Watch out: Dark clouds over the anticipated 2024 iPhone 16 lineup
Lately, Apple has experienced a wave of executive turnovers. Here is what it means for you.
According to a recent Bloomberg article, Tang Tan, Apple's Vice President of Product Design, is set to leave the company. His departure marks a very significant reshuffling of leadership for several of Apple's key product lines.
Tan’s departure is a blow…
"Tan’s departure is a blow…he made critical decisions about Apple’s most important products. Beyond the iPhone, his work on the Watch and AirPods helped turn those devices into major growth drivers for the Cupertino, California-based company," the report by Bloomberg said, citing people familiar with Apple’s operations.
You may question the impact an individual executive can have on a company's overall trajectory. However, insiders at Apple view Tan's exit as a significant setback. He is recognized for having played a pivotal role in shaping the direction of Apple's most crucial products. Under his leadership, his team maintained stringent control over both the appearance and functionality of these products, underscoring his influence within the company.
Tang Tan, a pioneering force behind the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods
Tan was instrumental in shaping the iPhone and Apple Watch designs and also played a key role in overseeing the development of accessories and AirPods. He reported to John Ternus, Apple's well-known Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering.
Richard Dinh, described as Tan's right-hand man and the lead for iPhone product design, will now report directly to Ternus, absorbing some of Tan's responsibilities. Additionally, Kate Bergeron, with her background in Mac hardware engineering, will now steer the Apple Watch segment.
A wave of executive turnovers
Lately, Apple has experienced a wave of executive turnovers within its product design and engineering teams. This shift brings fresh perspectives to the design process of upcoming iPhones and other products, sparking curiosity about the new directions these changes might inspire.
In a notable strategic move, Apple transitioned the iPhone from its proprietary Lightning port to the more universal USB-C (in response to pressure from European regulators) and altered the materials used in its Pro phone line. Despite these adjustments, the iPhone's design and functionality have remained relatively stable for the past five years.
Trouble ahead in the 2024 iPhone 16 lineup
However, the anticipated 2024 iPhone 16 lineup is poised to introduce more significant changes, particularly in terms of aesthetics and user experience.
Speculation is rife about larger screens and overall bigger phone sizes, as well as the potential replacement of physical buttons with haptic ones. While Apple's exact plans are still under wraps, it's clear that the company is exploring various innovations for its future products.
How this is supposed to take off without a Designer-In-Chief at the helm, is doubtful at best.
What others are doing
Warren Buffett's investment firm, Berkshire Hathaway, is often perceived as being particularly prescient in market trends. Yes, they do make mistakes–like passing up on the AI trend–but they sport an impressive rooster of cross-industry connections to trade on.
On more than a couple occasions, Buffett anticipated emerging challenges before they became apparent to others, demonstrating remarkable foresight, if you will.
The acclaimed investor at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK-A) strategically divested approximately 36 million Apple shares (AAPL) during the third quarter of 2020.
Not only did Warren Buffet decisively shift his focus away from Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), but as recently as on December 13th 2023, he also significantly increased his investment in Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:OXY), raising his stake to an impressive 28%. What this means, however, is the topic of the next post. Make sure you don’t miss it.
In Conclusion
If I were to consider an investment in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), and I am not at this point, I’d think trice about it. For those who currently hold AAPL shares, it might still be prudent to wait for a more opportune moment to sell, and ride out the smaller waves.