Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

iPad sales steal spotlight as Apple posts revenue, profit growth in 3rd quarter

Brenda Stolyar
By

apple q3 2017 earning news ipad 10 5 thumb
Apple’s fiscal third quarter of 2017 showcased growth in both revenue and profit. The company’s revenue went up 7 percent year over year, marking the third consecutive quarter of accelerating growth, along with an all-time quarterly record for revenue in the services sector.

The company sold more than 41 million iPhones during the quarter, which is right in line with analysts’ prediction of 41.1 million units. Revenue increased 7.2 percent, with earnings of $45.4 billion eclipsing the $44.9 billion projection.

Recommended Videos

Although a large percentage of Apple’s revenue comes from the iPhone, the iPad posted impressive results. The company shipped 11.4 million iPads during the third quarter — a 28 percent increase from the 9.5 million units sold during the previous quarter. The latest metrics show iPad unit sales up 15 percent year over year.

Related

The recent jump in units sold may be driven by the new iPad that costs only $329 . In Apple’s earnings report, CEO Tim Cook said the iPad was also performing well in China. Cook expressed his excitement for iPads going forward,  referencing the iPad launch the company held at the end of March, along with the announcement of the iPad Pro in June.

The latest models showcased at the 2017 Worldwide Developer Conference were the iPad Pro 10.5 and iPad Pro 12.9. Both boast sleek, slim designs, along with redesigned software focused primarily on productivity. While the tablets have the same physical footprint as their predecessors, they feature narrower bezels, along with Apple’s True Tone technology that adjusts the color temperature based on lighting conditions.

The uptick in iPad sales could also be attributed to today’s tablet market. Since it’s no longer booming like it was years ago, Apple may have the upper hand now with its new models.

The new iPad Pro 10.5 and 12.9 models also feature Apple’s six-core A10X processor and a 12-core GPU, as well as a battery life of up to 10 hours. They also include the latest software additions from iOS 11 — Apple’s upcoming mobile operating system.

From the iPhone 8 — reportedly delayed until late 2017 — to the HomePod smart speaker going on sale in December, Apple has some exciting products in the pipeline. The report also shows Apple is projected to earn revenue between $49 billion and $52 billion in the fourth quarter.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Brenda Stolyar
Brenda Stolyar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brenda became obsessed with technology after receiving her first Dell computer from her grandpa in the second grade. While…
The iPhone 15 Pro may make an annoying iPhone feature even worse
The side of the iPhone 14 Pro showing the power key.

When the original iPhone launched many years ago, it was the epitome of simple, yet functional. It gave us the mute switch, distinctive volume buttons, a Home button, and the power button. As far as the buttons go, it was all pretty self-explanatory: the mute switch puts the phone on silent/vibrate, volume buttons adjust volume up or down, press the Home button to go back to the Home screen, and hold down the power button to turn your phone on or off.

With the iPhone 4S, Apple integrated Siri directly into iOS, and one could invoke it by pressing down on the Home button. But when Apple got rid of the Home button with the iPhone X, it had to figure out a different way to call up Siri. Instead of a Home button, you now could bring up Siri by doing a long press on the power/side button. A quick press of that button simply locks or wakes the display.

Read more
iOS 17 might add a huge Android feature to your iPhone
App Store displayed on an iPhone 14 Pro against a pink background

As Apple’s Wideworld Developers Conferencce gets closer, the rumors have continued coming in at rapid succession. Over the weekend, in his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims that iOS 17 will support app sideloading to comply with European regulations. This would allow iPhone users to download apps and games that are hosted on digital storefronts that are not Apple’s official App Store — something Android phones have been able to do for years.

With the ability to sideload apps, customers don’t necessarily need to use Apple’s App Store to download and purchase apps or make in-app purchases. This change would also mean developers can bypass Apple’s 15% to 30% fees from all purchases.

Read more
iOS 17 might add an iPhone feature I’ve waited three years for
iPhone 14 Pro home screen with custom app icons and the Activity and Fantastical widgets

With the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) set for June 5, the Apple rumor mill has fully kicked into high gear. While the big-ticket announcement will surely be the long-rumored mixed reality headset from Apple, we’re also expecting the next round of software updates: iOS/iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS 14.

Originally, Mark Gurman at Bloomberg claimed that iOS 17 would be a “quiet” release, then backtracked and said it may bring several highly requested features from users over the years. Reports this week say that iOS 17 will improve some features like search, the Dynamic Island, and Control Center. Now, we're hearing it may even bring us interactive widgets.

Read more