What We Know About Apple’s 50th Anniversary Plans (So Far)

Apple is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. On April 1, 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak officially founded Apple Computer Company. In the five decades since, the company has certainly made its mark on the world by introducing product lines that many of us still use today. The Mac (1985), iPhone (2007) and iPad (2010) are still going strong, even though huge product lines like the iPod (2001) no longer exist.

Apple isn’t afraid of birthdays, and it looks like 50 is no exception. In a press release issued Thursday, the company confirmed that it would officially celebrate 50 years of “different thinking and innovations that have helped shape the way people connect, create, learn and discover the world.” Its announcement then quickly summarizes its main products (hardware, software and services) and pledges to continue to “think differently in the years to come”. Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote a letter for Apple.com that does much of the same thing.

The problem is that the ad doesn’t really reveal how Apple plans to celebrate this anniversary. It says that in the coming weeks, Apple and its “global community” will “recognize the creativity, innovation and impact that people around the world have made possible through Apple technology.” How vague!

Based on the wording of the ad, I’m guessing we’re going to see official videos from Apple showcasing customers using their products and services. The company’s Apple Watch videos come to mind, like “Dear Apple.” This video highlights a number of letters that Apple Watch users have written to Apple about the many ways their watches have improved, or in some cases, saved their lives. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple make another version of this, with the 50th anniversary theme in mind.

But I also assume Apple will produce videos showing how customers use the company’s other products: musicians using MacBooks to record new music; artists using iPads to draw and paint; hearing-impaired users using AirPods as hearing aids.

Expect these videos to be posted on Apple’s new “Hello Apple” Instagram page. From that post, the company released a handful of videos, including a clip featuring durability testing of the iPhone, a short product video showcasing the MacBook Neo, a video of an artist using an iPad, and a video showing a number of different “interpretations” of the Apple logo. Apple also shared Tim Cook’s letter in a post here.

Apple will launch three “Ultra” products this year

But Apple doesn’t just brag (although it’s very good at it). The company tends to release big products around big anniversaries. For the iPhone’s 10th anniversary, for example, the company released the iPhone X, which completely transformed product design and the way we use it. (Nine years later, most of us are still using the same iPhone X design.)

Apple has already shaken up the market this year with a rather disruptive product: the MacBook Neo. Although not specifically published For the 50, it is normal that Apple launches this device this year. It’s too early to know for sure, but a capable Mac selling for just $499 will likely change the budget and midrange computing market.

Although the MacBook Neo is a “big” product due to its disruptive potential, Apple could also release “big” products offering features that previous products never offered. These are called Apple’s “Ultra” products, devices that go beyond the company’s “Pro” moniker. Currently, we expect to see three this year:

• iPhone Ultra: Apple has not yet released a foldable smartphone to compete with Google and Samsung. The “iPhone Ultra” (or, more likely, the iPhone Fold) could very well launch for Apple’s 50th anniversary and cost $2,000 to start.

• AirPods Ultra: Apple’s next-generation AirPods are rumored to come with built-in cameras. However, these won’t look like the ones that come with smart glasses. Instead of taking photos, they will be used for visual intelligence purposes, so you can ask Siri questions about your surroundings without having to pull out your iPhone.

• MacBook Ultra: Apple just launched the MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max, but an all-new high-end MacBook could also be released this year. The “MacBook Ultra” could offer the same M5 Pro and M5 Max chip options, but with an OLED screen, a first for the Mac. However, this premium display technology will likely cost more on top of the Pro’s $2,199 starting price.

iOS 27 released for Apple’s 50th anniversary

It doesn’t take leaks and rumors to know that Apple will follow last year’s iOS 26 with iOS 27. However, we can turn to leaks and rumors to know what features Apple has planned for the new update.

The biggest feature, without a doubt, is Apple’s revamped Siri, which the company originally announced in 2024. This version of Siri is supposed to be supercharged with AI, capable of digging through your various apps and files to answer complex questions and queries. Apple has had to delay AI Siri several times as the company struggles to catch up with others in the AI ​​space, and while it’s possible the new Siri could arrive with an iOS 26 update (e.g. iOS 26.5), Apple could just save it for iOS 27. Either way, Apple’s big Siri overhaul could, fittingly, land during this anniversary year.

Rumors suggest that iOS 27 will also introduce a Siri chatbot for the first time. You would be able to have a conversation with Siri like you would with ChatGPT or Gemini, although I still maintain the one thing I Really What I want Siri to do well is set my timers and check the weather.

What not to expect for Apple’s 50th anniversary

For the moment, the rumor does not indicate any major product on the theme of the 50th in preparation at Apple. The company has, on occasion, released special versions of its products (like the iPod U2) and while I’m sure there are Apple fans who would appreciate a 50th anniversary iMac or iPhone, it’s just not likely. You’ll have to settle for an OLED MacBook or a foldable iPhone that costs $2,000.

At this point, I don’t expect Apple to have any anniversary sales either. The MacBook Neo’s extremely reasonable price is probably the most “generous” the company has gotten in my lifetime. As AI companies purchase computer components at a record pace, we can expect prices to only increase.