook Reveals Apple's Ad Business Quietly Set A Record — While Everyone Looked At iPhones

Core Insights - Apple's advertising segment achieved a record during the quarter, indicating significant growth in this area [2][3] - The Services unit, which includes the advertising business, reached an all-time revenue record of $28.8 billion, reflecting a 14% year-over-year increase [3] - Apple's advertising strategy is built on privacy and control, differentiating it from competitors who are focusing on AI-driven personalization [4][5] Advertising Performance - Tim Cook confirmed that the combination of third-party and first-party advertising set a record, although he did not disclose individual performance metrics [2] - The advertising business is part of Apple's broader Services unit, which has shown organic growth and resilience [3][6] Strategic Positioning - Apple's approach to advertising maintains its privacy-first philosophy, countering assumptions that privacy measures would hinder ad revenue [5] - The company's advertising success is seen as a strategic move, focusing on building a sustainable ecosystem rather than competing directly with traditional ad platforms [4][6]