Apple turned 50 today, April 1, 2026. Since its formation on April 1, 1976, Apple has given a bite of its innovation to millions worldwide. Having said that, not all has been hunky-dory for the company in its 50-year history. Barely years after its formation, co-founder and visionary Steve Jobs exited, and many say the era without Jobs was one sans innovation. The same has been said after his death as well. Apple is also widely believed to have lagged behind the likes of Google and Samsung in the AI race.
Here's a look at Apple's notable lows in the past 50 years, when the Cupertino-based tech major company faltered.
1. Early Struggles With Lisa
Apple's entry into business computing with the Lisa PC fell flat. Priced at nearly $10,000, it was almost five times more costly than an IBM PC. It was also incompatible with many hardware and software, making it slow and comparatively unreliable, resulting in disappointing sales.
2. Macintosh: A Cultural Icon With Sloppy Sales
Apple introduced the Macintosh via a television commercial during Super Bowl on Jan. 22, 1984. The “1984” ad became iconic for taking on the mighty IBM, depicting Macintosh as a tool for rebellion against “Big Brother.” However, critics called it toylike, pointing that it had limited memory and storage, and was without cursor keys and colour display. It saw poor sales, which — among other reasons —eventually led to Jobs' ouster.
3. Jobs Exits — Taking Innovation With Him
Jobs' departure marked a difficult time for Apple. Leadership changed hands, moving from John Sculley to Michael Spindler, to Gilbert F. Amelio. The company faced instability, legal battles, and a slowdown in innovation while rivals like Microsoft forged ahead. Apple even went to court to prevent Microsoft from copying the visual style and interface of its operating system after the launch of Windows. Newton, a personal digital assistant, also failed to gain traction.
4. Sued By Beatles' Record Label
In 1989, Apple became mired in a trademark dispute with Apple Corps Ltd., Beatles' record label, over the use of the Apple name and logo. The conflict dragged on for years and intensified in the early 2000s when Apple entered the music business with iTunes and iPod. Ironically, though, legendary Beatle Paul McCartney has been rumoured to perform at Apple's 50th-anniversary event, today!
5. Lisa In The Landfill
That same year, unsold Lisa computers were dumped in a landfill in Logan, Utah. The incident was depicted in tech circles as one of the company's most visible product failures.
6. Black Wednesday: Michael Scott's ‘Firing Of Forty'
Another blotch was “Black Wednesday.” In February 1981, Michael Scott, who had led Apple through its record-breaking 1980 IPO, abruptly fired 40 employees without prior notice. The layoffs left a deep scar on the company culture, with quiet conversations around it lasting years.
7. 90 Days From Bankruptcy
By 1996, Apple had hit the Marina Trench (metaphorically speaking). The company had lost more than a billion dollars in 18 months, its market share had dropped below 5%, and was only months away from possible bankruptcy. It was at this critical time that Jobs was brought back.
8. Antennagate
The iPhone 4, despite its success, suffered from “Antennagate.” Users experienced signal issues when holding the phone in a way that covered the antenna gap. Weirdly, Apple's initial reaction was users were simply “holding it wrong,” before it provided a free “Bumper” case to resolve the issue.
9. Apple Intelligence — Not So Intelligent
More recently, Apple's been unable to board the AI gravy train. Its AI rollout was staggered, not to mention its tall claims around Apple Intelligence have resulted in lawsuits alleging false advertising. Moreover, its AI news summary feature, which generated false claims, faced severe backlash — leading to its suspension.
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