Apple’s Paid Subscriptions Growth Reaccelerates, The Case for Higher Apple Gross Margins

Written By Neil Cybart

Hello everyone.

We will conclude our Apple earnings review by looking at Apple’s paid subscriptions growth and gross margins. There are a few follow-ups that we have not covered yet. The discussion includes Neil’s thoughts on why Apple’s gross margins still have room to move higher.

Let’s jump right in.

Apple’s Paid Subscriptions Growth Reaccelerates

In keeping with its usual disclosure, Apple provided updated comments regarding the number of paid subscriptions across the Apple ecosystem.

Based on Apple’s commentary, here are my estimates for the number of paid subscriptions across Apple’s ecosystem (first party and third party) on a quarterly basis:

  • 1Q20: 482M paid subscriptions

  • 2Q20: 518M

  • 3Q20: 553M

  • 4Q20: 588M

  • 1Q21: 623M

  • 2Q21: 663M

  • 3Q21: 705M

  • 4Q21: 749M

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Neil Cybart
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