Part 11/14:
The company that pioneered seamless interfaces and revolutionary products is increasingly reminiscent of a maintenance-driven organization, prioritizing stability over disruption. Its product line, once marked by bold design and technological breakthroughs, has become a cycle of minor updates, refined aesthetics, and elevated prices—often called "value expansion" or "pricing realignment" in corporate jargon.
The Irony of Wealth and Innovation Disconnect
Despite boasting over $150 billion in cash reserves, Apple has become remarkably conservative in its R&D investments, allocating only about $30 billion, far less than competitors like Amazon, Google, or Meta. The financial discipline has been effective for stockholders but at the expense of technological leadership.