For a while this Monday, Microsoft surpassed Apple as the most valuable United States-based company. The software company hit a valuation point of $813 billion today, which was just $1 billion ahead of Apple. Considering that not long ago Apple (and Amazon not too long after) broke $1 trillion valuation, it has come a long way down since then, due in part to Apple’s latest (and most expensive) smartphones (XR, XS, XS Max) not selling as well as anticipated.
It isn’t to say that Microsoft hasn’t faced any challenges lately, but Apple has been just been barely able to get by with investors. Its smartphone business has slowed down due to a very complicated list of factors but has tried to compensate revenue by raising the retail price of iPhones every year while also focusing on selling subscription based services like iCloud and Apple Music.
On the other hand, Microsoft is doing well with Azure cloud services and Office 365’s subscription-based model while Microsoft’s gaming segment (Xbox) is seeing strong forecasts with its Xbox All Access monthly subscription model. On a similar note, both Sony and Microsoft are rumored to be releasing brand-new consoles this year.
Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
We are anticipating a very interesting Q4 this year. Apple recently introduced its new iPad Pro, Mac Mini, and MacBook Air lineups which are coming out just in time for the shopping season. Its recent partnership with Amazon to sell Apple devices will also help boost some sales and we’re curious to see if 2018 iPhone sales will strengthen before the end of the year.
[“source=forbes]
