Apple Device Upgrading Is Improving, Apple’s Underpenetrated Services Business
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Apple Device Upgrading Is Improving
Apple’s Underpenetrated Services Business
Happy Monday. This past Friday’s update included my initial thoughts on Apple’s strong earnings and how my numbers compared to Apple’s results.
The following snippet was from Friday’s update:
“Apple’s financials are now showing the impact from management doubling down on its ecosystem via:
More frequent and substantial product updates (thanks in big part to Apple silicon). One way of getting existing users to [up]grade is launch new and exciting product updates that add genuine value to people’s workflows and lives.
Greater awareness on management’s part that Apple’s ecosystem is severely under-penetrated from a Services monetization standpoint. Apple’s AI strategy is flying under the radar with the company well-positioned to leverage its role as distributor of AI-infused apps and services to an ecosystem of 1.5B+ premium users.”
There’s much to unpack from that snippet regarding two of the major takeaways from Apple’s earnings: Improving Apple device upgrading trends and Apple's Services growth potential.
Let's jump right in.
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My Initial Reaction to Apple’s Strong 4Q25 Earnings, How Apple’s Results Compared to My Estimates
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
My Initial Reaction to Apple’s Strong 4Q25 Earnings
How Apple’s Results Compared to My Estimates
Hello everyone. Welcome to a special Halloween edition of the Above Avalon Daily. While there may be some scary displays this evening trick-or-treating, Apple’s earnings release and call were the opposite of frightening. Let’s discuss. Today’s update will begin our Apple earnings review.
We will kick things off with my initial reaction to earnings. The second half of the update will go over the key numbers.
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My Apple 4Q25 Estimates, Above Avalon Expectation Meter (4Q25 Edition)
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
My Apple 4Q25 Estimates
Above Avalon Expectation Meter (4Q25 Edition)
Hello everyone. Apple will release earnings at 4:30 pm ET. There will be an update published tomorrow (Friday).
Today’s update will include the second half of our earnings preview. The first half is available here.
My updated Apple earnings model (works with Excel and Numbers) is now available to those who subscribe to Above Avalon Models. To access the models, log into the Above Avalon payer portal (here). Once signed in, go to the "Digital Package" tab which will bring you to your personalized page where the model can be downloaded. If you are interested in Above Avalon Models, learn more here.
Let’s jump in.
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Thoughts Heading Into Apple’s 4Q25 Earnings, iPhone’s Supply/Demand Imbalance, Apple Hits $4 Trillion Market Cap
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following story:
Thoughts Heading Into Apple’s 4Q25 Earnings
iPhone’s Supply/Demand Imbalance
Apple Hits $4 Trillion Market Cap
Hello everyone. We are going to shift gears and focus on Apple’s upcoming earnings report. Apple will report earnings on Thursday. The next two updates will be dedicated to preparing for Apple’s earnings. My hope is to get the next update out later today.
Let’s begin our Apple 4Q25 preview.
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Let’s Talk About These iPhone Air Demand Rumors
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following story:
Let’s Talk About These iPhone Air Demand Rumors
Hello everyone. While Apple’s updated products (with M5) grabbed quite a bit of attention last week, another storyline that led to plenty of discussion was found with the iPhone Air. Reports and rumors painted the picture of a product not meeting Apple’s expectations in the marketplace. This led some Apple rumor sites to go so far as to say the iPhone Air bet failed. There’s a lot to unpack. Let’s discuss.
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Examining Eddy Cue’s Media Blitz
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following story:
Examining Eddy Cue’s Media Blitz
Happy Friday. Over the past few months, Apple SVP Services Eddy Cue has sat down for a decent number of media interviews. Cue is one of the most influential and powerful executives within Apple (among the top three). Over the summer, the “F1 The Movie” release required Apple to go on the PR offensive. More recent interviews have been aimed at drawing attention to some of Apple’s services, like Apple Music Classical, in addition to Apple’s sports play and broader ambitions found with Apple TV (recently rebranded from Apple TV+). Today’s update will be dedicated to going over the most important takeaways from the interviews.
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My Initial Impressions Using Apple Vision Pro (M5), The Dual Knit Band Is the Real Deal, Apple Vision Pro Is a Window to the World
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
My Initial Impressions Using Apple Vision Pro (M5)
The Dual Knit Band Is the Real Deal
Apple Vision Pro Is a Window to the World
For the past week, I’ve been using an Apple Vision Pro (M5). Today’s update will be dedicated to talking about the product. We begin with my initial impressions regarding both the headset and Apple’s new Dual Loop Band. The discussion then turns to answering a question that has been swirling in my head for the past 2.5 years: Why does Apple Vision Pro exist? Based on social media, there continues to be a good amount of confusion regarding the answer.
