• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechThe Mobile Executive

Apple Doubt Surfaces as iPhone and MacBooks Have a Rough Week

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 10, 2016, 9:01 AM ET
Apple Watch Available at Retail Locations
Photo by Eric Thayer — Getty Images

This hasn’t been a good week for Apple.

Over the last several days, Apple has suffered through some rough times. The company lost a landmark case against Samsung in the U.S. Supreme Court, dealt with a bigger-than-expected iPhone battery problem, and was forced to address concerns that perhaps its new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar also has some battery troubles. Along the way, Apple Watch sales were called into question, and speculation abounds that the company’s best days are behind it.

This is Fortune’s weekly roundup of the biggest Apple news this week. To see last week’s roundup, click here.

Was this just a bad week for Apple (AAPL) or something of a bigger problem that could grow and fester in the days ahead? At this point, it’s hard to tell. But not even a company as profitable as Apple can be happy by how things have gone of late.

Here’s a look back at Apple’s trying week:

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

  1. In a major blow to Apple, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Samsung this week in the companies’ $399 million smartphone patent spat. While that means Apple won’t be able to collect just yet on claims that Samsung violated its patents in a slew of smartphones released by the Korea-based company over the years, the Supreme Court sent the case back to a lower court. So there’s a chance that Apple could be awarded damages once again. But for now, it’s on the losing side of this protracted battle with Samsung.
  2. Apple will pay $450,000 to settle claims it mishandled hazardous electronic waste in Silicon Valley. Apple also agreed to increase the number of inspections it conducts on its facilities in Cupertino, Calif. and Sunnyvale, Calif.
  3. Apple this week said that the number of customers affected by a battery flaw that could cause some of its iPhone 6s units to abruptly shut down could be bigger than initially believed. Apple previously said only iPhone 6s units manufactured between September and October 2015 were susceptible to the battery bug that shuts down the handset, but now says other “customers outside of the affected range” may have also been affected. Apple is offering free battery replacements to affected iPhone 6s owners.
  4. There are some iPhone 6 units in China catching fire, but Apple says those troubles are not its fault. Instead, Apple said in a statement that the units the company has analyzed caught fire due to “external physical damage.” That said, Apple plans to widen its investigation to ensure units aren’t in danger due to design flaws.
  5. Is Apple getting into the car business or not? After reports earlier this year that the company was changing its tack, an Apple patent application surfaced this week on a technology that would aid self-driving cars in avoiding collisions. The patent was discovered just after Apple issued a letter to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showing interest in testing autonomous cars.
  6. Some Apple MacBook Pro with Touchbar owners are reporting that the new computer isn’t lasting nearly as long on a single battery charge as Apple has promised. Those owners, who have shared their frustration on online forums including Reddit, say the MacBook Pro’s battery life lasts between three and six hours during periods when they’re engaging in sophisticated tasks like playing video games, and using up a large portion of the computer’s resources. Others who are using the MacBook Pro for simpler tasks like surfing the Web say they’re getting better battery life than Apple promised.
  7. Research firm IDC reported this week that third-quarter Apple Watch sales were down 71% year over year, falling to just 1.1 million units during the three-month period. In response, Apple CEO Tim Cook told Reuters that Apple Watch “sales growth is off the charts” during this holiday season. He neither commented on third-quarter performance nor shared exact sales figures. In a commentary on the topic, Fortune argued it’s time for Apple to share actual Apple Watch sales numbers.
  8. Apple Music now has 20 million paid subscribers, up from 17 million in September. Chief competitor Spotify has more than 40 million paid subscribers.
  9. In a bit of good news, Apple’s iPhone accounted for 40.5% of all smartphone sales in the three-month period ended October. That was up from 33.5% share of smartphone sales in the same period last year, and the greatest sales share since the three-month period ending January 2015.
  10. It’s been ten years since Apple’s iconic “Get a Mac” ads aired, and some of the creators and actors have discussed what it was like getting the ad campaign off the ground with trade publication Campaign.

For more about Apple’s iPhone 7, watch:

One more thing… An Apple Store in Berkeley was robbed three times in nine days last month. Here’s a video of two of the brazen robberies.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

These startups are racing to make AI safe for the Pentagon’s most closely guarded secrets
AIDefense
These startups are racing to make AI safe for the Pentagon’s most closely guarded secrets
By Erik GermanApril 11, 2026
22 hours ago
karp
Future of Workpalantir
Palantir CEO says AI ‘will destroy’ humanities jobs but there will be ‘more than enough jobs’ for people with vocational training
By Jacqueline MunisApril 11, 2026
23 hours ago
A Starbucks barista stands behind a cash register.
RetailFood and drink
Starbucks’ game plan to roll out AI chatbots at cafés could serve as a ‘litmus test’ for the industry, analyst says
By Sasha RogelbergApril 11, 2026
23 hours ago
The ‘Tuscan Mom’ aesthetic is taking over TikTok as Gen Z glamorize McMansions and reject millennial gray
Travel & LeisureGen Z
The ‘Tuscan Mom’ aesthetic is taking over TikTok as Gen Z glamorize McMansions and reject millennial gray
By Sydney LakeApril 11, 2026
23 hours ago
dalmation
AIHealth
Man’s best friend may soon live a little longer thanks to a new pill promising to extend your pup’s lifespan
By Catherina GioinoApril 11, 2026
1 day ago
hunt
CommentaryMedia
OpenAI’s TBPN deal shows how talent, media, and influence are collapsing into one
By Jonathan HuntApril 11, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

'This is the last warning.' Iran threatens U.S. warships after they throw down the gauntlet for winner-take-all Strait of Hormuz
Politics
'This is the last warning.' Iran threatens U.S. warships after they throw down the gauntlet for winner-take-all Strait of Hormuz
By Fortune EditorsApril 11, 2026
11 hours ago
Palantir CEO says AI ‘will destroy’ humanities jobs but there will be ‘more than enough jobs’ for people with vocational training
Future of Work
Palantir CEO says AI ‘will destroy’ humanities jobs but there will be ‘more than enough jobs’ for people with vocational training
By Fortune EditorsApril 11, 2026
23 hours ago
The 'affordability economy' has created a housing market nobody predicted: Prices collapsing in the Sun Belt, soaring in the Rust Belt
Real Estate
The 'affordability economy' has created a housing market nobody predicted: Prices collapsing in the Sun Belt, soaring in the Rust Belt
By Fortune EditorsApril 11, 2026
1 day ago
Warren Buffett says 'accumulating great amounts of money' doesn’t achieve greatness—He still lives in a $31,500 Nebraska home and clipped coupons
Success
Warren Buffett says 'accumulating great amounts of money' doesn’t achieve greatness—He still lives in a $31,500 Nebraska home and clipped coupons
By Fortune EditorsApril 11, 2026
23 hours ago
Scottie Scheffler joined Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in golf's $100M club—and donated his entire Ryder Cup stipend to charity
Success
Scottie Scheffler joined Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in golf's $100M club—and donated his entire Ryder Cup stipend to charity
By Fortune EditorsApril 10, 2026
2 days ago
Navy tests Hormuz blockade as expert says U.S. military prepares for round 2 and could degrade Iran's hold over the strait to a 'manageable level'
Politics
Navy tests Hormuz blockade as expert says U.S. military prepares for round 2 and could degrade Iran's hold over the strait to a 'manageable level'
By Fortune EditorsApril 11, 2026
16 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.