Apple’s annual R&D spending rises 32% to record US$45.77 billion
Fourth-quarter research and development expenses reached US$11.73 billion, barely changing from the previous quarter.
Apple reported record research and development expenses of US$45.77 billion for fiscal 2026, a 32% increase from the previous year. The company disclosed the annual figure alongside its fourth-quarter results.
Spending in the fourth quarter totaled US$11.73 billion, compared with US$8.87 billion in the corresponding quarter a year earlier, an increase of 32%. Against the third quarter, however, expenses rose by only US$1 million.
The annual total compares with US$34.55 billion in fiscal 2025. Apple’s spending rose sharply at the start of fiscal 2026, with subsequent quarters remaining at a higher level than in previous years.
On an earnings call earlier in the year, former CEO Tim Cook said research and development investment was growing faster than the company overall. CFO Kevan Parekh said spending related to artificial intelligence was being added to investments already planned for Apple’s existing product roadmap.