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Apple Rebrands Apple TV+, Reading Between the (Apple TV+ Rebranding) Lines, Crunching Some Numbers for Apple's Sports Spending
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Apple Rebrands Apple TV+
Reading Between the (Apple TV+ Rebranding) Lines
Crunching Some Numbers for Apple's Sports Spending
Hello everyone. This is going to be one of those weeks in which the schedule is a bit all over the place. For the past few days, I’ve been using and testing the updated Apple Vision Pro (M5) and iPad Pro (M5). This has required me to shift a few things around.
The game plan for today is to continue the Apple/sports discussion that was found in Monday’s update. We will begin today’s discussion though with Apple rebranding Apple TV+. The next update will then take a detour to discuss Apple Vision Pro (M5). There is a good amount to discuss about that product. If all goes according to plan, we will then wrap up the week in a few days with a closer look at Eddy Cue’s press bonanza.
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Apple Wins Formula 1 Rights, Apple / Formula 1 Deal Terms, Apple’s Sports Bet Grows
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Apple Wins Formula 1 Rights
Apple / Formula 1 Deal Terms
Apple’s Sports Bet Grows
Hello everyone. We will begin a new week of updates with some big Apple news on the sports front. The discussion will roll into Tuesday as we examine new comments from Apple SVP Eddy Cue who has been doing a fair amount of press in recent months.
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Apple Updates iPad Pro, Current State of iPad, Apple Updates MacBook Pro
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Apple Updates iPad Pro
Current State of iPad
Apple Updates MacBook Pro
On Wednesday, Apple unveiled updates to products across three different categories (iPad, Mac, and Vision). The last update (available here) was focused on the M5 chip and the updated Apple Vision Pro. Today’s update is focused on the new iPad Pro and 14-inch MacBook Pro. With an updated iPad Pro in the mix, it’s also a good time to recap the broader iPad line.
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Apple Unveils M5 Chip, Apple’s Silicon Advantage, Apple Vision Pro Receives First Update
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Apple Unveils M5 Chip
Apple’s Silicon Advantage
Apple Vision Pro Receives First Update
Happy Wednesday. It’s been a busy day with Apple unveiling updates to products across three different categories (iPad, Mac, and Vision). Today’s update will examine the M5 chip and how Apple is gaining an advantage in the marketplace by designing its own chips. The discussion will then turn to Apple unveiling the first update to its headset with the Apple Vision Pro (M5). Our discussion will likely roll into tomorrow's update when we will focus more specifically on the updated iPad Pro and 14-inch MacBook Pro.
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Select NBA Games to Be Streamed in Apple Immersive Video, Sports on Apple Vision Pro, Chicken or the Egg: Apple Immersive Video
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
Select NBA Games to Be Streamed in Apple Immersive Video
Sports on Apple Vision Pro
Chicken or the Egg: Apple Immersive Video
Happy Tuesday. We will jump right into things with some big news on the Apple Vision Pro front regarding immersive content. The discussion then turns to how Apple has the opportunity to reconfigure the entire entertainment industry to give live sports a shot in the arm. We conclude the update by examining criticism that says Apple should have had more immersive content available for Apple Vision Pro before the headset was launched.
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OpenAI’s App Pitch, OpenAI’s HW Strategy, OpenAI Running Into Device Delays
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
OpenAI’s App Pitch
OpenAI’s HW Strategy
OpenAI Running Into Device Delays
Hello everyone. For today’s update, we continue the discussion that was found in Tuesday’s update regarding OpenAI. It’s been a while since we have seen genuine angst in the air regarding alternatives to the digital app paradigm. We discuss OpenAI’s vision behind “Apps in ChatGPT.” The update then turns to recapping where OpenAI’s hardware play is most likely headed. We conclude with a closer look at the Financial Times’ report regarding Jony Ive and the OpenAI team running into product development issues involving new devices.
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OpenAI’s DevDay Keynote, Where My Skepticism Is Found, Jony Ive’s Fireside Chat at DevDay
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
OpenAI’s DevDay Keynote
Where My Skepticism Is Found
Jony Ive’s Fireside Chat at DevDay
Hello everyone. Today’s update will be dedicated to OpenAI which held its third annual developer conference yesterday in San Francisco.
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EA Sells to Private Equity, Gaming Industry Continues to Change, Anthropic’s NYC Pop-up Shop
Today's Above Avalon Daily update includes the following stories:
EA Sells to Private Equity
Gaming Industry Continues to Change
Anthropic’s NYC Pop-up Shop
Hello everyone. We will jump into a new week of updates with gaming news. EA will be acquired for $55 billion in what is the largest PE-funded buyout in history. The discussion then turns to Anthropic’s interesting pop-up shop in NYC.
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