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Apple Spends Record $45.77 Billion on R&D in Fiscal 2026, Up 32%
Apple's R&D spending rose 32% to a record $45.77 billion in fiscal 2026, according to its Q4 2026 results.
Key points
- Apple spent $11.73 billion on R&D in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.
- Full-year R&D spending was $45.77 billion, compared with $34.55 billion in fiscal 2025.
- Fourth-quarter R&D was virtually unchanged from the third quarter, rising by just $1 million.
Why it matters. Because quarterly R&D was virtually unchanged from the third quarter, Apple's spending may be starting to level off after its early fiscal 2026 jump.
Apple's research and development spending reached an all-time high of $45.77 billion in fiscal 2026, up 32% from $34.55 billion in fiscal 2025, according to its Q4 2026 results. Fourth-quarter spending was $11.73 billion, up 32% on $8.87 billion a year earlier but virtually unchanged from the third quarter. CFO Kevan Parekh said AI spending was added to existing product roadmap investments, while former CEO Tim Cook said Apple was "clearly investing more.
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Apple Spends Record $45.77 Billion on R&D in Fiscal 2026, Up 32%
Apple's research and development expenses reached $45.77 billion in fiscal 2026, a new all-time high. The figure represents a 32% increase from the previous year. Reporting notes that Apple was slower than some investors wanted to expand R&D as competition in artificial intelligence intensified. The spending increase signals a larger commitment to AI development and other new technologies.