Apple Turns 50 Today: Reflecting on Each Decade's Biggest Moments

Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, meaning the company is officially 50 years old as of today. To honor the occasion, we have reflected on some of Apple's biggest moments of each decade, from the 1970s through to the 2020s.

Apple has an extensive history, so this list is far from comprehensive, but it captures some of the pivotal events over the company's first 50 years.

1970s

While the Apple-1 was released in 1976, it was the Apple II in 1977 that became the company's first successful, mass-market computer.

Unlike the Apple-1, the Apple II came fully assembled in a plastic case with a keyboard, and Apple sold millions of units of the computer over the years. This product gave Apple sustained cash flow, allowing it to become a major company.

1980s

In 1984, Steve Jobs introduced the Macintosh, the world's first successful mass-marketed computer with a graphical user interface (GUI).

The original Macintosh popularized the computer mouse, allowing users to control an on-screen pointer. This point-and-click method of computer navigation was still a novel concept to most people at the time, as personal computers in this era typically had text-based command-line interfaces controlled with a keyboard.

Apple said the Macintosh typically took "only a few hours to learn," and it touted what are now basic computer features, such as a desktop with icons, the ability to use multiple programs in windows, drop-down menus, and copy and paste.

Pricing for the original Macintosh started at $2,495, equivalent to nearly $8,000 today. Key specs and features included an 8 MHz processor, 128 KB of RAM, a 400 KB floppy disk drive for storage, and serial ports for connecting a printer and other accessories.

In 1985, Apple released the LaserWriter, one of the first mass-market laser printers.

1990s

By the 1990s, Apple had largely lost its way. That changed when Jobs returned to the company in 1997, as part of Apple's acquisition of NeXT, another computer company founded by Jobs after he was ousted from Apple in the mid-1980s.

Apple did release some unique products in the 1990s, ranging from the Newton personal assistant to the QuickTake digital camera to the Pippin video game console, but Jobs' return was easily the company's pinnacle moment of the decade. He quickly simplified and improved Apple's product lineup, with the turnaround beginning in earnest with the colorful iMac in 1998.

Apple's acquisition of NeXT also gave it NeXTSTEP, the UNIX-based operating system that ultimately became Mac OS X, the successor to classic Mac OS.

2000s

Apple's renaissance continued into the 2000s with the launch of the iPod in 2001. The portable music player was extremely popular and helped turn Apple into a consumer electronics company rather than merely a computer company.

Six years later, Apple combined an iPod with a mobile phone. Enter the iPhone.

Jobs famously introduced the original iPhone as if it were three separate products: a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet communications device. The crowd at Macworld San Francisco erupted with cheerful applause upon realizing that Jobs was referring to a single device.

While the iPod was hugely successful, the iPhone is absolutely massive, and it is now one of the most successful products of any kind ever released. Last year, Apple announced that it had shipped its three billionth iPhone. That is 3,000,000,000.

2010s

Three major Apple products launched throughout the 2010s, including the iPad in 2010, the Apple Watch in 2015, and the AirPods in 2016.

While the iPad was essentially just a large-screened iPhone when it first launched, the device has received significant advancements like trackpad support over the years, and it has since redefined what a personal computer is.

Millions of people wear an Apple Watch, and it has become one of the world's most popular fitness devices. With health and safety features like the ECG app, Crash Detection, Fall Detection, Emergency SOS, and more, the Apple Watch has even saved lives, which is a remarkable feat and something that Apple's CEO Tim Cook is very proud of.

As for AirPods, Apple says they are the world's most popular wireless headphones. Enough said.

2020s

In 2020, the Mac's transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon began, resulting in industry-leading performance-per-watt to this day.

After years of rumors, Apple unveiled its plan to transition the entire Mac lineup from Intel processors to its own custom-designed chips at WWDC in June 2020. Later that year saw the release of the first three Mac models powered by Apple silicon, including a 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini. The transition was completed in 2023 when the Mac Pro—which was recently discontinued—received the M2 Ultra chip.

Apple said macOS Tahoe is the final macOS release that will support Intel-based Macs.

In 2023, the Apple Vision Pro launched, ushering in the spatial computing era. A year later, the Apple Intelligence suite of AI features arrived. Unfortunately, these hardware and software categories have not entirely panned out yet.

Over the coming years, Apple is expected to push further into wearables, with products such as smart glasses, a pendant, and AirPods with cameras.