TL;DR
Apple said 2025 was its strongest year yet across services, with record engagement on Apple TV, growth for Apple Music, and heavy App Store traffic. The company also highlighted expanded global availability for Apple Pay, new platform features driven by on-device intelligence, and several sports and content deals.
What happened
Apple described 2025 as a record year for its services division, citing stronger engagement, product rollouts and international expansion. The App Store averaged more than 850 million weekly users across 175 countries and regions, and Apple reported developers have earned over $550 billion on the platform since 2008. Apple TV set a monthly viewership record in December 2025 with hours viewed up 36% year-over-year, helped by releases such as F1 The Movie and the series Pluribus, plus expanded live sports including Major League Soccer and a forthcoming U.S. exclusive F1 rights deal. Apple Music reached all-time highs in listenership and new subscribers and introduced features like AutoMix, Lyrics Translation and enhanced sing-along capabilities. Apple Pay extended to 89 markets, working with more than 11,000 banks and partners, and Apple says it removed over $1 billion in fraud while generating over $100 billion in incremental merchant sales globally. Several services added AI-driven and accessibility features and were made available in more countries.
Why it matters
- High App Store engagement and developer earnings signal continued commercial importance for app makers and the broader mobile ecosystem.
- Record viewership and exclusive sports/content deals strengthen Apple TV’s position in the streaming market and could influence subscriber growth.
- Apple Pay’s global expansion and fraud-reduction claims may affect merchant adoption and consumer payment behavior.
- New AI-driven on-device features across Wallet, Maps, Podcasts and Music indicate Apple’s push to blend personalization with privacy on its services platform.
Key facts
- App Store: more than 850 million average weekly users across 175 countries and regions.
- Developers have earned over $550 billion from the App Store since 2008.
- Apple reports the App Store ecosystem facilitated $1.3 trillion in developer billings and sales in 2024, with more than 90% going to developers and 'zero commission paid to Apple' per the company statement.
- Apple TV hours viewed in December 2025 rose 36% year-over-year, marking a monthly engagement record.
- F1 The Movie was the No. 1 movie at the global box office and topped Apple TV viewing; Apple also announced a five-year deal to stream every F1 race exclusively in the U.S. on Apple TV beginning in March.
- Apple Music hit all-time highs for listenership and new subscribers and added features including AutoMix, Lyrics Translation and Pronunciation.
- Shazam processed more than 1 billion recognitions per month in 2025.
- Apple Pay expanded to 89 markets and worked with over 11,000 banks and network partners; the company says it eliminated over $1 billion in fraud and generated over $100 billion in incremental merchant sales globally.
- Apple Fitness+ expanded to 28 additional countries and regions and added digital dubbing and Custom Plans; Find My launched in South Korea.
- Apple Arcade added more than 50 new ad-free titles in 2025; the App Store Awards recognized 17 standout apps and games.
What to watch next
- The rollout beginning in March of Apple’s five-year agreement to stream every Formula 1 race exclusively in the U.S. on Apple TV (confirmed in the source).
- How Apple Pay’s banks-and-lenders installment and rewards features enabled with iOS 26 affect in-store transactions and merchant adoption (confirmed in the source).
- Further expansion of digital ID support in Apple Wallet beyond Japan’s My Number Card — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- App Store: Apple’s digital marketplace for iPhone, iPad and Mac apps where developers distribute and monetize software.
- Apple Pay: Apple’s digital payments service that allows users to make purchases in stores, in apps and online using supported devices.
- Apple TV: Apple’s video service and app ecosystem for streaming original shows, movies and live sports across devices.
- On-device intelligence: Computation and personalization features that run locally on a user’s device, designed to process data without sending it to cloud servers.
Reader FAQ
Was 2025 a record year for Apple services?
Yes; Apple said 2025 set records across multiple services, including App Store engagement, Apple TV viewership and Apple Music growth.
How many people used the App Store weekly in 2025?
Apple reported more than 850 million average weekly users on the App Store across 175 countries and regions.
Did Apple announce new sports rights in 2025?
Apple confirmed a five-year agreement to stream every Formula 1 race exclusively in the U.S. on Apple TV starting in March.
Has Apple Pay expanded internationally?
Apple Pay was reported as available in 89 markets and working with over 11,000 banks and partners.
Did Apple disclose future product roadmaps and specific launch dates for all features?
Not confirmed in the source.
UPDATE January 12, 2026 2025 marked a record‑breaking year for Apple services Apple’s Eddy Cue reflects on an outstanding year for Apple services 2025 was a record-breaking year for Apple services, marked…
Sources
- 2025 marked a record-breaking year for Apple services
- 2025 marked a record-breaking year for Apple services …
- Apple streaming services break records
- Apple's App Store reaches 850 million average weekly users
Related posts
- Apple chooses Google’s Gemini models and cloud infrastructure to power Siri
- Eddy Cue: Apple services delivered a record-breaking 2025 for TV, Music
- Win8DE: Windows 8-style desktop environment recreated for Wayland on Linux